1. Living Things and Their Environment

2. Ecology
Ecology is the study of the interactions among organisms and their environment

3. Levels of Organization of Life

5. Levels of Organization for Ecosystems
Organism – One living thing
Population – The # of the same species of organisms in an area.
Community- different populations in an area.
Ecosystem – All of the populations of living things with the non-living things in an area.
Biome – A group of ecosystems with similar climates and organisms. Ex. a rainforest
Biosphere – All of the earth with the different biomes. The parts that support life.

6. Making Sense of How Life Fits Together….. The Pyramid of Life

8. ORGANISM
organism - one living, individual from a population.

9. Population
Population - All of the individuals of that one species that live in the same area at the same time .

10. Community
Community - The populations of different species that interact in some way

11. Ecosystem
All of the communities in an area and the abiotic factors they interact with make up an ecosystem.

12. Ecosystem – All of the living and non-living things that interact in an area.
Biotic Factors
Living or once living parts of an ecosystem.
Animals, plant life, bacteria, etc.
Abiotic Factors
Non-living parts of an ecosystem.
Temperature, pH level, water, oxygen, soil, sunlight

13. Biotic Factors
Plants, animals, protists, fungi, and bacteria are all examples of biotic factors

14. Abiotic Factors: Light & Temperature
Sun is needed for most living things to survive.
Considered the number one source of energy

15. Abiotic Factors: Water
All living organisms need water to survive.
Respiration, photosynthesis, digestion, and other important life processes need water.
Water is important for cells functions

16. Abiotic Factor: Soil
Soil type is determined by the amount of sand, silt, and clay it contains.
Different plants need different kinds of soil.
Types of plants in an area & soil affects every organism in an environment

18. Biome A group of ecosystems with similar Biome -
climates and organisms
Biome -

19. Desert Biome

20. Deciduous Forest Biome

21. Savannah Biome

22. Tropical Rain Forest Biome

23. Tundra Biome
Smart board Biome Activities

24. Biosphere – all biomes

26. Review - Levels of Organization of Ecosystems

27. Habitat -
A place that provides the thing an organism needs to live, grow, and reproduce.

28. Our Home is Part of Our Habitat .

29. In your habitat, what is your niche?
Symbiotic Relationship
In your habitat, what is your niche?
NICHE - An organism’s role . its contribution to its habitat …. even as a food source. 
Do you have a niche????????

30. Symbiotic Relationship

31. Symbiotic Relationship

32. Resources Living Things Need in Order to Survive
Shelter
Food
Space
Water
Air

33. Population Size
The number of individuals in a population that occupy a definite area is called population density.

34. Competition -
struggle among organisms to obtain the same resources needed to survive and reproduce.
As population density increases, so does competition.
“Survival of the fittest”

35. Changes in the environment can cause changes in populations.
Births and deaths
Immigration (Into)
Emigration (Exit)
Causes competition for RESOURCES:
food, shelter, water, air, and space.

36. Carrying Capacity – - maximum number of organisms an environment can support with resources.

38. “Limiting Factors” Food sources Space / Shelter
Limiting Factors – limits the population of an area.
Food sources
Space / Shelter
Weather (ex. Early Frost)
Natural hazards
Wildfires, Floods, Landslides
How can these “limit” population growth?????????

39. Landslides ***********Mudslides
Landslide – Movement of
rock, earth, or debris.
Caused by rain, floods,
earthquakes, excessive
development, etc.

40. Wildfire on Outer Banks of NC
Wildfires – A natural
event that can be
beneficial to
the ecosystem.

41. Flooding in the Carolinas
Flooding– Slow flood over riverbanks or flash floods.
Danger to wildlife, causes soil erosion, and deposition of sediment.
Flooding in the Carolinas

42. Energy Roles in an Ecosystem
Producer – PLANTS are always the producers (Produce their own food) and always the bottom of a food chain.
Consumer – Carnivores, Herbivores, Omnivores, Scavengers
Decomposer – Break down wastes and dead organisms and return to the environment. (Ex. Mushrooms, Bacteria)

43. “What are the 3 Energy Roles in an ecosystem?”

44. Predators and Prey
Predators - certain adaptations to capture their prey such as speed and sharp teeth.
Prey - certain adaptations to protect themselves such as camouflage.
Identify the predator and prey in this picture.
Osprey Video

49. Births & Immigration Deaths & Emigration
Population goes Competition for resources goes
This causes Population to go

50. Food Chain- always begins with a producer/ plant .

52. Food Chain

53. Wolves Change a River

54. Food Webs Food Web - is a series of food chains.
Food Webs and Food Chains ALWAYS begin with producers!!

56. Food Energy Pyramid
The further up the food chain the LESS energy from the food is available.

57. (e.g., movement, digestion, reproduction).
The energy is lost as you go UP the energy pyramid because of life processes such as:
(e.g., movement, digestion, reproduction).

58. Food Chain / Food Webs / Food Energy Pyramid

59. Jeff Corwin – Thailand 42

60. Alaska – Extreme Biome42 min