What is What is EcologyEcology

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EcologyEcology EcologyEcology is the study of interactions is the study of interactions

among organisms and between among organisms and between organisms and their environmentorganisms and their environment

Organisms and their environment are Organisms and their environment are interdependent, everything in the interdependent, everything in the environment needs each other to environment needs each other to survive!survive!

BiosphereBiosphere The The biospherebiosphere is all the parts of is all the parts of

earth where life exists, including earth where life exists, including land, water, and airland, water, and air

Levels of OrganizationLevels of Organization To understand relationships within the To understand relationships within the

biosphere, ecologist biosphere, ecologist ask questions ask questions about events and organismsabout events and organisms that that range in complexity from a single range in complexity from a single individual to the entire biosphereindividual to the entire biosphere

Scientists study these relationships at Scientists study these relationships at many levels: species, populations, many levels: species, populations, communities, ecosystem, biome and communities, ecosystem, biome and biospherebiosphere

SpeciesSpecies A A speciesspecies is a group of organisms so is a group of organisms so

similar that they can breed and similar that they can breed and produce fertile offspring.produce fertile offspring.

PopulationsPopulations Populations Populations are groups of the same are groups of the same

species living in the same area. species living in the same area.

CommunitiesCommunitiesCommunitiesCommunities are groups of different are groups of different species living in the same areaspecies living in the same area

EcosystemEcosystem An An ecosystem ecosystem is a collections of all is a collections of all

the organisms that live in an area the organisms that live in an area together with all the nonliving parts together with all the nonliving parts of the environment.of the environment.

Ecological MethodsEcological Methods Ecologist conduct research using 3 Ecologist conduct research using 3

basic approaches: observing, basic approaches: observing, experimenting and modelingexperimenting and modeling

ObservingObserving Usually the first step in asking Usually the first step in asking

questions.questions.

Typically involves using your senses Typically involves using your senses to help answer basic questionsto help answer basic questions What species live here?What species live here? How many individuals live in the area?How many individuals live in the area?

ExperimentingExperimenting Experiments can be used to test Experiments can be used to test

hypotheseshypotheses

Ecologist set up tests to imitate and Ecologist set up tests to imitate and manipulate conditions that manipulate conditions that organisms would encounter in the organisms would encounter in the natural worldnatural world

ModelingModeling Models help ecologist gain insight into Models help ecologist gain insight into

complex phenomena such as the complex phenomena such as the effects of global warming on effects of global warming on ecosystemsecosystems

Many models use mathematical Many models use mathematical formulas based on data collected formulas based on data collected through observation and experiments.through observation and experiments.