1. Chapter 13: Energy and Nutrients
Section 13:1
Introduction to Ecology

2. Introduction
Complete worksheet by looking at pages
Discuss!

3. What is Ecology?
Ecology is the study of interactions between different kinds of living things and between living things and the environments in which they live.
Study of the biotic (living) and abiotic (nonliving) components of the biosphere

4. Ecological Research See handout!
Ecologists use three research methods:
Observation
Experimentation
Modeling
See handout!

5. Why study ecology?
Provides us with information necessary to understand and resolve environmental and ecological issues
Examples: agricultural changes, depletion of fish populations, global climate change, and countless others!

6. Web of Interdependence
Ecologists recognize two ecological truths:
Our planet is home to not only humans but also many other life forms.
The health of human society depends on the well-being of all living things.
Life is interdependent because we all rely on each other for energy and nutrients.