Foothill High School Science Department Principles of Ecology What Is Ecology

Foothill High School Science Department Ecology Is the scientific study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment or surroundings. Is the scientific study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment or surroundings. – Ernst Haeckel, 1866

Foothill High School Science Department Biosphere All parts of the planet where life exists All parts of the planet where life exists – Land – Water Down 11 Kilometers Down 11 Kilometers – Air Up 8 Kilometers Up 8 Kilometers

Foothill High School Science Department Earths Biosphere Includes: Includes: – Lithosphere soil & rocks soil & rocks – Atmosphere gases gases – Hydrosphere water (liquid, frozen, fresh, salt) water (liquid, frozen, fresh, salt)

Foothill High School Science Department Earths Biosphere Nothing enters Nothing enters except sunlight except sunlight Nothing leaves Nothing leaves except heat except heat 1% converted into chemical energy 1% converted into chemical energy 170 Billion Tons of Organic Matter per year 170 Billion Tons of Organic Matter per year

Foothill High School Science Department Levels of Organization Key Concept: To understand relationships within the biosphere ecologists ask questions about events and organisms that range in complexity from a single individual to the entire Biosphere.

Foothill High School Science Department

Levels of Organization Species Species – Group of organisms that can reproduce Population Population – Groups of individual that live in the same area Communities Communities – Different populations that live in a defined area

Foothill High School Science Department Levels of Organization Ecosystem Ecosystem – Collection of all organisms that live in a particular place, and the non-living environment Biome Biome – Group of ecosystems that have the same climate and dominate communities.

Foothill High School Science Department Levels of Organization Biosphere Biosphere – Spaceship Earth – All Living & Non-Living Elements Contributing To Life On This Planet

Foothill High School Science Department Ecological Methods Key Concept: Regardless of the tools they use, scientists conduct modern ecological research using Observing Observing Experimenting Experimenting Modeling Modeling