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Unit 1

Lesson 1: Introduction to

Ecology

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The Web of Life• Organisms need energy and matter to live.• When organisms interact with one another there

is an exchange of energy and matter.• All organisms are connected to each and to the

environment.• Ecology – the study of how organisms interact

with one another and with the environment.

• Through the living environment.– Biotic factor – an interaction between

organisms (living) in an area.• Bio = life

• Through the nonliving environment.– Abiotic factor – a nonliving part of an

environment.• A = non or not

– Examples: water, nutrients, soil, sunlight, rainfall, temperature, climate, rocks, air.

– Abiotic factors influence where organisms can survive.

The Web of Life

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Levels of Organization• The environment can be organized

into different levels.• Level 1 – an individual organism.• Level 2 – Population – a group of

individuals of the same species that live in the same place at the same time.– Species – organisms that are closely

related and can mate to produce offspring.

– Individuals within a population often compete for resources such as food, mates, shelter, etc.

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• Level 3 – Communities – make up all the populations of different species that live and interact in an area.– There is also competition for

resources among all species.

• Level 4 – Ecosystems – a community of organisms and their nonliving environment.– Includes all biotic and abiotic

factors.– Examples: Pond, forest, swamp, etc.

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Levels of Organization

Think GloballyBiome – Contains many ecosystems.- Large regions that share climate conditions, such as temperature and rainfall, and have communities of species. - Major land biomes: tropical rainforest, grassland, desert, rain forest, tundra, savanna, taiga, etc.

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Home Sweet Home• Ecologists – a scientists who studies the different kinds of

organisms and their role in the environment.• Niche – a role a population of species play in an

ecosystem.– Example: how it gets food, how it interacts with other

populations.– Lion and gazelle.

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• Habitat - a place where an organism lives, a part of an organisms’ niche.– Provide all the resources an organism needs to

survive.– 2 populations cannot occupy the same niche.

Home Sweet Home