Ecology: The Study of interactions between organisms and their environment

An Organism is a Living Thing But What Makes Something ALIVE??? Basic unit of “organization” is the cell Ability to Grow and Develop Ability to Reproduce Ability to Adapt and Respond to the Environment (Response to Stimuli) Ability to Maintain Homeostasis Ability to use Energy

1. Cell is the basic unit of life

2.) Growth Individual Growth (getting bigger)

3.) Reproduction a. Necessary for a species but NOT an individual b. Sexual/asexual reproduction c. Ability to pass genetic information (DNA) to offspring

4. Interact and Respond to the environment Adapt to changes in their environment ii. Respond to stimuli

iii. Production of cells/growth 5) Homeostasis is the maintenance of a constant internal environment i. % of water in your body ii. Body Temperature iii. Production of cells/growth

6.) Requires Energy i. Acquire energy (from sunlight or another organism) ii. The ability to exchange gases a. Respiration Animals – Oxygen in/ Carbon Dioxide out b. Plants – Carbon Dioxide in/Oxygen out

Levels of Organization Biosphere Biome Ecosystem Community The study of ecology ranges from the study of an individual organism to populations, communities, ecosystems, biomes—and, finally, to the entire biosphere. The information that ecologists gain at each level contributes to our understanding of natural systems. Population Individual - Species

Levels of Organization: Individual vs. Species Individual (The single organism): -You -Squirrel -Pine Tree SPECIES: A group of very similar organisms that are able to breed and produce fertile offspring ( Passing on DNA/Genes) The smallest level that ecologists study is the species focusing on adaptations of the species to its environment (Meaning that they are looking at the species, not an individual)

The Mule Father = Male Donkey 62 Chromosomes Mother = Female Horse Offspring = Mule 63 Chromosomes

Levels of Organization: Population Groups of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the same area Ex: Upper Cape Tech students living in the surrounding towns

Levels of Organization: Community Grouping of all populations that live in the same area Ex: All living organisms at a set lake (algae, deer, fish, protists, bacteria)

Levels of Organization: Ecosystem A collection of all organisms that live in a particular place, together with their nonliving environment. Ex: All Biotic Factors (algae, deer, fish, protists, bacteria) at a lake and the Abiotic Factors including water, dissolved chemicals, types of rock, soil, and sediments.

Levels of Organization: Biome Group of ecosystems that have same climate and similar dominant communities (why?) Climate Typical weather pattern of area over time Major factors = temperature and precipitation

Levels of Organization: Biosphere? The largest of Nature’s “houses” Contains all portions of the planet in which life exists It includes land, water, air It extends from 8km above earth’s surface to 11km below surface of ocean.