1. Parts of the Ecosystem Ecological Organization Ecology: The study of how living things interact with each other and with their environment.

2. Biosphere Largest structure of life Thin layer on the outside of the planet Earth where livings things exist Includes all living things in air, on land, and in water No knowledge of another biosphere

3. Biome A group of land ecosystems Large area of the biosphere Similar physical conditions throughout Similar biota Temperature and precipitation determine the biomes in most climates 7 Main Land Biomes Desert Tundra Grasslands Rain Forest Deciduous Forest (2 zones) Boreal Forest Mountain and Ice

4. Aquatic Biomes Marine Fresh water

7. Ecosystem Community of living (Biotic) and non living (Abiotic) things that interact in a particular area. Abiotic factors: Sunlight, moisture, temperature, soil type Various different ecosystems: terrestrial (prairie, evergreen forest) aquatic areas (mountain stream, ocean) 2 Main Aquatic Ecosystems: Freshwater ecosystem Marine ecosystem

8. Community All the living things that interact in an area Population All the individuals of one species in a given area Many different populations in an area large or small numbers Individual Organisms An individual organism, a single living thing 1 cell to many cells Belong to one of the 3 Domains: Bacteria, Archaea and Eukarya

9. Example: Biosphere: Earth Biome: Rain Forest (Temperate) Ecosystem: Douglas fir Forest ecosystem Community: stream community Population: Mule deer herd Individual Organisms: a single deer

10. Types of Interactions: Competition Predation Symbiosis Mutualism Commensalism Parasitism These are your vocabulary words- look them up!

11. Natural Selection: Individuals whose unique characteristics are best suited for their environment tend to survive and produce similar offspring. Explains adaptive evolution Founding Father is Charles Darwin Ex. Galapagos Islands

12. GW project: Florida Ecology For your assigned ecosystems explain the following : Geographic Location & Topography describe land characteristics and a map of where Geological formations/substrate describe the ground type (rock, soil) Hydrology describe the water systems (rain, underground, over ground rivers, standing marshes) Flora & Fauna list most common plant & animals Cycles/ Processes ( what is happening) Human Impacts (pollution, destruction, conservation etc.)