What is Ecology?  The study of organisms and how they interact with their environment. (includes both biotic and abiotic factors).

What is an Ecosystem?  A collection of the organisms that live in a particular place together with their nonliving or physical environment.

Biotic & Abiotic Factors  Biotic factors – the biological influences on an organism within an ecosystem, the living cast of living characters

Biotic v. Abiotic Factors  Abiotic factors – physical or non living factors that influence an ecosystem.

Biotic or Abiotic?

Levels of Organization within an Ecosystem  The study of ecology ranges from the study of individual organisms to the study of the entire biosphere. 1. Species (Individual) 2. Population 3. Community 4. Ecosystem 5. Biome 6. Biosphere

Levels of Organization 1.A species is a group of organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring. (ex: black bears) 2. A population is a group of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the same area (ex: all the black bears in Yellowstone Park)

Levels of Organization 3.A community is a group of different populations that live together in a defined area. Exp. lions and tigers and bears living in the same area 4. A ecosystem is a collection of all the organisms that live in a particular place, together with their physical environment

Levels of Organization 5. A biome is a group of ecosystems that have the same climate and dominant communities. 6. A biosphere is the parts of the earth in which life exists, including land, water, air and atmosphere.

Ecology: Levels of Organization

The Niche  An organisms' niche is the full range of physical and biological conditions in which the organism lives and the way in which it uses those conditions.

The Niche  A organisms niche includes - the type of food it consumes - how it obtains food - physical conditions necessary to survive - the organism's reproductive pattern

Niche v. Habitat  An organisms habitat is where it lives  An organisms niche is how it lives

No two species can share the same niche in the same habitat. Bay-Breasted Warbler Feeds in the middle part of the tree Spruce tree Yellow-Rumped Warbler Feeds in the lower part of the tree and at the bases of the middle branches Cape May Warbler Feeds at the tips of branches near the top of the tree