1. List 10 words that come to mind when you see this image.
Where is life found?
How do living things interact with the Earth?
How does it affect me? 1

2. Ecology . The study of the interactions among living (biotic) and
non-living (abiotic) things . 2

3. Levels of Organization
Atoms – Molecules – Cells – Tissues – Organs – Organ Systems – Organism – Population – Community – Ecosystem – Biome~ Biosphere 3

4. Ecological Levels of Organization4

5. Levels of Organization
Population
Groups of individuals that belong to the same species that live in the same area
Species = organisms that are able to breed and produce fertile offspring
Communities
Several populations of different organisms that inhabit the same area. 5

6. Levels of Organization
Ecosystem
Living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components of an environment.
Biome
Group of ecosystems that have the same climate and dominant communities.
Biosphere
All portions of the planet where life exists (includes land, water, atmosphere) 6

7. What Shapes an Ecosystem?
Biotic Factors
Biological influences in an ecosystem
The living things
I.e. animals, plants, fungi, etc.
Abiotic Factors
The physical or nonliving factors that shape an ecosystem
I.e. climate, wind, nutrients, soil type, water, etc. 7

8. How To Study Ecology Observing Experiments Modeling
Use the 5 senses (sight, sound, taste, touch, smell)
Experiments
To test a hypothesis regarding a certain topic.
Modeling
Mathematic formulas created based on data collected through observation and experimentation. 8