1. Ecology
Biology I: Unit 5 Notes

2. Ecology
Defn.: study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their physical environment
Greek root oikos = house
“-ology” = study of
Study of nature’s “houses”

3. Levels of Organization – Largest to Smallest (see chapter 3)
Biosphere = largest

4. Levels of Organization
Biome – second largest

5. Levels of Organization
Ecosystem = 3rd largest
Ecosystem = looking at a particular area within a biome

6. Levels of Organization
Comparison

7. Levels of Organization
Community = 4th largest grouping
Groups of several different species interacting within an ecosystem

8. Levels of Organization
Population = 5th largest
One group of a particular species in a habitat

9. Levels of Organization
Individual organism = smallest grouping

10. Biomes
Characteristics of Biomes: abiotic and biotic factors

11. Biomes/Ecosystem Characteristics
Abiotic and biotic factors

12. Coniferous Forest
Biotic Factors

13. Moose! One individual still within biotic and abiotic factors
What is her niche?

14. Energy Pyramid Energy flows one way in an ecosystem What’s missing?
Energy lost from trophic level to trophic level (90% lost after each move)

15. Food Chain

16. Food Web
What’s missing?

17. Flow of Matter
Water Cycle

18. Flow of Matter
Carbon Cycle

19. Comparison
Flow of Energy – one way flow
Flow of Matter – cycled

20. Flow of Energy vs. Matter
Compare energy flow to cycle of matter in an ecosystem

21. Ecosystems Evolve - Succession
Primary Succession – after an event such as a volcanic eruption

22. Succession – evolution of an ecosystem
Secondary Succession - occurs after an event such as a fire

23. Words to Know Biosphere Ecosystem Habitat Niche Community Population
Species
Biome, Ecosystem
Biotic and abiotic factors
Energy flow and trophic levels
Matter cycles
Food chain vs. food web
Succession; primary and secondary
Pioneer species