1. Ecology
Study of the interactions of organisms with one another and with their physical surroundings.

2. Earth is a Living Planet
Earth is a single living system.
It is a biosphere.

3. A view of Earth from space
A Central Park woodland
Approaching Central Park (the red rectangle in the middle of this photo)
An eastern gray squirrel
Figure 1.2.1

4. A Hierarchy of Interactions
Organismal ecology (individual)
Population ecology (group of individuals)
Community ecology (all organisms in a particular area)
Ecosystem ecology (all organisms and abiotic factors)

5. Ecosystems consists of a given area’s physical features
(______________) and living organisms
(______________).
abiotic factors
biotic factors

8. B. ECOSYSTEM STRUCTURE 1. abiotic factors – ____________________
1. abiotic factors – ____________________
examples: __________________________
nonliving components
water, light, heat, gases, minerals
2. Biotic factors –
organisms transfer energy,
participate in cycle of chemicals,
change environment

9. Introductory Questions #6
1. A group of ecosystems that have the same climate & dominate communities are called _______.
At what biological levels does the study of Ecology include? (see Fig. 3-2)
Ecological research involves three fundamental approaches. Name these three approaches. (see Fig. 3-3)
What is the main energy source for all life?
Explain how an autotroph is different from a heterotroph. Give three examples for each.

10. Ecology analyzes the highest level on the heirarchy (pg. 1082)

11. Ecosystems 11

12. Biotic Factors Living aspects of an ecosystem such as_____________
_______________, worms, amoebas, and waterlilies.
fishes, frogs,
insects, snails,

13. Biotic Factors

14. Habitats
the location or surrounding where the organism lives

15. Community
organisms living together in an ecosystem

16. Niches
the behavior of organisms in their habitats.

17. Abiotic factors
nonliving physical parts of an ecosystem such as _______________ type, rocks, temperature,
_______________, and rainfall.
water, sunlight, soil
humidity, elevation
Wind: Can affect the pattern of a plant’s growth

18. Abiotic Factors Temperature Sunlight Water & precipitation Wind
Rocks & Soil
Climate (prevailing weather comb of factors)
Bodies of water: lakes, oceans, rivers
Seasons & positioning of the Earth
Mountains 18