Introduction to the Ecology Unit

What is ecology? Ecology (Def.): The study of interactions that take place between organisms and their environment

Review: What does bio- mean? Biotic (Def.) Factors: Are all the living parts of the environment. Example: Animals, plants, bacteria The prefix ‘a-’ means opposite of Abiotic (Def.) Factors: Are all the non-living parts of the environment. Example: Dirt, Rock, Water, Air

What are the characteristics of an organism (living things)?

#1: All living things have an organized structure: composed of one or more cells.

#2: All living things need energy

#3: All living things reproduce.

#4: All living things grow and develop.

#5: Living things adapt and evolve. Ex. Trees adjust to cold, dry winter weather by losing their leaves.

Habitat (def.): a place where an organism lives out its life Ex: lawn, bottom of a stream, forest, pond Niche (def.): strategies and adaptations a species uses in its environments – how it meets its specific needs for food and shelter, how and where it survives, and where it reproduces

Organism (def.) – An individual living (ONE) thing

Biosphere: ALL ecosystems put together Population- a group of individuals of a single species that occupy the same general area. Community-interacting populations (different species)that live in the same area. Ecosystem- made of 1 or more communities; an environment of biotic and abiotic factors. Biosphere: ALL ecosystems put together

Population

We are a population too  schurz population

community

ecosystem

BIOSPHERE

Poster Organism Population Community Ecosystem