Intro to Ecology

ECOLOGY

The study of interactions between
organisms and all components of the
environment. (Living and Nonliving)

Multiple Choice

What is ecology primarily concerned with?

• Studying fossils

• Interactions between organisms and their environment

• Genetics of individual organisms

• Human anatomy

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

🞭 Biotic – all living or once living things that

affect organisms

🞭 predators, infection/diseases, competition

🞭 Abiotic – physical and chemical

characteristics in an environment

🞭 nonliving factors

🞭 pH of water and soil, temperature, weather

patterns.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an example of an abiotic factor in an ecosystem?

• Trees

• Soil bacteria

• Temperature

• Rabbits

Multiple Choice

What are biotic factors in an ecosystem?

• Non-living elements

• Physical features

• Living organisms

• Weather patterns

CHECKPOINT #1

Q: HOW do biotic and abiotic factors
affect one another?

LEVELS OF ORGANIZATION IN THE
ENVIRONMENT: (smallest to largest)

1. Organism

🞭 A single living thing

2. Population

🞭 A small group of one species in an area

3. Community

🞭
All of the populations living in a specific
area

🞭
Can include several different species

Multiple Choice

Which term refers to a single individual living thing?

• Ecosystem

• Organism

• Population

• Community

Multiple Choice

What does a population refer to in ecology?

• All living and non-living things in an area

• A group of different species

• All the individuals of a species in a specific area

• The physical environment

Multiple Choice

What does a biological community consist of?

• All individuals of the same species

• All living and non-living things in an area

• Different populations of organisms

• The physical environment

4. Ecosystem

🞭
All living and nonliving things in an area(life forms,
Temp., pH, gas levels, light)

5. Biome

🞭 A group of like ecosystems

6. Biosphere

🞤 The entire area on Earth where life exists

CP2Q: Give an example of an ecological community

Multiple Choice

Which term describes a community of organisms interacting with their physical environment?

• Biome

• Biosphere

• Ecosystem

• Habitat

5 LEVELS OF ORGANIZATION IN THE
ENVIRONMENT:

1. Organism

2. Population

3. Community

4. Ecosystem

5. Biome

6. Biosphere

Organism

Multiple Choice

What is a biome characterized by?

• Specific physical conditions and climate

• Single species dominance

• High population density

• Limited biodiversity

Multiple Choice

Where does the biosphere extend?

• Only on land

• Only in the atmosphere

• From the Earth's crust to the atmosphere

• Only in the ocean

🞭 Habitat – where an

organism lives
🞭 Includes all necessary

resources

🞭 Think smaller version of

an ecosystem but
specific to an individual

CPQ3: Describe your habitat

Multiple Choice

Which is considered an organisms home?

• niche

• habitat

• ecosystem

• biome

RESOURCES

🞭 Energy and materials needed for survival

CPQ4: What kinds of things are
considered resources for you?

Checkpoint #5

Geologic features (such as mountains) are an important factors that can determine type of ecosystem or biome.

a. Is this a biotic or abiotic factor?

a. Would you consider them a resource?

Why or why not?