1. Ecology A BRANCH OF BIOLOGY THAT DEALS WITH THE INTERACTIONS OF LIVING ORGANISMS WITH EACH OTHER AND WITH THEIR ENVIRONMENTINTERACTIONSORGANISMSENVIRONMENT

2. Ecosystem An ecosystem includes all of the living things (plants, animals and organisms) in a given area, interacting with each other, and also with their non-living environments (sun, atmosphere, climate water, soil, rock).

3. Examples of Ecosystems (at Different Scales) Micro: A small scale ecosystem such as a pond, puddle, tree trunk, under a rock etc. Meso: A medium scale ecosystem such as a forest or a large lake. Biome: A very large ecosystem or collection of ecosystems with similar biotic and abiotic factors such as an entire Rain forest with millions of animals and trees, with many different water bodies running through them.

4. Micro (small) Ecosystem

5. Meso (medium) Ecosystem

6. Biome (large ecosystem)

7. Ecotone Ecosystems tend to blend into each other. For example, a medium size ecosystem, such as a lake can contain many small ecosystems. Each of these small ecosystems can have their own unique characteristics. Scientists call the blended edges between these ecosystems an “ ecotone ”.

8. Ecology Outline 1. Photosynthesis (plants) 2. Cellular Respiration (plants, animals) 3. Carbon Cycle (plants, animals) 4. Food Webs/ Trophic Levels (plants, animals) 5. Competition/Predation/Symbiosis 6. Group Behaviors 7. Carrying Capacity 8. Human Impacts