1. Lesson 1.1 Living Things and the Environment Big Questions: What does an organism get from its environment? What are the two parts of an organisms habitat? How is an ecosystem organized?

2. Ecosystem All the living (biotic) and non-living things (abiotic) that interact in a particular area The place where an organism lives and provides the things the organisms needs

3. Biotic Factors: The living part of the ecosystem. For example: in the prairie dog’s ecosystem this would be the grass, plants, and animals that live there.

4. Abiotic Factors Water-all living things need water to carry out life processes Sunlight-necessary to carry out photosynthesis and maintain homeostasis Oxygen-needed to carry out normal life processes Temperature-help determine types of organisms that can live in an area Soil-mixture of rock, nutrients, air, water, and decaying remains

5. Habitat The place where an organism lives and which provides the things the organisms needs Organisms obtain food, water, shelter, etc… from their habitat

6. Levels Single organism-smallest unit of organization Species-group that is physically similar and can reproduce with one another Population-all the members of one species in a specific area Community-all the different populations that live together in an area Ecosystem-the community and abiotic factors

7. Ecology The study of how living things interact with one another and the environment (biotic and abiotic) Living things constantly react to conditions around them Some changes are quick others are slow

8. Lesson 1.2 Populations Big Questions: How do populations change in size? What factors limit population growth?

9. Populations Population density-the number of individuals in a specific area Population density=number of individuals / Unit area Scientists use various direct and indirect observation methods to determine populations Often need to estimate (sampling and mark and recapture)

10. Populations Changes can occur when members enter or leave the population Changes include birth rates, death rates, immigration (organisms enter), and emigration (organisms leave) If birth rate>death rate, population increases If death rate>birth rate, population decreases

11. Limiting Factors Limiting factor-factors that limit populations Food-minimum amount to survive Space- For reproduction Weather- Impact populations(drought, floods, storms) Carrying capacity- largest population an environment can support

12. Niche Every organism has a variety of adaptations that are suited to it’s specific living conditions Niche-an organisms specific role (food, predators, prey, reproduction, and the physical conditions)

13. Interactions-Competition Competition-the struggle between organisms to survive in a habitat with limited resources Ecosystem cannot satisfy the needs of all living things in a habitat Some organisms are better suited for survival (survival of the fittest)

14. Predation An interaction in which one organism hunts and kills another Predators have adaptations that allow them to hunt and kill their prey(speed, poison, eyesight) Prey have defense strategies (camouflage, protective coverings, warning colorings, mimicry, false coloring)

15. Prey