Introduction to Ecology

Ecology the study of interactions between biotic (living) and abiotic (nonliving) factors of an ecosystem “eco-” = house “-ology” = the study of the study of the relationships between organisms and their environments studies the movement of matter and energy in living things

Ecologist a person who studies ecology

Levels of Organization Individual/Organism Populations Community Ecosystem Biome Biosphere

Levels of Organization

Individual also called an organism 1 individual living thing the simplest unit of biological organization Example: 1 elk

Population a number of organisms belonging to the same species that live in a defined area populations are used by people to describe the number of people living in a city, state, or country Example: a herd of 10 elk living in a state park

Community all the organisms living in a particular area or place Example: all of the living things (animals, plants, fungi, bacteria, etc.) living in a state park

Ecosystem a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment Example: all of the living things in a state park along with the water, soil, rocks, etc.

Biome a large naturally occurring community of flora (plants) and fauna (animals) occupying a major habitat Example: rainforest, savanna, desert, tundra

Biosphere where all living things on Earth live Example: the surface of the earth (including the bottom of the ocean)

Summary: Label the picture.