Ecology is the study of the interactions among living things, and between living things and their surroundings/environment.

Organism An organism is an individual living thing, such as an alligator.

Organism Population A population is a group of the same species that lives in one area.

Organism Population Community A community is a group of different species that live together in one area.

Organism Population Community Ecosystem An ecosystem includes all of the organisms as well as the climate, soil, water, rocks and other nonliving things in a given area.

Organism Population Community Ecosystem Biome A biome is a major regional or global community of organisms characterized by the climate conditions and plant communities that thrive there.

Biomes

Ecology Ecological Research Consists Of: 1. Observations Direct Indirect 2. Experiments Lab Field 3. Modeling Making predictions Ex: Computer Models

An ecosystem includes both biotic and abiotic factors. Biotic factors are living things. plants animals fungi bacteria

Abiotic factors are nonliving things. –moisture –temperature –wind –sunlight –soil moisture sunlight

Changing one factor in an ecosystem can affect many other factors. Biodiversity is the assortment, or variety, of living things in an ecosystem. Where is biodiversity the greatest? Rainforests

A keystone species is a species that has an unusually large effect on its ecosystem. keystone

Keystone species form and maintain a complex web of life. creation of wetland ecosystem increased waterfowl Population increased fish population nesting sites for birds keystone species

Random Sampling Activity Random Sampling of a Big Bluestem Plot, 49m 2 Estimate vs. Actual Accurate? Potential Errors?

Population Problem #1 A scientist uses a quadrat of 2m 2 to estimate the population of daisies in a field. She counts 173 individuals in 15 quadrats. The total area of the field of 250m 2 Total Population Estimate = NA N = Total Number of Individuals/Number of Quadrats N = 173/15 = A = Total Area/Area of Quadrat A = 250/2 = 125 T = x 125 =

Population Problem #2 A scientist uses a 0.25m 2 quadrat to sample a population of dandelions in a garden that is 500m 2. The number of dandelions counted in 10 quadrats is 63. Total Population Estimate = NA N = Total Number of Individuals/Number of Quadrats N = 63/10 = 6.3 A = Total Area/Area of Quadrat A = 500/0.25 = 2000 T = 6.3 x 2000= 12,600

Homework 1. Read Kelp Forest Reading 3. Mark-Recapture Pre-AP Activity