2. Intro to Ecology
Ch. 3

3. What Is Ecology?
The study of how organisms interact with their natural environment and each other

4. What do ecologists do?
Use observation and experimentation to learn more about organisms in their natural environment
Identify biotic and abiotic factors that affect the organisms they are studying

5. Biotic Factors All of the living things in an organism’s environment
Plants
Animals
Bacteria
Fungus
Protists

6. Abiotic Factors The non-living things in an organism’s environment Ex:
Water
Oxygen
Fire
Soil pH
Sunlight

7. Levels of organization (smallest to largest)
Individual
Population
Community
Ecosystem
Biome
Biosphere

8. Individual
A single organism
Ex: one coyote

9. Population
A group of organisms of the same species that live in the same area.
Ex: A pack of coyotes

10. Community
A group of populations (different species) that live in the same place and interact with each other.
Ex:
Coyotes,
rabbits,
snakes,
lizards,
etc.

11. Ecosystem The community plus all of the abiotic factors Ex: Coyotes,
rabbits,
snakes,
lizards,
water, dirt, sun, etc.

12. Biome
A group of ecosystems that have the same climate (temperature and rainfall) and similar flora and fauna
Example: The deserts of California are similar to other deserts all over the world.

13. Biosphere
The total portion of Earth that supports life