1. Organisms and Their Relationships
2.1

2. What is Ecology ?
Ecology is the study of the relationships between living organism.
Ecology is also the study of the relationships between living organisms and their environment.
The word Ecology was first used in 1866 by a German Scientist.

3. The Biosphere
Bio- life
Sphere-
Therefore, Biosphere means the space around our spherical Earth that has life.
The Biosphere surrounds the whole Earth, and stretches several kilometers above the surface of the Earth.

4. Factors in an organism’s enviorment
Abiotic- these factors are NOT living, but they still influence the life of an organism. Ex: Sunlight, water current or temp., soil type, etc.
Biotic- These factors ARE living. These are the other living things that surround an organism in its environment. Ex: other species, types of bacteria, plants, etc.

5. Name both Abiotic and Biotic factors that you see in the environment below

6. Name both Abiotic and Biotic factors that you see in the environment below
Answers include:
Abiotic
Sunlight
Water temperature
Water current
Wind speed/direction
Soil types
Biotic
Algae in pond
Deer on bank
Bird in sky
Turtles on log
Lily pads
Frogs
Butterflies
Grass

7. Levels of organization within the Biosphere
Biosphere- most broad level
Biome
Ecosystem
Biological Community (Or just community)
Population
Organism –most basic level
Organism -> Biosphere

8. Levels of organization within the Biosphere
Organism- a single type of species
Ex: you are one teenager
Population- several organisms of the same species that share the same geographic location.
Ex: you are one of 500 Teenagers at Sweetwater High school.

9. Levels of organization within the Biosphere
Biological Community- several different populations interacting together at the same geographic location.
Ex: Teachers are a different group of people, Custodians are a different group of people, Cafeteria workers are a different group of people all interacting with the students at Sweetwater High School.

10. Levels of organization within the Biosphere
Ecosystem: Includes all of the abiotic factors that affects the Biological community.
Ex: Our biological community is affected when there’s storms, snow, blackouts, floods, etc. (We get out of school.. Usually..)
Biome: a large group of ecosystems that share the same climate and have similar types of communities.
Ex: Monroe County has similar types of communities (Sequoyah High school, Tellico High school). We have the same abiotic factors (we all get out of school if there’s snow)

11. Levels of organization within the Biosphere
Biosphere: All of the biomes on Earth combined.
Ex: Every school district in the United States would create our school Biosphere.

12. Other interactions in an Ecosystem
Habitat- Specifically where an organism lives in it’s ecosystem.
Ex: Mrs. Walker lives in her classroom at Sweetwater high school, which is the community that she’s apart of.
Niche- the role or position an organism has in its ecosystem or environment.
Ex: Mrs. Walker is a Biology I teacher at Sweetwater high school.

13. Specific Relationships between Organisms
Competition- When more than one organism uses the same resource at the same time.
Ex: food, water, space, light
Predation- when certain organisms get their food by eating other organisms. Involves hunting.
Ex: Lions eating zebras.

14. Specific Relationships between Organisms
Symbiosis- when two or more species live together. 3 different types.

15. Specific Relationships between Organisms
Commensalism
Mutualism
Parasitism
When two or more species live closely together and they both benefit.
Ex: Clown fish and anenome
When two or more species live together and one is benefitted and one is harmed from the benefit. Ex: ringworm
When two or more species live together and one is benefitted and one is not helped or harmed.
Ex: trees dropping acorns that squirrels eat

16. Key points for 2.1
Ecology is the study of the interactions between living things and their enviornments.
There are levels of organization within the Biosphere.
There are different types of relationships that living things can have.