Chapter 3 The Biosphere
Ecology – scientific study of the interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment. Methods of study for ecology: - Observation - Experimentation - Modeling
Levels of organization: - Species - Population - Community - Ecosystem - Biome - Biosphere
Biotic factors – = Biological influences – any living thing with which an organism may come in contact
Abiotic Factors – = Physical components of the ecosystem – any nonliving part of the environment
Autotrophs A.k.a. producers Obtain energy from photosynthesis or chemosynthesis Chemosynthesis = process in which organic compounds are produced from inorganic molecules
Heterotrophs A.k.a. consumers Obtain energy from other organisms
Food chain = series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating or being eaten.
Food web = multiple food chains together. Trophic Levels – each step in chain or web; “feeding” level