1. ECOLOGY

2. What is Ecology? Ecology is the scientific study of the relationship between organisms and their environment Ecologists study these relationships

3. What is the Biosphere? Living things can be found in the air, on land, and in both fresh and salt water. The biosphere is the surface of the Earth that supports life. The biosphere extends from the high atmosphere to the bottom of the ocean.

4. What Are Abiotic Factors? The non-living parts of an organism’s environment Examples are: Air, water, sunlight, soil, humidity, temperature Why do you think ecologists study these features? How might these factors affect living things?

5. What Are Biotic Factors? All of the living organisms in an environment are biotic factors Living organisms affect other organisms Living things compete against one another Ecologists study how living things interact with both biotic and abiotic factors All organisms are interdependent – they can’t exist alone

6. Levels of Organization in Ecology “Populations”

7. “Communities” are collections of interacting populations Forest Community

8. Pond Community

9. Desert Community

10. Grassland Community

11. Rainforest Communities

12. Ecosystems An ecosystem is made up of a community interacting with its environment Three kinds of ecosystems: 1. Terrestrial: Located on land 2. Freshwater aquatic 3. Salt water aquatic

13. Habitat Habitat is the place where an organism lives out its life. Habitats have specific biotic and abiotic factors that an organism needs to survive and reproduce. Habitats may change or disappear due to natural causes or interference by man. What kind of habitat would a frog need?

14. The Niche A niche is the role and position a species has in its environment. Includes all its interactions with biotic and abiotic parts of its habitat. Species in different niches don’t compete for the same resources. Competition is reduced.

15. Symbiosis Relationships between organisms can be classified. Close and permanent relationship is called a symbiosis. Three main types: 1. Commensalism 2. Mutualism 3. Parasitism

16. Commensalism

17. Mutualism

18. Parasitism

19. Modes of Nutrition AUTOTROPHSHETEROTROPHS

20. Scavengers

21. Decomposers

22. Food Chains

23. Food Webs

24. Food Pyramid

25. Pyramid of Energy

26. Pyramid of Biomass http://resources.emb.gov.hk/biology/english/environment/ecology/pyramid.html