Levels of Biological Organization

Abiotic (non-living) 1. Atom = the smallest part of an element made of protons, electrons, and neutrons Example = carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen

Abiotic (non-living) 2. Molecules = two or more atoms chemically joined together Examples = O2, CO2, H2O

Abiotic (non-living) 3. Organelle = a small part inside a cell that has a specific job to do Examples =vacuoles, nucleus, ribosomes

Biotic (living) 4. Cell =the basic unit of structure and function in living things Examples = white blood cell, skin cells, red blood cells, onion skin cell

Biotic (living) 5. Tissue = many cells of the same type working together for a common function Examples = skin tissue, muscle tissue

Biotic 6. Organ = several different tissues working together to form a structure with a specific function Example = heart, lungs, stomach, skin (largest organ)

Biotic 7, Organ System = a group of different organs working together to perform a major function for an organism Example = Respiratory system, digestive system

Biotic 8. Organism = a single living things that has all the characteristics of life Examples = dog, person, tree, bacteria, mushroom, paramecium

Biotic 9. Population = many organisms of the same kind (species) in the same place and at the same time. Example =herd of cows, flock of geese

Biotic 10. Community = all of the different kinds of organisms in the same place at the same time. Example = white tail deer, gray squirrel, white oak tree, red maple tree in Lion’s Park.

Biotic 11. Ecosystem = all the living things and all the non-living things in the same place at the same time Example = pond ecosystem

Biotic 12. Biome = a region of the earth’s surface with a specific climate characterized by certain plants and animals Example = desert, grassland, tundra

Biotic 13. Biosphere = the part of the earth where living things can be found (underground, in water, in the air, on earth’s surface) Example = earth