What is What is Ecology?Ecology?

Mrs. Sandy Gomez

What is Ecology?What is Ecology? The scientific study of:

Interactions among organisms Interactions between organisms and their

environment Biosphere – portions of the Earth where

life exists (land, water, and air)

Levels of OrganizationLevels of Organization

Levels of OrganizationLevels of Organization

Species – group of organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring

Levels of OrganizationLevels of Organization

Population – a group of individuals of the same species that live in the same area

Levels of OrganizationLevels of Organization

Community – different populations that live in the same area.

Levels of OrganizationLevels of Organization

Ecosystem – all the organisms plus the nonliving environment

Levels of OrganizationLevels of Organization

Biome – group of ecosystems with the same climate and similar communities

Levels of Organization

Biotic and Abiotic Biotic and Abiotic FactorsFactors

What are biotic and What are biotic and abiotic factors?abiotic factors?

Biotic and Abiotic Biotic and Abiotic FactorsFactors Biotic factors – the living things that influence organisms Abiotic factors – the nonliving things that influence

organisms Light Soil Wind Water Temperature

Biotic and Abiotic Biotic and Abiotic FactorsFactors

Biotic Factors Is any living component that affects another organism

Biotic and Abiotic Biotic and Abiotic FactorsFactorsAbiotic FactorsAre the non-living chemical and physical factors in the environment

Biotic and Abiotic Biotic and Abiotic FactorsFactors Sometimes, biotic and biotic factors

work together.

Ecological Pyramids Energy Pyramid – shows the amount of

energy available at each trophic level Only about 10% of the energy is

transferred to the next level Biomass Pyramid – shows the amount of

living tissue within each trophic level Pyramid of numbers – shows the number

of organisms at each trophic level

Ecological Pyramids

Habitat and NicheHabitat – the area

where an organism lives

Niche – the role an organism plays in its habitat No two species can

share the same niche in the same habitat

Community Interactions Symbiosis – any relationship in which

two species live closely together Mutualism – both species benefit

(flowers & insects) Commensalism – one species benefits

while the other is neither helped nor harmed (orchids in a rainforest)

Parasitism – one organism benefits while the other is harmed (fleas on a dog)

Symbiosis

Ecological Succession The series of changes that occurs in a

community over time Primary succession – occurs on

surfaces where no soil exists (no previous life) Pioneer species – the first species to

populate the area Lichens → mosses → grasses → shrubs →

trees

Primary Succession

Ecological Succession Secondary Succession – when a

disturbance changes the existing community without removing the soil Tornadoes, fire, clear cutting Occurs much quicker than primary

succession Climax community – the relatively

stable final community