1. Unit 3.1: Ecology Intro & Biomes
Chapters 3 & 4

2. Everything is connected to everything else
Ecology
Ecology: study of interactions between organisms & their environment
In the broadest sense, Ecology focuses on the Biosphere
Everything is connected to everything else

3. Ecology
Biosphere: all the portions of the Earth where life exists (including land, water, and air/atmosphere)

4. Levels of organization in an Biosphere:
We learned this already…
Atoms are bonded together to form:
Molecules form:
Organelles work together in a:
Cells of the same type form a:
Tissues work together to form:
Organs are arranged in:
Organ systems make up a:
Molecule
Organelle
Cell
Tissue
Organ
Organ system
Organism

6. Levels of organization in an Biosphere:
But there’s more…
Groups of organisms of the same species that live together:
Populations of different species living in the same place:
All biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) factors in particular area:
Abiotic ex: weather, rocks, soil, etc.
Population
Community
Ecosystem

8. Ecology Breaking it down… Organism: an individual living thing
Species: organisms that breed and produce fertile offspring

9. Ecology Breaking it down… Habitat: where an organism lives
Ex: Zebra lives in the African Savanna
Niche: an organism’s role in the environment
Ex: Zebras eat grass.

10. Ecology
Population: group of the same species living in the same area
Ex: elephants in the Savanna
Populations

11. Feeding relationships
Ecology
Community: populations of different species living in the same area (all living – biotic factors)
Ex: elephants, lions, zebras in the savanna
Community
Feeding relationships

12. Feeding relationships
Ecology
Ecosystem: All the biotic (living) and abiotic (non- living) parts of an environment
Ex: soil, water, temp, lions, zebras in the Savanna
Ecosystem
Feeding relationships

13. Ecology
Biome: group of ecosystems that have the same climate and dominant vegetation

15. Rainforest high biodiversity
lots of rain, lots of sunlight, always warm
many plants & animals

16. Savanna mid biodiversity dry season/wet season, always warm
frequent fires in dry season
many herbivores

17. Desert low biodiversity very dry, hot in day & cold at night
very few plants & only small animals: reptiles, insects, rodents, birds

18. Temperate Grassland (Midwest U.S.)
mid biodiversity
dry season/wet season, cold winters/hot summers
frequent fires in dry season
many herbivores

19. Temperate Deciduous Forest
high biodiversity
4 seasons: warm summer with rains, cold winter with snow
deciduous trees, many mammals, insects, birds, etc.

20. Coniferous Forest (Taiga)
mid biodiversity
northern forest, drier, cooler
evergreens, mammals, birds, insects, etc.

21. Tundra low biodiversity cold year round, dry, permafrost
only lichens & mosses & mostly migrating animals