3. Ecology  Study of interactions between - energy and the environment  Study of interactions between - living and non-living stuff  Study of interactions between - living organisms and how they affect the environment

4. Abiotic Factors  Water – must be plentiful and usable  Soil – includes rock particles, water, air and organic (non living) materials  Temperature – suitable for life (endo- or ectothermic)  Light – radiant energy, harnessed by algae and plants  Inorganic substances – rocks, minerals, air

5. Biotic Factors  All organisms in ecosystem  Plants  Animals  Monerans  Protists  Fungi

6. Limiting Factors  Any biotic or abiotic component limits the size and complexity of the community  Water in the desert  Number of trees to nest in  Hours of daylight

7. What are the limiting factors here???

8. Energy Pyramid

9. Energy in the Ecosystem

10. The Winner is….  Decomposers – feed on everything

11. Food Chain  Single strand of web (simple)  Ex Sun  Daisy  Catipillar  Cardinal  Cat  Worm

12. Food Web  Many intertwined strands (complex)