1. The study of organisms and their environment
Ecology
The study of organisms and their environment

2. ECOSYSTEMS All of the biotic parts (living, such as bacteria, fungi,
animals, etc.) and the abiotic parts (nonliving, such
astemperature,
wind, water, etc.)
together make
up an ecosystem

3. A Stable Ecosystem: Population numbers fluctuate at a predictable rate
Supply of resources fluctuate at a predictable rate
Energy flows through the ecosystem at a fairly constant rate over time

5. There are limiting factors in an ecosystem that control the number of individuals that can live there
Limiting factors are space, food, water, mates, oxygen, nitrogen in soil, etc.
Limiting factors limit the number of individuals that can inhabit an ecosystem
Limiting factors cause competition among organisms

6. Limiting factors determine the carrying capacity – maximum number of individuals that can live in an ecosystem

8. Niche
The combination of where an organism fits into the food web, the specific habitat in which it lives, how it obtains food, their behavior, etc.

9. Exponential Human Population Growth Has Placed Tremendous Strains on the Environment for Resources

11. HUMAN POPULATION GROWTH HAS AN EFFECT ON:
Food shortages
Large amounts of waste produced
Lowers the amount of available fertile soil
Demand for land has led to deforestation which can increase erosion rates

12. Increases acids produced in the atmosphere due to burning of fuels from cars, factories, etc.
Higher production of chemicals that can damage the environment (CFCs for example)
Decreases the availability of renewable and nonrenewable resources

13. Contribute to poorer air quality
Decreases the amount of clean water
Larger amounts of waste products
Some waste products are not biodegradable or are toxic to the environment (Freon for example)
Use of chlorofluorohydrocarbons (CFCs) contributes to the depletion of the ozone layer that protects the earth from UV rays from the sun

14. Burning of fossil fuels for energy and transportation increases greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere (mostly CO2), which increases global temperatures that affect sea levels, climate and atmospheric composition

15. GEOCHEMICAL CYCLES
Movement of a particular form of matter through the living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem
Earth is a closed system, because matter changes form but is neither created nor destroyed; it is used over and over again

16. CARBON CYCLE
Carbon is recycled as CO2 is used in photosynthesis to make sugars, then given as during cellular respiration as sugars are broken down for energy

17. NITROGEN CYCLE
Nitrogen is fixed by bacteria in the soil; they take atmospheric nitrogen and convert it in nitrates that plants can use

18. WATER CYCLE

19. BIOTIC AND ABIOTIC FACTORS
Biotic factors are the living parts of an ecosystem (plants, animals, fungi, bacteria, etc.)
Abiotic factors are the nonliving parts of an ecosystem (temperature, pH, light, oxygen, nitrogen, soil, etc.)