1. Ch 13: Ecology
Study of the relationship of organisms with their (biotic & abiotic) environment

2. What are Abiotic Factors?
Energy Source (sunlight)
2. Temperature
3. Wind
4. Water
5. Soil
6. pH

3. What are Biotic Factors?
Living Organisms
Interactions with same species and other species
Competition
Predator (Carnivore) versus Prey (Smaller Carnivore or Herbivore)
Symbiosis
Interactions among individuals
Parasitism – one benefits, one is harmed
Commensalism – one benefits, one doesn’t care
Mutalism – both benefit

4. Levels of Organization
Organism – single individual
Example = an alligator
Population – group of the same organisms living together
Example = all of the alligators in the swamp
Community – group of different populations living together
Example = turtles and fish and alligators in the Everglades

5. Levels of Organization
Ecosystem – the community and their environment
Example = The Florida Everglades
Biodiversity = assortment or variety of living things in an ecosystem
Keystone species has an unusually large effect on its ecosystem
Biome – major regional community
Example = Tropics
Biosphere – all biomes

6. Levels of Organization