ECOLOGYFrom the Greek “oikos” for house, dwelling place, habitation + “logy” – the study of.

Ecology is the study of the interaction (relationship) of organisms and their environments.

Two Parts of an Environment

▪ BIOTIC – “Bio” = “life” – Biotic is the LIVING parts of an environment.

▪ Abiotic – “A” in front of a word means “without.”

▪ What does ABIOTIC mean?

▪ The NON-LIVING parts of an environment

List as many biotic and abiotic parts of this habitat as you can.

Biotic: Giraffe, Leopard, Tree, grass, bacteria, protists, insects, birds, snakesProbably: fish, mollusks, fungi

Abiotic: sun, air, soil, wind water, hot, dry climate.

ORGANIZATION OF THE ENVIRONMENT

▪ Biosphere – Bio = Life; sphere = area, place environment – as in “social sphere”

▪ All ecosystems on Earth; All of life on earth and their environments.

▪ Ecosystem - A community of organisms and their abiotic environment.

For example, a coral reef is a marine ecosystem that consists of hard and soft coral, photosynthesizing protists, sponges, mollusks, jellyfish, sunlight, seawater, rocks, sand, etc. All of the different parts depend on one another.

Organization, continued

▪ Communities – All the populations of species that live in the same habitat and interact with each other.

▪ In this swamp community, how many different species do you think live there?▪ Cypress trees, Oak trees, Spanish Moss, Iris,

alligator, Nutria rat, armadillos, squirrels, lizards, frogs, birds, snakes, Bush Palmetto, Duckweed.

▪ How do you think alligators and Nutria rats interact with each other?

Organization, continued

▪ Populations – a group of organisms of the same species that live in a specific geographical area.

▪ Members of a population often compete with one another for food, space, mates, etc.▪ For example, in the Louisiana swamp,

there is a population of American Alligator. This includes ALL alligators that live in the Louisiana swamp. Alligators compete for available food sources.

Organization, continued

▪ Organism – One individual member of a species.

▪ This is ONE Nutria Rat organism of a populationof Nutria Rats, from a swamp community, within the Louisiana wetland ecosystem of Earth’s biosphere.

Can you create a thinking map to organize the levels of organization in ecology?

Biosphere

Ecosystem

Community

Population

Organism

Thinking map in PICTURES!

Ecosystem – Louisiana Wetlands

Earth’s Biosphere

Community of swamp animals

Population of turtles ONE

Organisms

REVIEW!

1. What’s the difference between a community and a population?• A population is only ONE species – a community is more than one species.

2. Name an ABIOTIC part of our ecosystem.• The sun, rain, moderate climate, Chattahoochee river, soil, rocks, Georgia

red clay3. Name a BIOTIC part of our ecosystem.

• People, coyotes, Dogwood trees, Pine trees, squirrels, Red Tail Hawk, racoon, Chanterelle mushroom, Rainbow Trout

4. What are the two parts of an ecosystem?• Biotic and Abiotic

5. What are some ways that abiotic factors can affect an ecosystem?• Temperature determines what types of animals can live in an environment. • Salinity of water determines what plants and animals can live in the

environment.• Pollution can affect various life forms.

Quick Write

Section 1 of Chapter 18 is titled, “Everything is Connected.” Write a few sentences (a paragraph) explaining what this means, based on what you have learned about ecology so far.