1. Analyze the picture below. In your notebooks, create a list of all the living and non-living organisms you observe. Write a summary of how the organisms seen here are interacting.

2. Ecology Ecology is the scientific study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment (eco from oikos - Greek for “house”) If we studied the ecology of the entire planet and all the portions that contain life, we would be studying the biosphere The biosphere contains the combined portions of the planet in which all life exists, including land, water and air (atmosphere)

3. Why do we study Ecology? Understanding the relationships between organisms in the environment allows us to predict how changes in one organism will affect others. How do we affect other organisms? How do we affect the environment?

4. How do you interact with your environment? In your notebook, draw out the organisms that you might interact with on any given day Use lines to connect the organisms and write the nature of the interaction along the line Feeds and walks dog Chases and eats bird

5. Summary Why should we study ecology? What are some ways we interact with living things in our environment? What are some ways we interact with non-living things in our environment?