ECOLOGY

Ecology is:

The study of the relationship between living organisms and their environment.

In other words—Ecology is the study of Ecosystems.

• An ecosystem is an interacting system of

Living (biotic) organisms and their non-living

(abiotic)

environment.

An ecosystem is made up of two sets of factors:

• A) biotic factors—the living portion of the

ecosystem. Living organisms such as

plants, animals, fungi, and the list goes

on.

Ecological Organization

The organization of ecological factors is as follows:

1.Individual

2.Population

3.Community

4.Ecosystem

• Individual- one organism

• Populations: Group of organisms of the same species living in an area.

• Communities—all of the living organisms

in an ecosystem.

B) Abiotic factors—the non-living portion of the ecosystem. This includes the following:

• Water

• Soil

• Temperature

• Sunlight

In order for an ecosystem to exist it must meet 3 criteria to be

SELF-SUSTAINING:

• HAVE AN ENERGY SOURCE (SUN)

• ENERGY MUST BE CONVERTED OR STORED FOR USE BY ORGANISMS

• NUTRIENTS MUST BE RECYCLED

YOU DECIDE—ENVIRONMENT OR

ECOSYSTEM?

ENVIRONMENT OR ECOSYSTEM?

Ecosystems and Energy Flow Relationships

Food Chains, Food Webs, And Energy Pyramids!!!!

Food Chain

Food Web

Energy Pyramid