1. Ecosystems

2. Ecology The study of how living things interact with each other and with their environment.

3. Biotic Factors Bio bio(s), bio(t) (G) root life Living include plants, animals, fungi, microorganisms biology biostatistics biography biotechnology biosphere biomechanics biotic biofeedback

4. Examples of Biotic Factors

5. Abiotic Factors Non-living include air, water, soil, temperature, wind, source of energy (usually sun) A A a, an(G) prefix not, without atoxic amoral abiotic amusia

6. Examples of Abiotic Factors

7. Systems of interacting entities in ecosystems Energy from the sun flows in one direction Arriving as radiation and leaving as heat Matter is recycled within ecosystem Through food-web relationships and decomposition

8. Ecosystems interact spatially Ecosystems vary greatly in size From a puddle of water to a bay, lake or forest Adjacent ecosystems may share components and interact ex. prairie and forests interact where they converge Ecotones = transitional zones between two ecosystems Elements of each ecosystem mix Patches = form the landscape Example: forested patches within an agricultural landscape Widely spaced patches endanger organisms

9. What is the organization of Ecological Study? Population Community Ecosystem Biosphere Organism

10. Levels of Organization  Individual- one organism (living)  Ex a moose

11. Levels of Organization  Population- groups of individuals that belong to the species and live in the same area. (living-living same species)  Ex many moose

12. Limiting Factors An environmental factor that causes a population to decrease.An environmental factor that causes a population to decrease. Include: food and water, space, and weather conditions.Include: food and water, space, and weather conditions.

13. Food and Water Food and water must be supplied to evenly distribute amongst all the living things.Food and water must be supplied to evenly distribute amongst all the living things. Carrying capacity: the largest population an area can support.Carrying capacity: the largest population an area can support.

14. Space You need enough space in order to live and survive.You need enough space in order to live and survive. Especially plants!Especially plants!

15. Weather Weather conditions suitable for your environment.Weather conditions suitable for your environment. Enough rainfall for your environment.Enough rainfall for your environment.

16. Levels of Organization  Community- groups of different populations (more than one population or different groups of species) Ex many groups of moose beavers, trees, grass (all living)

17. Levels of Organization  Ecosystem- all organisms in a particular area along with the nonliving. (living and nonliving) Ex many groups of moose beavers, trees, grass, rocks, water, mountains

18. Levels of Organization  Biome- group of ecosystems that have the same climate and similar dominant communities  Biomes: tropical rain forest, tropical dry forest, tropical savannah, temperate grassland, desert, temperate woodland and shrub-land, temperate forest, northwestern coniferous forest, boreal forest (taiga), tundra, mountains and ice caps

19. Levels of Organization  Biosphere- all of the planet where life exists, includes land, water, and, air  Life extends 8 km up and 11 km below the surface

20. © 2004 Plano ISD, Plano, TX Levels of Organization smallest unit of living things group of similar cells organized to work together group of different kinds of tissues working together group of organs working together one individual living thing all organisms of the same kind living in one area all interacting populations in an ecosystem all living and nonliving things interacting within a certain area large region with typical plants and animals that includes several ecosystems cell