1. Ecology

2. Driving Questions 1)Define Ecology. 2)Differentiate between biotic and abiotic factors and give examples of each. 3)What is an ecosystem? Give some examples of ecosystems. 4)What are some of the major biomes in the world? 5)Give examples of how biotic and abiotic factors in an ecosystem interact with each other. 6)Draw an illustration of the levels of organization from a cell all the way up to a biome. 7)Explain each level of organization.

3. Ecology the study of the relationships between biotic and abiotic factors in environments the study of the relationships between biotic and abiotic factors in environments

4. Ecosystem Includes all of the living things and the environment in which they live includes all abiotic and biotic factors includes all abiotic and biotic factors Biotic Factors: the living parts of an ecosystem Biotic Factors: the living parts of an ecosystem Abiotic Factors: the nonliving parts of an ecosystem Abiotic Factors: the nonliving parts of an ecosystem

5. Biotic Factors include plants, animals, fungi, microorganisms include plants, animals, fungi, microorganisms

6. Abiotic Factors include air, water, soil, temperature, wind, source of energy (usually sun) include air, water, soil, temperature, wind, source of energy (usually sun)

7. Ecosystems do not necessarily have clear boundaries due to biotic and abiotic changes do not necessarily have clear boundaries due to biotic and abiotic changes can change daily as things move from one ecosystem to another can change daily as things move from one ecosystem to another Biotic: migration, seed dispersal Biotic: migration, seed dispersal Abiotic: flood, erosion, drought Abiotic: flood, erosion, drought

8. Biotic Factors interact with each other in complex ways interact with each other in complex ways such as Symbiotic relationships: Parasitism Parasitism Mutualism Mutualism Competition Competition

9. Biotic Factors also interact with abiotic factors in the ecosystem also interact with abiotic factors in the ecosystem dependent upon water, minerals, temperature, light dependent upon water, minerals, temperature, light

10. Biotic Factor Interactions: Symbiotic Relationships Parasitism: one organism benefits (the parasite), while the other is harmed (host)

11. Biotic Factor Interactions: Symbiotic Relationships Commensalism: one organism is benefits while the other is not affected

12. Biotic Factor Interactions: Symbiotic Relationships Mutualism: both organisms in the relationship benefit

13. Biome a major regional or global biotic community, a super ecosystem, defined chiefly by the dominant forms of plant life and the prevailing climate a major regional or global biotic community, a super ecosystem, defined chiefly by the dominant forms of plant life and the prevailing climate

14. Major Biomes of the World Desert Grassland Tropical Rainforest Deciduous Forest Coniferous Forest Tundra Ocean

15. Levels of Organization Biosphere -LARGEST Biome Ecosystem Community Population Organism Organ System Organ Tissue Cell-SMALLEST

16. Habitats and Niches Within an ecosystem, organisms occupy habitats and niches. What are these and what is the difference between these?

17. Habitat A location in the environment where an organism can grow and survive Includes all of the physical and biological resources available to a species

18. Niche Refers to the way an organism fits into and survives in its ecosystem Includes not only where it lives but what it does in its environment No two species occupy exactly the same niche Niche is determined by physical characteristics of organism, its behavior, how it reproduces, etc.