Living Things and the Environment Ecosystems
Ecology What is it? Definition: The study of how living things interact with each other and their environment. Ecologist study how organisms react to changes in their environment
Ecosystems Definition: The community of organisms that live in a particular area, along with their nonliving surroundings. Living components are called Biotic factors Nonliving components are called Abiotic factors.
Biotic Factors Definition: The living parts of a habitat Habitat: an environment that provides the things the organism needs to live, grow and reproduce. Examples: deserts, grasslands, tropical rain forest, oceans.
Biotic Factor Terms Organism: a single living thing Species: a group of organisms that are physically similar & can mate with each other and produce offspring that can do the same. Population: All members of one species in a particular area. Community: All the different populations that live together in an area.
Example: Black-Tailed Prairie Dog Species All members of one species in a particular area a single living thing All the different populations that live together in an area.
Abiotic Factors Water Sunlight Oxygen Temperature Soil Definition: Nonliving parts of an organism’s habitat. Include: Water Sunlight Oxygen Temperature Soil Assignment: Outline each abiotic factor as to it’s importance to an ecosystem. (have 3) (Hint see p. 8) Example: Water required for all living things to carry out their life processes large part of living things bodies are made up of water (65%) Ingredient of photosynthesis in plants.