Lesson 1: Introduction to Ecology Unit 1 Lesson 1: Introduction to Ecology

The Web of Life Organisms need energy and matter to live. When organisms interact with one another there is an exchange of energy and matter. All organisms are connected to each and to the environment. Ecology – the study of how organisms interact with one another and with the environment.

The Web of Life Through the living environment. Biotic factor – an interaction between organisms (living) in an area. Bio = life Through the nonliving environment. Abiotic factor – a nonliving part of an environment. A = non or not Examples: water, nutrients, soil, sunlight, rainfall, temperature, climate, rocks, air. Abiotic factors influence where organisms can survive.

Levels of Organization The environment can be organized into different levels. Level 1 – an individual organism. Level 2 – Population – a group of individuals of the same species that live in the same place at the same time. Species – organisms that are closely related and can mate to produce offspring. Individuals within a population often compete for resources such as food, mates, shelter, etc.

Levels of Organization Level 3 – Communities – make up all the populations of different species that live and interact in an area. There is also competition for resources among all species. Level 4 – Ecosystems – a community of organisms and their nonliving environment. Includes all biotic and abiotic factors. Examples: Pond, forest, swamp, etc.

Think Globally Biome – Contains many ecosystems. - Large regions that share climate conditions, such as temperature and rainfall, and have communities of species. - Major land biomes: tropical rainforest, grassland, desert, rain forest, tundra, savanna, taiga, etc.

Home Sweet Home Ecologists – a scientists who studies the different kinds of organisms and their role in the environment. Niche – a role a population of species play in an ecosystem. Example: how it gets food, how it interacts with other populations. Lion and gazelle.

Home Sweet Home Habitat - a place where an organism lives, a part of an organisms’ niche. Provide all the resources an organism needs to survive. 2 populations cannot occupy the same niche.