1 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.

2 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

3 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.

4 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.

5 Levels of Organization

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

7 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

8 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.

9 Populations Population Size –Number of individuals in a population –Affects population’s ability to survive –Ex. Smaller populations are more likely to be endangered by random events such as natural disasters. Population Density –Number of individuals that live in a given area.

10 Population Growth Populations grow when more individuals are born than die in a given period. Population growth can be plotted on a graph. –Exponential Growth Curve Rate of population growth stays the same, as a result the population size increases steadily.

11 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.

12 Symbiosis SYMBIOSIS –Interactions between species can become so intimate that one or both become dependent on the other PARASTISM COMMENSALISM MUTALISM

13 Parasitism One species benefits at the expense of the other. Ex. Leech sucking your blood!!!

14 Commensalism One species benefits while the other is unaffected Ex. Epiphytes are plants that grow on trees. They do not harm or help the trees that live on.

15 Mutualism Both species benefit Ex. Insects and birds often eat the nectar made by flowers and while doing so they will get pollen attached to their feet. When they fly away they spread the pollen onto nearby flowers which aides in the reproduction of the plant.

16 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 Biomes A major biological community that occurs over a large area of land. –Examples Tropical Rainforest Savannas Deserts Taiga Tundra Temperate Grasslands Temperate Deciduous Forest Temperate Evergreen Forest Freshwater Communities Wetlands Shallow Ocean Waters Surface of the open Sea Ocean Depths

18 Cycles in Ecosystems Elements are recycled through the environment –Carbon –Water –Nitrogen

19 Water Cycle

20 Carbon Cycle

21 Nitrogen Cycle

22 5 th Level of Organization Biosphere: The portion of Earth that supports life.Biosphere: The portion of Earth that supports life.

23 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.