Welcome to Class! 8-28 Complete the following:  Take out Journal with Cornell notes for Homework grade (be sure to Enter new entry as well as label the page you took notes on for today “What is Ecology?”)  Glue in vocabulary #2 next available page and create 3 column chart just like vocab#1

Agenda  Lecture notes on What is Ecology?  Sort out cards  Summary/Concept Map  Homefun:  none but I’d like you to complete lab report for Heart Rate Lab over the weekends!  In addition, there will be another lecture note posted over the weekends. This is not for a grade but it would be better to take Cornell notes ahead of time so you don’t spend lots of time in class trying to copy down the notes

What Is Ecology?

Learning Objectives  Describe the study of ecology.  Explain how biotic and abiotic factors influence an ecosystem.  Describe the methods used to study ecology.

Biology Biology is the study of life. But what IS life?

Characteristics of Life Genetic code Grow and develop Respond to their environment Reproduce Homeostasis Metabolism Evolve Made of cells

Made of Cells Living organisms all show order; highly-organized structures in their cells, tissues, organs, or organ systems. – Example: The presence of tiny hair-like structures called cilia covering the entire surface of a single-celled paramecium.

Evolve In a population, individuals with favorable traits will survive and reproduce at higher rates. – These traits are called adaptations. A male Chilean stag beetle, Chiasognatus granti.

Response to their environment Living organisms have the ability to respond to changes in their environment called stimuli.

Living organisms must maintain a specific range of internal conditions in spite of the outside changes. This balance is called homeostasis. Chickens pant to give off excess heat.

All life is able to reproduce, passing their genes along to healthy, fertile offspring. King snakes hatching.

Grow and Develop Organisms grow and develop along a specific sequence based on the instructions present in their genes.

Metabolism Each organism must have a source of energy. Monarch butterfly caterpillar.

Genetic Code All living things contain Genetic Information – Example: DNA and RNA

Organization of Life The biosphere is the part of Earth that supports life. An ecosystem is a specific area within the biosphere with a common set of physical characteristics. – Climate, soil, landforms, etc.

The biological community is made of all populations living and interacting in one ecosystem. A population includes all members of a species that live in the same community. An organism is an individual living thing.

Organisms are made of organ systems and organs, structures with a specific vital function. Each organ is made of a collection of tissues, which are groups of cells with similar structure and functions. The cell is the smallest unit of an organism that still demonstrates all the basic characteristics of life. Moss is an organism made of stems and leaves (organs). Each leaf is made of different tissues, which then contains many cells.

Ecology The scientific investigation and analysis of interactions among organisms and their responses to external factors in their environment

Species and Populations SpeciesPopulation

Community PopulationCommunity

Ecosystem CommunityEcosystem

Biome Ecosystem Biome

Biosphere BiomeBiosphere

Biotic and Abiotic EnvironmentBioticAbiotic

Ecological Methods Observation Experimentation Modeling

Levels of Organization Biosphere Ecosystem Population Organism Community Biome

Student Worksheet Answers