1. Lesson Overview Lesson Overview What is Ecology? Lesson Overview 3.1 What Is Ecology?

2. Lesson Overview Lesson Overview What is Ecology? Studying Our Living Planet What is ecology? Ecology is the scientific study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their physical environment.

3. Lesson Overview Lesson Overview What is Ecology? Studying Our Living Planet Biosphere- All life on Earth and all parts of the Earth in which life exists Land, water, and atmosphere Extends from 8km above the surface to 11km below the ocean

4. Lesson Overview Lesson Overview What is Ecology? The Science of Ecology Ecology – scientific study of interactions among and between organisms and their physical environment. Interactions within the biosphere produce a web of interdependence between organisms and the environments in which they live.

5. Lesson Overview Lesson Overview What is Ecology? Levels of Organization Individual organism Population—a group of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the same area Community—an assemblage of different populations that live together in a defined area Ecosystem—all the organisms that live in a place, together with their physical environment Biome—a group of ecosystems that share similar climates and typical organisms Biosphere—our entire planet, with all its organisms and physical environments

6. Lesson Overview Lesson Overview What is Ecology? Activity Levels Within Levels An ecosystem is a collection of all the organisms that live in a particular place, together with their nonliving, or physical, environment. Within an ecosystem, there are several levels of organization. Your school and its grounds are similar to an ecosystem. 1. What living things are found in and around your school? 2. What nonliving things are found in your school? 3. Into what large groups are the students in your school divided? 4. Into what smaller groups are these large groups divided? 5. Are these groups ever divided into even smaller groups? If so, what are these groups?

7. Lesson Overview Lesson Overview What is Ecology? Biotic and Abiotic Factors What are biotic and abiotic factors? The biological influences on organisms are called biotic factors. Physical components of an ecosystem are called abiotic factors.

8. Lesson Overview Lesson Overview What is Ecology? Biotic Factors biotic factor – any living or once living part of the environment Ex. Biotic factors relating to a bullfrog: -algae it eats as a tadpole - herons that eat bullfrogs

9. Lesson Overview Lesson Overview What is Ecology? Abiotic Factors abiotic factor – any nonliving part of the environment. Examples: sunlight, heat, precipitation, humidity, wind or water currents, soil type, etc. Example, a bullfrog could be affected by abiotic factors such as water availability, temperature, and humidity.

10. Lesson Overview Lesson Overview What is Ecology? Biotic and Abiotic Factors Together Examples: 1) trees and shrubs affect the amount of sunlight the shoreline receives, the range of temperatures it experiences, the humidity of the air, and even the chemical conditions of the soil. In your own words, explain the difference between biotic and abiotic factors. Give 3 examples of each. 2) pond muck contains nonliving particles, and also contains mold and decomposing plant material that serve as food for bacteria and fungi. A dynamic mix of biotic and abiotic factors shapes every environment.