1. Ecology
Definition: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Branch of biology that was developed from natural history
Study reveals the relationships between living and non-living parts of the world

2. Ecology Abiotic Biotic:
The environment is divided into _______________ and
____________________ parts:
Abiotic
Physical factor such as:_______________________________________________________
These factors make up an organism’s habitat
Habitat: __________
____________________________________
Biotic:
All living or _____ living components of an ecosystem
Includes ________ __________ and the ________ of organisms

3. Levels of Organization in Ecology
To help ecologists understand the interactions of the biotic and abiotic parts of the world, scientists have organized the living world into levels:
__________

4. Levels of Organization
Biosphere
____________________________________________________________________________
Goes from the ______ of the ___________ to the __________ of the _______; about 12 miles high!
Supports a wide variety of organisms
If the earth were shrunk to apple size, the biosphere would be thinner than the ___________

5. Levels of Organization
Ecosystem
____________________________________
______________________________________
Living components of an ecosystem are the ___________________________
Non living components of an ecosystem are the ___________________________

6. Levels of Organization
Community
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Population
Organism

7. Levels of Organization
In a desert…..
Organism: coyote
Population: pack of coyotes
Community: pack of coyotes, hawks, owls, snakes, scorpions, & reptiles
Ecosystem: populations of animals listed above, cacti, shrubs, sand dunes, climate, rocks, temperature
Biosphere: the earth

8. Biodiversity Includes: The __________________ within a given area
The __________________ within a population
The ___________________ in a community
The ____________________in an ecosystem
Both __________ and __________ factors help to determine the biodiversity of an area

9. In an Ecosystem
Habitat: ______________________________________________________________________
Niche: ______________________________________________________________________
Organisms may share parts of their niche, but never the whole thing!

10. In an Ecosystem
________________________: the entire range of conditions where a species can survive
Shaped by competition for resources between species
______________________: the actual niche that an organism occupies within an ecosystem
Why is a niche important?
The establishment of a niche allows for several organisms to live in the same habitat while _____________________________________!!

11. Changes in an Ecosystem
____________: the replacement of one community by another at a single location over a period of time
First organisms to appear are _________________
_______________ occurs after natural disasters
Volcanic eruptions, fires, hurricanes, tornadoes, etc.
_____________________ occurs after HUMAN involvement
Clearing of land for development, clear cutting the forest, etc.

12. Relationships in an Ecosystem
___________________
Two species live in close association with each other. Can be positive or negative
Mutualism: _______________________________
Ex: cleaner shrimp/fish
Commensalism:____________________________________________________________________________
Ex: orchids growing on trees
Parasitism:_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Ex: Ticks on a dog.
The tick is the parasite and the dog is the host