2. Ecology or Ecology is the study of relationships between two organisms
between an organism and its environment
Therefore, it becomes necessary that we have an understanding of what it means to be a living organism.

3. Living Organisms Criteria for Life
Be composed of one (unicellular) or more cells (multicellular).
Contain either DNA or RNA as their genetic material.

4. Living Organisms Criteria for Life
Be capable of both growth (becoming larger) and reproduction (producing offspring.)
Reproduction can be:
Sexual (mating between two organisms of the same species) or
Asexual (offspring arise from a single parent)

5. Living Organisms Criteria for Life
Demonstrate the ability to respond to outside stimuli.
Stimulus = a change in an organism’s environment “cause”
Response = how an organism reacts to change in their environment “effect”
Ex. Sunflowers tend to grow facing east (response), towards sunrise (stimulus)

6. Living Organisms Criteria for Life
Ability to adapt to the environment.
Populations of living things change over time as individuals who are better adapted live longer and reproduce more
Have a metabolism, meaning it both consumes energy and produces waste.
Metabolism = process of your body doing cellular respiration to break down food for energy

7. Cells, Cells, Cells, Respond,
Living Things Characteristics Song (To the tune of “Row, Row, Row your Boat”)
Cells, Cells, Cells, Respond,
Grow and Reproduce,
Use energy,
Have DNA,
Adaptive Living Dudes.

8. Levels of Ecological Organization
Organism – individual member of a species or population.
Ex. One deer
Population – multiple individuals of the same species living together.
Ex. All of the deer in a field

9. Levels of Ecological Organization
Community – multiple populations of different species living together.
Ex. All of the birds, deer, plants, insects, squirrels, etc. in the field
Ecosystem – the same size as the community level, but takes into account the abiotic factors surrounding the community.
Ex. All of the living things (listed above) AND the nonliving things (temperature, precipitation, etc.)

10. Levels of Ecological Organization
Biome – this level recognizes multiple ecosystems that share similar characteristics, such as amount of annual sunlight and precipitation, but that are located in different parts of the planet.
Ex. Grassland, Tundra, Rainforest, Desert, Deciduous Forest, etc.

11. Levels of Ecological Organization
Biosphere – this is our planet, and all of the biotic and abiotic factors on it.
Ex. Earth
Biotic = living
Abiotic = nonliving

12. Organization of Life Taxonomy: the study of classification
All life is organized into:
Domain
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
Binomial Nomenclature: 2-name naming system by Carolus Linnaeus that names organisms after their two most specific classification levels: Genus species

13. Organization of Life
Cladograms and Dichotomous Keys: tools used to display relationships and classify organisms using their characteristics