ECOLOGY

What is Ecology?

The study of interactions among

organisms and between organisms

and their environment.

Foundation of Environmental ScienceEcology: the study of

how living organisms interact with each other and their nonliving environment

Ecology studies how all of these living and nonliving things interact

What is an ecosystem?

Defining an ecosystemEcosystem: all the

organisms living in an area together with their physical environment

Forest EcosystemPond EcosystemVacant Lot EcosystemDesert Ecosystem

All Ecosystems are connectedHow does your ecosystem impact the Atlantic Ocean?

Parts of an ecosystem

Parts of an ecosystem In order for an ecosystem to

survive it needs five basic components:

EnergyMineral NutrientsWaterOxygenLiving Organisms

What are some parts of this ecosystem?

If your are conducting a study of the interactions of vegetation, animals, mineral composition of the soil, and water levels in a saltmarsh. You are studying the saltmarsh ___.

ECOSYSTEM

Biotic and Abiotic FactorsBiotic: living & once living

parts of an ecosystemPlants, animals,

bacteria, dead organisms, wastes

Abiotic: nonliving parts of an ecosystem

Air, water, soil, sunlight, temperature

What are some biotic AND abiotic parts of this ecosystem?

Organizing Biotic Parts

Smallest UnitOrganism: an individual living thing like you, a tree, a fox, a rose

Species: groups of closely related organisms that can mate & produce fertile offspring like red foxes or black widow spiders, or grizzly bears

Species Species: groups of

organisms that resemble each other in appearance, behavior, chemistry and genetic makeup…able to reproduce

3.6 to 100 million species (1.4 identified)

Mostly insects/micro

Tropical forests

Known species1,412,000

Insects751,000

Plants248,400

PopulationPopulation: all the members of the same species that live in the same place at the same timeField mice living in a corn

field, grizzly bears of Yellowstone Park

Members breed with one another, rather than with other populations

CommunityCommunity: a group of various species that live in the same place and interact with each other Pond CommunityPineland Forest Community

BiosphereAll parts of the Earth where life is found

HabitatHabitat: the place

where an organism lives Organisms are

well suited for their habitat

HabitatHabitats provide an organism with resources—anything an organism needs to survive and reproduce, including food, shelter, and mates

Influenced by temperature and precipitation

Habitat

Weather – current condition of the atmosphere

Climate vs Weather

Climate – the general weather conditions prevailing in an area over a long period