1. Please place homework in the basket. 2. Pickup the notes and the half-sheet. 1

2 What is Ecology?

3 Place homework in the silver basket. Pick up a copy of the notes.

4 Organisms and Their Environment

5 What is Ecology?? The study of interactions that take place between organisms and their environment.The study of interactions that take place between organisms and their environment. It explains how living organisms affect each other and the world they live in.It explains how living organisms affect each other and the world they live in.

6 Habitat & Niche Habitat is the place a plant or animal livesHabitat is the place a plant or animal lives Niche is an organism’s total way of lifeNiche is an organism’s total way of life

7 The Nonliving Environment Abiotic factors- the nonliving parts of an organism’s environment.Abiotic factors- the nonliving parts of an organism’s environment. Examples include air currents, temperature, moisture, light, and soil.Examples include air currents, temperature, moisture, light, and soil. Abiotic factors affect an organism’s life.Abiotic factors affect an organism’s life.

8 The Living Environment Biotic factors- all the living organisms that inhabit an environment.Biotic factors- all the living organisms that inhabit an environment. All organisms depend on others directly or indirectly for food, shelter, reproduction, or protection.All organisms depend on others directly or indirectly for food, shelter, reproduction, or protection.

9 Abiotic or Biotic? Biotic

10 Abiotic or Biotic? Abiotic

11 Abiotic or Biotic? Abiotic

12 Abiotic or Biotic? Biotic

13 Limiting Factors Environmental factors that restrain population growth Density Dependent – factors related to population density –Ex. food, space, light, water, disease Density Independent – factors not related to population density –Ex. climate, natural disasters, habitat destruction Biotic – factors that are or once were living (ex. plants, animals) Abiotic – factors that are not living (ex. rocks, water, air

14 Succession The gradual regrowth of species over time Pioneer species – the first species to grow in an area –Small, quick reproducers, require limited nutrients Climax Community – successions endpoint Primary Succession – starts on new land (ex. rocks, lava beds) Secondary Succession – starts on cleared land (ex. fields, after fire)

15 Levels of Organization

16 Levels of Organization Ecologists have organized the interactions an organism takes part in into different levels according to complexity.Ecologists have organized the interactions an organism takes part in into different levels according to complexity.

17 1 st Level of Organization Organism: An individual living thing that is made of cells, uses energy, reproduces, responds, grows, and developsOrganism: An individual living thing that is made of cells, uses energy, reproduces, responds, grows, and develops

18 2 nd Level of Organization Population: A group of organisms, all of the same species, which interbreed and live in the same place at the same time.Population: A group of organisms, all of the same species, which interbreed and live in the same place at the same time.

19 3 rd Level of Organization Community: All the populations of different species that live in the same place at the same time.Community: All the populations of different species that live in the same place at the same time.

20 4 th Level of Organization Ecosystem: Populations of plants and animals that interact with each other in a given area with the abiotic components of that area. (terrestrial or aquatic)Ecosystem: Populations of plants and animals that interact with each other in a given area with the abiotic components of that area. (terrestrial or aquatic)

21 5 th Level of Organization Biosphere: The portion of Earth that supports life.Biosphere: The portion of Earth that supports life.

22 The Biosphere Life is found in air, on land, and in fresh and salt water.Life is found in air, on land, and in fresh and salt water. The BIOSPHERE is the portion of Earth that supports living things.The BIOSPHERE is the portion of Earth that supports living things.

23 What level of organization? Organism

24 What level of Organization? Community

25 What level of Organization? Population

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