1. 1.5 - Ecology

2. Ecosystems
An ecosystem is all of the living organisms that share a region and interact with each other and their non-living environment

3. Examples of Ecosystems
Coral Reefs
Forests
Swamps

4. Organisms Interact Within Ecosystems
Scientists examine organisms within their natural setting
ECOLOGY – describes the study of how organisms interact with each other.
Simply put, ECOLOGY is the study of ecosystems

5. Ecological studies can begin at the level of a single organism.
It is designed to determine how the individual interacts with its environment, and how factors in the environment affect its:
growth
Feeding habits
reproduction

6. Ecosystems
Are made of both organic (living or once living) and nonorganic/ non-living/never living components (wind, rocks, etc.)
The organic (living) components are called Biotic factors
The nonorganic (nonliving) components are called Abiotic factors

7. Biotic vs Abiotic Biotic Examples: Abiotic Examples:
Humans, deer, trees, berries
Abiotic Examples:
Sunlight, temperature, strength and direction of wind

8. List some living and non-living things in this ecosystem – see a close-up on the next slide

10. Biotic Factors Abiotic Factors
Think
Lets think about a park. On this slide write down at least 5 biotic and abiotic factors you would find in a park
Biotic Factors Abiotic Factors

11. Abiotic/Biotic
Label the following as either a Biotic/Abiotic or factor
1. Algae 
2. Dirt 
3. The Sun 
4. Grass 
5. Pollen 
6. Wind 

12. Ecosystems
Individual organisms from many species share an ecosystem (e.g. A Lake)
Bird
Tree
Fish
Bug

13. Population
Together, all of the individuals of a single species in a particular area make a population

14. Community Individuals from all of the populations form the community
An ecosystem is a term given to the community and its interactions with the abiotic environment

15. Organisms, Populations, Communities and Ecosystems

16. Describing Ecosystems
Ecosystems can be described by a specific set of biotic and abiotic features
The organisms that live there
Temperature Range
Precipitation (rain/snow fall)

17. Ecotones
Ecosystems rarely have sharp boundaries, and organisms can move back and forth from one ecosystem to another.
Transition areas or ECOTONES contain species from both bordering ecosystems, so they often contain greater biodiversity (more species) than either ecosystem.
Ecosystems with greater biodiversity tend to be less fragile.

19. Stop Here

20. Sustainability The ability to maintain an ecological balance
Most ecosystems are sustainable. This means that they maintain a relatively constant set of characteristics over a long period of time.
E.g. temperature, precipitation, animal/plant life, etc.

21. Sustainability
Human actions however often disrupt the biotic and abiotic factors of an ecosystem
Pollution Cutting down trees Building Cities

22. Sustainability
The actions of humans can make a previously sustainable ecosystem, unsustainable e.g. oil spills greatly disrupt the previously stable ecosystem

23. Ecosystems Most ecosystems are naturally created (without human help)
Other ecosystems are created and maintained by humans (e.g. parks, farms, etc.)
These types of ecosystems are usually NOT sustainable as they require constant management
Think about what would happen if you left a farm for 3 years and came back, would it look the same? What would be different?

24. What is an Ecosystem?