Meadow Food Web
Ecology: the study of the interactions between organisms and their environment
Biotic: Living parts of the ecosystem: Plants, animals, decomposers
Abiotic: Nonliving parts of the ecosystem: soil, water, air, weather
Levels of Organization: 1. Individual organism
2. Population - members of the same species in one area
3. Community – many populations in the same area
4. Ecosystem – the biotic and abiotic factors in the area
5. Biome – group of ecosystems with the same climate and dominant communities
6. Biosphere – portion of the planet where all life exists (8 km above Earth’s surface to 11 km below the ocean)
Methods of Ecological Study Field observations – counting populations, observing interactions
2. Experimenting - set up a small environment, manipulate the conditions, observe the results
3. Modelling - Uses Mathematical formulas based on data collected Computer models of interactions may predict outcomes of environmental change