1 What is Ecology? 1

2 Organisms and Their Environment 2

3 What is Ecology?? The study of interactions that take place between organisms and their environment.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.It explains how living organisms affect each other and the world they live in. The study of interactions that take place between organisms and their environment.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.It explains how living organisms affect each other and the world they live in. 3

4 Habitat & Niche Habitat is the place a plant or animal livesHabitat is the place a plant or animal lives Niche is an organism’s total way of lifeNiche is an organism’s total way of life Habitat is the place a plant or animal livesHabitat is the place a plant or animal lives Niche is an organism’s total way of lifeNiche is an organism’s total way of life 4

5 The Nonliving Environment Abiotic factors- the nonliving parts of an organism’s environment.Abiotic factors- the nonliving parts of an organism’s environment. Examples include air currents, temperature, moisture, light, and soil.Examples include air currents, temperature, moisture, light, and soil. Abiotic factors affect an organism’s life.Abiotic factors affect an organism’s life. Abiotic factors- the nonliving parts of an organism’s environment.Abiotic factors- the nonliving parts of an organism’s environment. Examples include air currents, temperature, moisture, light, and soil.Examples include air currents, temperature, moisture, light, and soil. Abiotic factors affect an organism’s life.Abiotic factors affect an organism’s life. 5

6 The Living Environment Biotic factors- all the living organisms that inhabit an 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.All organisms depend on others directly or indirectly for food, shelter, reproduction, or protection. Biotic factors- all the living organisms that inhabit an 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.All organisms depend on others directly or indirectly for food, shelter, reproduction, or protection. 6

7 Abiotic or Biotic? Biotic 7

8 Abiotic 8

9 Abiotic 9

10 Abiotic or Biotic? Biotic 10

11 Levels of Organization 11

12 What are the Simplest Levels? AtomAtom MoleculeMolecule OrganelleOrganelle CellCell TissueTissue OrganOrgan SystemSystem AtomAtom MoleculeMolecule OrganelleOrganelle CellCell TissueTissue OrganOrgan SystemSystem 12

13 Levels of Organization Ecologists have organized the interactions an organism takes part in into different levels according to complexity.Ecologists have organized the interactions an organism takes part in into different levels according to complexity. 13

14 1 st Level of Organization Organism: An individual living thing that is made of cells, uses energy, reproduces, responds, grows, and developsOrganism: An individual living thing that is made of cells, uses energy, reproduces, responds, grows, and develops 14

15 2 nd Level of Organization Population: A group of organisms, all of the same species, which interbreed and live in the same place at the same time.Population: A group of organisms, all of the same species, which interbreed and live in the same place at the same time. 15

16 3 rd Level of Organization Biological Community: All the populations of different species that live in the same place at the same time.Biological Community: All the populations of different species that live in the same place at the same time. 16

17 4 th Level 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)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) 17

18 5 th Level of Organization Biome:Biome: group of ecosystems with the same climate and similar dominant communities 18

6 th Level of Organization 19 Biosphere: The portion of Earth that supports life.Biosphere: The portion of Earth that supports life. 19

20 The Biosphere Life is found in air, on land, and in fresh and salt water.Life is found in air, on land, and in fresh and salt water. The BIOSPHERE is the portion of Earth that supports living things.The BIOSPHERE is the portion of Earth that supports living things. Life is found in air, on land, and in fresh and salt water.Life is found in air, on land, and in fresh and salt water. The BIOSPHERE is the portion of Earth that supports living things.The BIOSPHERE is the portion of Earth that supports living things. 20

21 Does this make it easier to understand the complexity??? 21

22 What level of organization? Organism 22

23 What level of Organization? Community 23

24 What level of Organization? Population 24

Extension Work -Create a foldable on the following Land Biomes: -Tropical Rain Forest -Tropical Savanna -Desert -Temperate Grassland -Temperate Woodland/ Shrubland -Coniferous Forest -Boreal Forest -Tundra -Create a foldable on the following Land Biomes: -Tropical Rain Forest -Tropical Savanna -Desert -Temperate Grassland -Temperate Woodland/ Shrubland -Coniferous Forest -Boreal Forest -Tundra 25

Include the following information: Precipitation Temperature Soil Diversity Plants Animals Precipitation Temperature Soil Diversity Plants Animals 26