1 What is Ecology? copyright cmassengale

2 What is Ecology?? The study of interactions that take place between organisms and their environment.The study of interactions that take place between organisms and their environment. It explains how living organisms affect each other and the world they live in.It explains how living organisms affect each other and the world they live in. The study of interactions that take place between organisms and their environment.The study of interactions that take place between organisms and their environment. It explains how living organisms affect each other and the world they live in.It explains how living organisms affect each other and the world they live in. copyright cmassengale

3 Habitat & Niche Habitat is the place a plant or animal livesHabitat is the place a plant or animal lives Niche is an organism’s total way of lifeNiche is an organism’s total way of life Habitat is the place a plant or animal livesHabitat is the place a plant or animal lives Niche is an organism’s total way of lifeNiche is an organism’s total way of life copyright cmassengale

4 The Nonliving Environment Abiotic factors- the nonliving parts of an organism’s environment.Abiotic factors- the nonliving parts of an organism’s environment. Examples include air currents, temperature, moisture, light, and soil.Examples include air currents, temperature, moisture, light, and soil. Abiotic factors affect an organism’s life.Abiotic factors affect an organism’s life. Abiotic factors- the nonliving parts of an organism’s environment.Abiotic factors- the nonliving parts of an organism’s environment. Examples include air currents, temperature, moisture, light, and soil.Examples include air currents, temperature, moisture, light, and soil. Abiotic factors affect an organism’s life.Abiotic factors affect an organism’s life. copyright cmassengale

5 The Living Environment Biotic factors- all the living organisms that inhabit an environment.Biotic factors- all the living organisms that inhabit an environment. All organisms depend on others directly or indirectly for food, shelter, reproduction, or protection.All organisms depend on others directly or indirectly for food, shelter, reproduction, or protection. Biotic factors- all the living organisms that inhabit an environment.Biotic factors- all the living organisms that inhabit an environment. All organisms depend on others directly or indirectly for food, shelter, reproduction, or protection.All organisms depend on others directly or indirectly for food, shelter, reproduction, or protection. copyright cmassengale

6 Abiotic or Biotic? Biotic copyright cmassengale

7 Abiotic or Biotic? Abiotic copyright cmassengale

8 Abiotic or Biotic? Abiotic copyright cmassengale

9 Abiotic or Biotic? Biotic copyright cmassengale

10 Levels of Organization copyright cmassengale

11 What are the Simplest Levels? AtomAtom MoleculeMolecule OrganelleOrganelle CellCell TissueTissue OrganOrgan SystemSystem AtomAtom MoleculeMolecule OrganelleOrganelle CellCell TissueTissue OrganOrgan SystemSystem copyright cmassengale

12 Levels of Organization Ecologists have organized the interactions an organism takes part in into different levels according to complexity.Ecologists have organized the interactions an organism takes part in into different levels according to complexity. copyright cmassengale

13 1 st Level of Organization Organism: An individual living thing that is made of cells, uses energy, reproduces, responds, grows, and developsOrganism: An individual living thing that is made of cells, uses energy, reproduces, responds, grows, and develops copyright cmassengale

14 2 nd Level of Organization Population: A group of organisms, all of the same species, which interbreed and live in the same place at the same time.Population: A group of organisms, all of the same species, which interbreed and live in the same place at the same time. copyright cmassengale

15 3 rd Level of Organization Biological Community: All the populations of different species that live in the same place at the same time.Biological Community: All the populations of different species that live in the same place at the same time. copyright cmassengale

16 4 th Level of Organization Ecosystem: Populations of plants and animals that interact with each other in a given area with the abiotic components of that area. (terrestrial or aquatic)Ecosystem: Populations of plants and animals that interact with each other in a given area with the abiotic components of that area. (terrestrial or aquatic) copyright cmassengale

17 5 th Level of Organization Biosphere: The portion of Earth that supports life.Biosphere: The portion of Earth that supports life. copyright cmassengale

18 The Biosphere Life is found in air, on land, and in fresh and salt water.Life is found in air, on land, and in fresh and salt water. The BIOSPHERE is the portion of Earth that supports living things.The BIOSPHERE is the portion of Earth that supports living things. Life is found in air, on land, and in fresh and salt water.Life is found in air, on land, and in fresh and salt water. The BIOSPHERE is the portion of Earth that supports living things.The BIOSPHERE is the portion of Earth that supports living things. copyright cmassengale

19 What level of organization? Organism copyright cmassengale

20 What level of Organization? Community copyright cmassengale

21 What level of Organization? Population copyright cmassengale

4.2 Community Interactions Community interactions, such as competition, predation, and symbiosis, can powerfully affect an ecosystem. –Competition occurs when living things try to use the same resources. Competition often results in one organism dying out. –Predation occurs when one organism (the predator) captures and eats another (the prey). Community interactions, such as competition, predation, and symbiosis, can powerfully affect an ecosystem. –Competition occurs when living things try to use the same resources. Competition often results in one organism dying out. –Predation occurs when one organism (the predator) captures and eats another (the prey).

Community Interactions –Symbiosis occurs when 2 species live close together in one of three ways. Mutualism: Both species benefit from the relationship. Commensalism: One species benefits. The other is neither helped nor harmed. Parasitism: One species benefits by living in or on the other. The other species is harmed. –Symbiosis occurs when 2 species live close together in one of three ways. Mutualism: Both species benefit from the relationship. Commensalism: One species benefits. The other is neither helped nor harmed. Parasitism: One species benefits by living in or on the other. The other species is harmed.