1. INTRO TO ECOLOGY pp

3. Ecology Defined
Ecology means "study of homes"
study the relationships of animals, plants, and their environment (interdependence)
A small change can affect the whole ecosystem

4. Levels of Organization

5. Biosphere Earth and its atmosphere that supports life
Ecosystem/Biome (kelp forest)
The community and its physical aspects (pH, temp)
Community (urchins, kelp, otters, sunflower star, etc)
all organisms
Population (all the sea urchins)
members of one species in one place
Organism (one sea urchin)

6. Ecology of Organisms
Response to biotic (living) and abiotic (nonliving) factors

7. conformers vs regulators
acclimation: adjust tolerance

8. dormancy vs migration

9. Niche/Habitat
Limited resources can result in competition

10. Niche - the job of an organism (usually based on what they eat)
1. Generalist: broad niche
2. Specialist: narrow niche and more at risk from habitat destruction than generalists

11. Habitat
1. The geographic location
Organisms having the same niche or overlapping habitats can result in competition