1. ECOLOGY
From the Greek “oikos” for house, dwelling place, habitation + “logy” – the study of.
Ecology is the study of the interaction (relationship) of organisms and their environments.

2. Two Parts of an Environment
BIOTIC – “Bio” = “life” – Biotic is the LIVING parts of an environment.
Abiotic – “A” in front of a word means “without.”
What does ABIOTIC mean?
The NON-LIVING parts of an environment

3. List as many biotic and abiotic parts of this habitat as you can.
Biotic: Giraffe, Leopard, Tree, grass, bacteria, protists, insects, birds, snakes
Probably: fish, mollusks, fungi
Abiotic: sun, air, soil, wind water, hot, dry climate.

4. ORGANIZATION OF THE ENVIRONMENT
Biosphere – Bio = Life; sphere = area, place environment – as in “social sphere”
All ecosystems on Earth; All of life on earth and their environments.
Biome - a large region characterized by a specific type of climate and certain types of plant and animal communities. Examples include: Forests, Deserts, Grassland, Mountains, Tundra, etc.
For example, a Freshwater Wetland Biome is a large community of plants and animals centered around water with less than 1% salt concentration.

5. ORGANIZATION OF THE ENVIRONMENT
Ecosystem - A community of organisms and their abiotic environment.
For example, a coral reef is a marine ecosystem that consists of hard and soft coral, photosynthesizing protists, sponges, mollusks, jellyfish, sunlight, seawater, rocks, sand, etc. All of the different parts, depend on one another.
A Mangrove ecosystem includes the Mangrove trees, the bacteria that decomposes the fallen leaves and branches; the dense root system provides a home for fish, mollusks, crabs and fish; the tree-tops are homes and nesting sites for birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals.

6. Organization, continued
Communities – All the populations of species that live in the same habitat and interact with each other.
In this swamp community, how many different species do you think live there?
Cypress trees, Oak trees, Spanish Moss, Iris, alligator, Nutria rat, armadillos, squirrels, lizards, frogs, birds, snakes, Bush Palmetto, Duckweed.
How do you think alligators and Nutria rats interact with each other?

7. Organization, continued
Populations – a group of organisms of the same species that live in a specific geographical area.
Members of a population often compete with one another for food, space, mates, etc.
For example, in the Louisiana swamp, there is a population of American Alligator. This includes ALL alligators that live in the Louisiana swamp. Alligators compete for available food sources.

8. Organization, continued
Organism – One individual member of a species.
This is ONE Nutria Rat organism of a population of Nutria Rats, from a swamp community, within the Louisiana wetland ecosystem of Earth’s biosphere.

9. Biosphere Ecosystem Community Population Organism
Can you create a thinking map to organize the levels of organization in ecology?
Biosphere
Ecosystem
Community
Population
Organism

10. Thinking map in PICTURES!
Earth’s Biosphere
Community of swamp animals
Ecosystem – Louisiana Wetlands
Community of turtles
ONE Organisms

11. REVIEW! What’s the difference between a community and a population?
A population is only ONE species – a community is more than one species.
Name an ABIOTIC part of our ecosystem.
The sun, rain, moderate climate, Chattahoochee river, soil, rocks, Georgia red clay
Name a BIOTIC part of our ecosystem.
People, coyotes, Dogwood trees, Pine trees, squirrels, Red Tail Hawk, racoon, Chanterelle mushroom, Rainbow Trout
What are the two parts of an ecosystem?
Biotic and Abiotic
What are some ways that abiotic factors can affect an ecosystem?
Temperature determines what types of animals can live in an environment.
Salinity of water determines what plants and animals can live in the environment.
Pollution can affect various life forms.

12. Quick Write
Section 1 of Chapter 18 is titled, “Everything is Connected.” Write a few sentences (a paragraph) explaining what this means, based on what you have learned about ecology so far.