1. © 2004 Plano ISD, Plano, TX Introducing

2. © 2004 Plano ISD, Plano, TX the study of the relationships between biotic and abiotic factors in environments eco (G) root home, abode ecoclimate ecosystem ecotourism log, -o, y (G) suffix study of zoology epidemiology climatology Ecology Eco logy

3. © 2004 Plano ISD, Plano, TX Living Environment Biotic Factors: All the living parts of an environment All organisms depend on others, directly or indirectly, for food, shelter, reproduction, or protection. Examples: competitors, decomposers, and predators

4. © 2004 Plano ISD, Plano, TX Examples of Biotic Factors

5. © 2004 Plano ISD, Plano, TX Nonliving Environment Abiotic Factors (A=“not” Bio= “living”)– the nonliving parts of an organism’s environment Abiotic factors affect an organism’s life Examples: Soil, temperature, pH, sunlight Precipitation, air currents, and humidity

6. © 2004 Plano ISD, Plano, TX Examples of Abiotic Factors

7. © 2004 Plano ISD, Plano, TX Levels of Organization Now that you can identify biotic and abiotic factors, we will organize their interactions at different levels Ecologists have arranged an organism’s interactions into different levels according to complexity.

8. © 2004 Plano ISD, Plano, TX Levels of Organization

9. © 2004 Plano ISD, Plano, TX 1 st Level: Organism The simplest level in ecological organization– An organism is an individual living thing. Bacterial cell or elephant Scientists study the adaptations that allow organisms to overcome challenges of their environment

10. © 2004 Plano ISD, Plano, TX 2 nd Level: Population A group of organisms, all the same species, which interbreed and live in the same place at the same time Scientists study the members of a single species; how they share their environment. (Food, water, etc.)

11. © 2004 Plano ISD, Plano, TX 3 rd Level: Community Biological Community is made up of all the populations of different species that live in the same place at the same time; all biotic factors Here: zebras and wildebeest Scientists study how the species interact with each other.

12. © 2004 Plano ISD, Plano, TX 4 th Level: Ecosystem All the biotic and abiotic parts of an environment found in a particular place. Populations of plants and animals that interact with each other in the same place and the abiotic factors of that AREA

13. © 2004 Plano ISD, Plano, TX 5 th Level: Biosphere The portion of Earth that supports life (13 mi. thick) Life is found in air, on land, and in fresh and salt water(abiotic and biotic elements)