1. Organisms and Their Environments
Principles of Ecology
Organisms and Their Environments

2. Ecology the study of interactions among living things, &
between living things and their environment (surroundings)

3. Includes communities & abiotic factors
Levels of Biological Organization
Includes communities & abiotic factors
Groups of populations in a region.
One
Group of organisms of same species

4. Biome – major regions with communities characterized by climate and plant type
Biosphere – part of Earth that supports life

5. Make a mnemonic
I P C E B

6. How to study Ecology Observations Direct Indirect
Estimate population size
Random quadrat
Line transect

7. How to study Ecology Experiments
Laboratory – control variables, ? Accuracy
Field – realistic, ? cause and effect

8. How to study Ecology Modeling Computer Mathematical
Describe and model natural processes, manipulate variables, compare to actual data, extrapolate (project into future)

9. Biotic Factors All the living organisms that inhabit an environment.
Animals, plants, fungi, bacteria, protists

10. Abiotic Factors All the non-living parts of the environment
Rocks, water, minerals, temperature, etc.

11. Biodiversity-the variety of living things in an environment

14. Local Keystone

15. African/Indian Elephants Grassland
NW Pacific Sea Otters
Kelp forest
African/Indian Elephants
Grassland
Yellowstone Wolves

16. Ecology Observations How do you determine the size of a population of
Elephants
Oaks trees in a forest
Grass plants in a field
Ants in an ant hill
Fish in a pond
Activity: Estimating Population Size

17. Ecology Vocab Ecology Biotic Organism Abiotic Population Biodiversity
Community
Ecosystem
Biome
Biosphere
Observation
Experimentation
Modeling
Biotic
Abiotic
Biodiversity
Hot spot
Keystone species