1. Ecology

2. Ecology
Ecology is the study of organisms and their interaction with the environment.
An organism is any living thing
Examples: Humans, animals, plant, bacteria

3. Organism
An organism is any living thing that can carry out all of the basic life activities.

4. Population
Population is a group of individuals of the same species that live together in the same area.

5. Population
+ Population
COMMUNITY

6. Living things in an ecosystem are called a…
COMMUNITY

7. Community
Community
Is composed of all of the populations of different organisms living together in a given are such as your lawn (contains grass, insects, and worms)

8. Community

9. Name the three members in every community.
Producers
Consumers
Decomposers

10. Producers and consumers
Green plants provide the entire input of energy
to an ecosystem and are called producers. When animals (herbivores) eat plants, the
carbohydrates stored in plants are converted
back into glucose. The glucose is broken down
during respiration to provide the animal’s
energy requirements.
Similarly, when carnivores eat other animals, this chemical energy is passed on.

11. Producers and Consumers

12. Decomposers Organisms that use the organic matter of
dead plants and animals are called
decomposers. They release digestive enzymes
to break down organic matter and then absorb
the products of digestion. Decomposers include fungi and bacteria.

13. Bacteria attacking a cell
Decomposers
worms
Fungus/mushrooms
bacteria
Bacteria attacking a cell

14. Living things
+ Nonliving things
ECOSYSTEM

15. Ecosystem The Ecosystem
Is a self supporting area composed of living and nonliving things such as the Rain Forest or the Desert
It produces energy, transfers energy, decomposes, and recycles
It made up of two (2) types of factors:
Biotic and Abiotic

16. Biotic
Biotic Factors
The living parts of the environment such as plants, bacteria, and animals

17. Abiotic Abiotic Factors
are non living parts of the environment such as rocks, the sun, and temperature

18. All energy in a food web comes from the…
SUN

19. Uses of energy by organisms
Living organisms need a constant supply of
energy to maintain cellular activities and stay
alive. In ecosystems the initial source of energy
is light from the sun. This is used by plants
during photosynthesis to produce carbohydrates.
Organisms (i.e. plants) that can manufacture their
own food from inorganic materials are called
autotrophs.

20. Food chains and webs Food chains show the flow of energy through
ecosystems.
FIRST ORDER CONSUMER
SECOND ORDER CONSUMER
PRODUCER
wallaby
dingo
grass

21. Food webs The interrelationship between many food chains is called a

22. Adaptations All organisms have adaptations that help them to
survive. Organisms that are adapted to their
environment are able to:
obtain air, water, food and nutrients
cope with physical conditions such as temperature, light and heat
defend themselves from their natural enemies
reproduce
respond to changes around them

23. Adaptations

24. What makes ecosystems different?
Amount of water 1
Amount of sunlight 2 3
Type of soil

25. What causes ecosystems to change?
Natural causes: 1
Drought
Disease 2 3
Fire 4
Overpopulation

26. What causes ecosystems to change? Changes caused by humans:1
Water pollution 2
Air pollution 3
Land pollution 4
Construction

27. How can humans help to prevent changes in ecosystems?1
Use resources wisely 2
Laws that control pollution 3
Clean up litter 4
Keep rivers and lakes clean