1. Introduction to Ecology

2. Ecology
Study of the interactions between organisms (biotic) and the non-living (abiotic) parts of their environment
Each organism depends in some way on other living and non-living things in its environment

3. Abiotic Factors
Abiotic factors- non-living factors in the ecosystem that affects that ecosystem
Ex. Sunlight, salt, oxygen, rainfall, temperature, Chemicals, etc.

4. Biotic Factors Biotic factors- living components of an ecosystem
Interactions between organisms that can affect the ecosystem

5. Biotic: anything living or once alive
Abiotic: anything not living

6. Levels of Organization

7. Levels of Organization
Smallest
organism
population
Community
ecosystem
Biome
Biosphere
Largest

8. Organism (species)
a single living species

9. Population all the organisms of the same species living
in one place at one time

10. Community
Community- all of the populations of living organisms in one area at one time

11. Ecosystem
Ecosystem- All organisms and the non-living environment in an area
Can be as small as your back yard or as large as the world.

12. Biome Large group of ecosystems that share the same climate.
Examples: Tundra, Desert, Temperate Deciduous Forest.

13. Biosphere
Relatively thin layer of Earth and its atmosphere that supports life.
All of the biomes make up the biosphere.

14. Habitat
Habitat- the physical location of the organism

15. Niche Niche- an organism’s role in the community (like a job)
It includes the way an organism interacts with its environment. (ex: How it gets food, how it finds shelter, when it reproduces, how many offspring it has)

16. Symbiosis: close relationship between any 2 living organisms Remember:
Sym = together
Bio = living
3 Types of symbiotic relationships
Mutualism
Commensalism
Parasitism

17. Mutualism- two species cooperating, they both benefit (+ and +)
ex. bees and flowers, hippos and fish

18. Commensalism- one species benefits from another, the other species is not affected (+ and no affect)
ex. Sea anemones and clown fish
Barnacles and whales
NEMO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

19. Parasitism- one species benefits from another, the other species is harmed (+ and -), detriment=harm
dogs and ticks, humans and tape worms

20. Competition
competition- organisms that are in the same niche and are therefore struggling for a resource
(- and -)
There are 2 types
Interspecific- between 2 different species
Ex: lions and hyenas or pine trees and oak trees
Intraspecific- between same species
Ex: 2 male elephants fighting for female

21. Predation (+ and -)
predation- one species, the predator, hunting and eating another, the prey
leopards and gazelles, spider and fly

22. Competition
an interaction between organisms or species in which both the organisms or species are harmed.
Causes of Competition:
Defend organisms space-territory
Defend resources-food, water, available females
Plants-compete for soil, nutrients and sunlight

23. Spatial Distribution: How spread out a population is
Spatial Distribution: How spread out a population is. Where the population is located.
Population Density: How many individual organisms are in a given area
Limiting factors: Natural barriers (like land, mountains, ocean) that limit where populations can live.

24. The end
Loris is an arboreal (animal which lives on trees) and slow-moving animal. It is nocturnal.
Usuall found in South East Asian countries-India, China, Sri Lanka. They don’t have tails and they use hands and legs to move from one tree to another tree. They are insectivorous but also feed on vegetables.