Ecology

 Study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment

 These interactions produce a web of interdependence between organisms and their environment

 Ranges from the study of an individual organism, to populations, and up to the entire biosphere

 Species (Individual)  Populations  Communities  Ecosystem  Biome  Biosphere

 Species- an individual organism  Populations- groups of the same species living in the same area  Communities- different populations that live together in a defined area

 Ecosystem- collection of all the organisms and their nonliving environment  Biome- group of ecosystems  Biosphere- entire planet (including life, land, water, and air)

 Conduct ecological research using 3 methods while applying the scientific method: 1. Observing 2. Experimenting 3. Modeling

 Define ecology.  Identify the levels of organization that ecologists study.  What are the 3 methods scientists use to conduct ecological research?