1. Ecology

2. Ecology is the branch of biology dealing with interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment or surroundings. –In other words, the study of how living and non-living things interact with each other. –It studies the relationships between the biosphere and the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere. –These interactions occur at different levels of complexity.

3. Earth’s Levels of Organization

4. Biosphere All living parts of the EARTH

5. The Biosphere The portion of earth’s surface in which all life exists. Includes land, water, and the atmosphere. Extends roughly 5 miles above sea level and 7 miles below.

6. Biosphere All living parts of the EARTH Biome A group of ecosystems that have the same climate and similar communities

7. Biomes

8. Biosphere All living parts of the EARTH Biome Ecosystem A group of ecosystems that have the same climate and similar communities A collection of organisms that live in a particular place together with their non-living physical environment.

9. A biome can have many ecosystems…. Both of these ecosystems are in the tropical biome. They are just in different places.

10. All ecosystems are composed of… Biotic Factors: Living Organisms –plants & animals Abiotic Factors: Non-living components –air, water, soil, temperature, humidity, sun Our school and its grounds are similar to an ecosystem……..

11. Think It Over….. Quickly & Quietly write down an answer for each of these questions 1.What biotic things are found in and around your school? 2.What abiotic things are found in your school? 3.Into what large groups are the students in your school divided? 4.Into what smaller groups are these large groups divided? 5.Are these smaller groups ever divided into even smaller groups? If so, what are these groups?

12. 1. What biotic things are found in and around your school? Students, teachers, principal, assistant principals, clerical staff, custodians, lunch ladies, skunks, birds, lizards, grass, trees, shrubs, insects etc….. 2. What abiotic things are found in your school? The building, furniture, desks, books, papers, and so on 3. Into what large groups are the students in your school divided? 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th grades 4. Into what smaller groups are these large groups divided? Classes, Advisories, Tutorials, Counselor Groups 5. Are these groups ever divided into even smaller groups? If so, what are these groups? Students may say that science classes are divided into lab groups; other classes may be divided into groups for projects.

13. Biosphere All living parts of the EARTH Biome Community Ecosystem A group of ecosystems that have the same climate and similar communities A collection of organisms that live in a particular place together with their non-living physical environment. Different populations living together in a defined area

14. What is different between an ecosystem and a community? Communities do NOT have any abiotic factors.

15. Biosphere All living parts of the EARTH Biome Community Ecosystem Population A group of ecosystems that have the same climate and similar communities A collection of organisms that live in a particular place together with their non-living physical environment. Different populations living together in a defined area Groups of individuals that belong to the same species (similar organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring) and live in the same area

16. A population focuses in on one specific species. Populations are not just animals. Any living species (like plants) can make its own population.

17. Niche & Habitat Each species in the ecosystem occupies a niche and a habitat. A habitat is the place within the ecosystem where the species lives. –Ex: forest floor, stream, in the trees. A niche is the species’ role within the ecosystem (their place in the food chain). –Ex: what it eats and what eats it.

18. Biodiversity Throughout each level of the ecosystem we can see biodiversity!! Biodiversity: The variety of all living organisms in a particular ecosystem. –“Bio” = living things“Diversity”=variety Biodiversity is critical for the stability of an ecosystem.

19. Biosphere All living parts of the EARTH Individual Organism Biome Community Ecosystem Population A group of ecosystems that have the same climate and similar communities A collection of organisms that live in a particular place together with their non-living physical environment. Populations living together in a defined area Groups of individuals that belong to the same species (similar organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring) and live in the same area