1. Ecology
Ecology is the study of the interactions of living organisms with one another and their physical environment

2. Levels of Organization

4. Ecosystem
A community (many different species) that live together in a habitat
Biome
a large region characterized by a specific type of climate and certain types of plant and animal communities.
Biomes are made up of smaller ecosystems.

5. HABITAT:
the place where a particular population lives

6. Community
All the interacting organisms (many different species) living in an area.

7. Organism
A living thing

8. POPULATION:
All the members of one species that live in one place at one time.

9. COMMUNITY Interactions
Mistletoe growing
into a mangrove tree
COMMUNITY Interactions
Bee pollinating flower
Community Interactions
Predation : + / -
Parasitism: +/ -
Commensalism: + / 0
Mutualism: + / +
Bat about to eat frog
Whale with
barnacles on skin

10. Abiotic vs. Biotic
Biotic-All the LIVING or ONCE LIVING components of an ecosystem. Also includes the product of living things.
Abiotic factors-All the non-living components of an ecosystem

11. Abiotic vs. Biotic Water--A Light--A Temperature--A Humidity--A
Soil--B
Tree--B
Owl--B
Feces--B
Bacteria--B
Fingernail--B
Precipitation--A
Dead leaf--B

12. Food Chain
Describes one feeding relationship and one path of energy through food consumption.

13. FOOD WEB
shows the interactions between a wide variety of organisms in the environment
creating a complicated,interconnected path of energy flow.
are used to study effects of the changing or introduction of a variable in an environment

14. Producer Eg. Plants, algae and some kinds of bacteria
produces food (make energy storing molecules),
Eg. Plants, algae and some kinds of bacteria

15. Consumer
obtains the energy to build their molecules by consuming plants or other organisms
Different levels of consumers depending on where they eat
Primary
Secondary
Tertiary
Quaternary

16. Primary Consumers
eats producers
Also known as herbivores
Eg. Cows, horses, caterpillars and ducks

17. Secondary Consumers (2nd order consumers)
eats herbivores
Carnivore
Eg. Wolf, ferret, and leopard

18. Secondary Consumers

19. Tertiary Consumer (3rd order consumer)
eats second order (other carnivores)
Carnivore
Eg. Hawk
Cougar

20. Quaternary (4th order) Consumer
this is very rare…
Not enough energy at the level before to support these higher levels
Carnivore
Eg. Orca

21. Omnivores
Eat both plants and animals

24. Introduced Variable
Using the aquatic food web above, explain what would happen if the zooplankton population drastically declined.
Explain what would happen if the reef shark population drastically increased.