What is Ecology?

Organisms and Their Environment

What is Ecology?? The study of interactions that take place between organisms and their environment. It explains how living organisms affect each other and the world they live in.

Habitat & Niche Habitat is the place a plant or animal lives Niche is an organism’s total way of life

The Nonliving Environment Abiotic factors- the nonliving parts of an organism’s environment. Examples include air currents, temperature, moisture, light, and soil. Abiotic factors affect an organism’s life.

The Living Environment Biotic factors- all the living organisms that inhabit an environment. All organisms depend on others directly or indirectly for food, shelter, reproduction, or protection.

Abiotic or Biotic? Biotic

Abiotic or Biotic? Abiotic

Abiotic or Biotic? Abiotic

Abiotic or Biotic? Biotic

Levels of Organization

Biological Levels of Organization Atom: P, N, E Molecule Organelle Cell: Life Begins. Smallest unit of any living thing. Tissue: group of cells Organ: group of tissues System: group of organs.

Levels of Organization Ecologists have organized the interactions an organism takes part in into different levels according to complexity.

Biological Levels of Organization Organism: An individual living thing that is made of cells, uses energy, reproduces, responds, grows, and develops

Biological Levels of Organization Species: A group of individuals who can interbreed and produce fertile offspring. This means they, too, can reproduce.

Biological Levels of Organization Population: A group of organisms, all of the same species, which interbreed and live in the same place at the same time.

Biological Levels of Organization Biological Community: All the populations of different species that live in the same place at the same time.

Biological Levels of Organization Ecosystem: Populations of plants and animals that interact with each other in a given area with the abiotic components of that area. (terrestrial or aquatic)

Biological Levels of Organization Biosphere: The portion of Earth that supports life.

The Biosphere Life is found in air, on land, and in fresh and salt water. The BIOSPHERE is the portion of Earth that supports living things.

What level of organization? Organism

What level of Organization? Community

What level of Organization? Population

Biodiversity Biodiversity: the many complex interactions among different organisms within an ecosystem. Example: Humans interacting with domesticated and non-domesticated animals.

Survival Relationships Symbiosis: The relationship in which there is a close and permanent association between organisms of different species.

Mutualism A symbiotic relationship in which both species benefit. Example: Ants that live on Aphids. The ants care for the aphids by protecting them from predators. In return, the aphids provide the ants with a sweet nectar to drink.

Commensalism A symbiotic relationship in which one species benefits and the other species is nether harmed nor benefited. Example: Barnacles attach themselves to whale’s skin. They provide no known service to the whale nor harm it. However, they are provided a service when the whale swims because the passing water provides them with food.

Parasitism A symbiotic relationship where one species is benefited and the other is harmed. Example: Ticks that live on dogs are benefited by the dog’s blood. The dog is harmed because ticks can cause diseases. If the host was to die, the parasite would soon die too unless it can find another host.