What is Ecology?What is Ecology? EcologyEcology is the study of living things and their is the study of living things and their interactions with the environmentinteractions with the environment

Examples: 1. Studying clownfish and how they interact with coral

and anemones in a coral reef2. Studying seagulls and their migratory patterns, based

on weather3. Studying cacti and their ability to store water in hot,

dry climates4. Studying frogs and fish that live in a pond, and the

animals in the woods that eat them

EcologistEcologist – – a scientist who studies a scientist who studies living things and their interactions with the living things and their interactions with the

environmentenvironment

Now That you’ve studied earthworms, and their environment, you are an Ecologist!!!!

Is there another name to describe Is there another name to describe any living thing?any living thing?

An An OrganismOrganism is any living thing is any living thing

• Recall that all living things:Recall that all living things:•Have one or many Have one or many cells (with cells (with

DNADNA))•Can Can grow and changegrow and change•Take in and use Take in and use EnergyEnergy•Produce Produce wasteswastes•RespondRespond to their environment to their environment•Can Can reproducereproduce•Have a Have a life spanlife span

EcosystemEcosystem – – all the living and non-living all the living and non-living things that interact in a particular areathings that interact in a particular areaExamples: Rainforest, Grassland, Coral Reef, Examples: Rainforest, Grassland, Coral Reef, DesertDesert

Living things: birds, fish, lobster

Non-living things: water, oxygen, sand, sunlight

Biotic factorsBiotic factors – – the living parts of the living parts of an ecosysteman ecosystem

• PlantsPlants – Moss, grass, shrubs, Moss, grass, shrubs,

cacti, trees, seaweedcacti, trees, seaweed• AnimalsAnimals

– Birds, mammals, Birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, reptiles, amphibians, fish, insects, starfish, fish, insects, starfish, clams, crustaceansclams, crustaceans

• FungiFungi– Mushrooms, yeast, Mushrooms, yeast,

moldmold• Microscopic organismsMicroscopic organisms

– Bacteria, germsBacteria, germs

Abiotic FactorsAbiotic Factors – – the non-living the non-living parts of an parts of an ecosystemecosystem• WaterWater

– RainRain– SnowSnow– SleetSleet– iceice

• Air Air – OxygenOxygen– Carbon dioxideCarbon dioxide

• SunlightSunlight• Rocks and mineralsRocks and minerals• Dirt and soilDirt and soil• SandSand

Ecosystems provide habitats Ecosystems provide habitats for organismsfor organisms

• HabitatHabitat – a place where an organism – a place where an organism lives that provides all of its needslives that provides all of its needs– FoodFood– ShelterShelter– Proper temperatureProper temperature– Proper amount of moistureProper amount of moisture

• Examples: Examples: – A dying tree with holes that animals live inA dying tree with holes that animals live in– A freshwater stream where mussels growA freshwater stream where mussels grow

Brain Pop on Ecosystems: