Unit 3.1: Ecology Intro & Biomes Chapters 3 & 4

Everything is connected to everything else Ecology Ecology: study of interactions between organisms & their environment In the broadest sense, Ecology focuses on the Biosphere Everything is connected to everything else

Ecology Biosphere: all the portions of the Earth where life exists (including land, water, and air/atmosphere)

Levels of organization in an Biosphere: We learned this already… Atoms are bonded together to form: Molecules form: Organelles work together in a: Cells of the same type form a: Tissues work together to form: Organs are arranged in: Organ systems make up a: Molecule Organelle Cell Tissue Organ Organ system Organism

Levels of organization in an Biosphere: But there’s more… Groups of organisms of the same species that live together: Populations of different species living in the same place: All biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) factors in particular area: Abiotic ex: weather, rocks, soil, etc. Population Community Ecosystem

Ecology Breaking it down… Organism: an individual living thing Species: organisms that breed and produce fertile offspring

Ecology Breaking it down… Habitat: where an organism lives Ex: Zebra lives in the African Savanna Niche: an organism’s role in the environment Ex: Zebras eat grass.

Ecology Population: group of the same species living in the same area Ex: elephants in the Savanna Populations

Feeding relationships Ecology Community: populations of different species living in the same area (all living – biotic factors) Ex: elephants, lions, zebras in the savanna Community Feeding relationships

Feeding relationships Ecology Ecosystem: All the biotic (living) and abiotic (non- living) parts of an environment Ex: soil, water, temp, lions, zebras in the Savanna Ecosystem Feeding relationships

Ecology Biome: group of ecosystems that have the same climate and dominant vegetation

Rainforest high biodiversity lots of rain, lots of sunlight, always warm many plants & animals

Savanna mid biodiversity dry season/wet season, always warm frequent fires in dry season many herbivores

Desert low biodiversity very dry, hot in day & cold at night very few plants & only small animals: reptiles, insects, rodents, birds

Temperate Grassland (Midwest U.S.) mid biodiversity dry season/wet season, cold winters/hot summers frequent fires in dry season many herbivores

Temperate Deciduous Forest high biodiversity 4 seasons: warm summer with rains, cold winter with snow deciduous trees, many mammals, insects, birds, etc.

Coniferous Forest (Taiga) mid biodiversity northern forest, drier, cooler evergreens, mammals, birds, insects, etc.

Tundra low biodiversity cold year round, dry, permafrost only lichens & mosses & mostly migrating animals