Introduction to Global Systems

​3.1 : Introduction to Global Systems

Learning Targets:

A. Explain why ecology is important

B. Descrbie the methods used to study ecology

C. ​Explain how biotic and abiotic factors influence an ecosystem

Biosphere-includes all parts of life of Earth in which life exists.

​Ecology: Studying Our Living Planet

​The Science of Ecology

Ecology: Scientific study of interactions among organisms, populations, and communities and their interactions with their environment.​

Subject | Subject

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​Why Study Ecology?

• When human populations were small, humans only had a local effect on the environment.

• ​As human populations have grown, our impact has increased

• Humans depend on healthy ecological systems

• Understanding ecology can help design sustainable human economies​

Subject | Subject

​Levels of Ecological Organization

• Species: a group of similar organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring

• Population: group of organisms of the same species that live in the same area

• Community: assemblage different populations that live together in a defined area.​

• Ecosystem: all the organisms that live in a place, together with their nonliving environment​

Subject | Subject

Multiple Choice

Assemblage of different populations that live together in a defined area

• species

• population

• community

• ecosystem

• biosphere

Multiple Choice

Part of the Earth in which life exists including land, water, and air

• biosphere

• species

• population

• community

• ecosystem

Multiple Choice

All the organisms that live in a place, toghether with their nonliving environment

• biosphere

• species

• population

• community

• ecosystem

Multiple Choice

A group of similar organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring

• biosphere

• species

• population

• community

• ecosystem

Multiple Choice

Group of individuals of the same species that live in the same area

• biosphere

• species

• population

• community

• ecosystem

Reorder

Reorder the following from smallest to largest

• community

• ecosystem

• species

• biosphere

• population

1

2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

​Gathering Ecological Data

Generally there are 3 approaches

1. Observation

2. Experimentation

3. Modeling​

t

​Observation

Examples:

• Identifying the number of species in a community

• Seeing the effect of the introduction of a species into a new area

Subject | Subject

​Experimentation

Experimentation on natural systems often is difficult.

Why?

• Some variables cannot be controlled- such as weather

• Artificial environments can be used to control variables​

Subject | Subject

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Modeling

• Many ecological processes occur over long periods of time

• Ecologists make models to help understand phenomena

  • Ex. Impact of hurricanes on ecosystems

    • Use mathematical equations based on data from previous occurrences or experiments to make predictions

Subject | Subject

​Biotic and Abiotic Factors

Biotic factors: any living part of the environment with which an organism might interact

​

Abiotic factors: any nonliving part of the environment​