1. Ecology: The Study of interactions between organisms and their environment

2. An Organism is a Living Thing But What Makes Something ALIVE???
Basic unit of “organization” is the cell
Ability to Grow and Develop
Ability to Reproduce
Ability to Adapt and Respond to the Environment (Response to Stimuli)
Ability to Maintain Homeostasis
Ability to use Energy

3. 1. Cell is the basic unit of life

4. 2.) Growth
Individual Growth (getting bigger)

5. 3.) Reproduction
a. Necessary for a species but NOT an individual
b. Sexual/asexual reproduction
c. Ability to pass genetic information (DNA) to offspring

6. 4. Interact and Respond to the environment
Adapt to changes in their environment
ii. Respond to stimuli

7. iii. Production of cells/growth
5) Homeostasis is the maintenance of a constant internal environment
i. % of water in your body
ii. Body Temperature
iii. Production of cells/growth

8. 6.) Requires Energy i. Acquire energy
(from sunlight or another organism)
ii. The ability to exchange gases
a. Respiration Animals –
Oxygen in/ Carbon Dioxide out
b. Plants –
Carbon Dioxide in/Oxygen out

9. Levels of Organization
Biosphere
Biome
Ecosystem
Community
The study of ecology ranges from the study of an individual organism to populations, communities, ecosystems, biomes—and, finally, to the entire biosphere. The information that ecologists gain at each level contributes to our understanding of natural systems.
Population
Individual - Species

10. Levels of Organization: Individual vs. Species
Individual (The single organism):
-You
-Squirrel
-Pine Tree
SPECIES:
A group of very similar organisms that are able to breed and produce fertile offspring ( Passing on DNA/Genes)
The smallest level that ecologists study is the species
focusing on adaptations of the species to its environment
(Meaning that they are looking at the species, not an individual)

11. The Mule Father = Male Donkey 62 Chromosomes Mother = Female Horse
Offspring = Mule
63 Chromosomes

12. Levels of Organization: Population
Groups of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the same area
Ex: Upper Cape Tech students living in the surrounding towns

13. Levels of Organization: Community
Grouping of all populations that live in the same area
Ex: All living organisms at a set lake (algae, deer, fish, protists, bacteria)

14. Levels of Organization: Ecosystem
A collection of all organisms that live in a particular place, together with their nonliving environment.
Ex: All Biotic Factors (algae, deer, fish, protists, bacteria) at a lake and the Abiotic Factors including water, dissolved chemicals, types of rock, soil, and sediments.

15. Levels of Organization: Biome
Group of ecosystems that have same climate and similar dominant communities (why?)
Climate
Typical weather pattern of area over time
Major factors = temperature and precipitation

16. Levels of Organization: Biosphere?
The largest of Nature’s “houses”
Contains all portions of the planet in which life exists
It includes land, water, air
It extends from 8km above earth’s surface to 11km below surface of ocean.