Unit 2 – Lecture 1

Ecology the study of the relationships between living things and their environments “eco” – environment or ecology [greek: oikos = house / home – ie, Earth]

Ecology – cont’d Includes relationships with biotic and abiotic factors: biotic – living abiotic – non-living prefix “a-” means non, or not

Ecological Organization Organism anything which contains ALL of the charictaristics of life Species: a group of related organisms that can interbreed [and produce offspring that are fertile]

Ecological Organization – cont’d Population: a single species in a single location at the same time

Ecological Organization – cont’d Community: a group of ALL of the populations in a single location at the same time

Ecological Organization – cont’d Ecosystem : includes the community [all biotic factors] PLUS all abiotic factors in an environment

Ecological Organization – cont’d Biome: geographic area which has similar conditions climate, flora, fauna flora – plant-life fauna – animal-life no specific number of biomes that exist examples?

Ecological Organization – cont’d Biosphere: everywhere on earth where life can exist