Ecology - Mr. BurnhamWhat is Ecology?

Bellwork

• Make a list of all living and non-living things in the classroom

Daily Objective: I will understand the relationship between living and non-living things.

Essential Quesiton: What is ecology?

Studying our living planet

• How is Earth, in a scientific sense, a “living planet”?

Studying our living planet

• Ecology is the scientific study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their physical environment.

Studying our living planet

• The biosphere consists of all life on Earth and all parts of the Earth in which life exists, including land, water, and the atmosphere.

The science of Ecology• Ecology is the scientific study of interactions

among and between organisms and their physical environment.

• Interactions within the biosphere produce a web of interdependence between organisms and the environments in which they live.

Levels of organization• Ecologists study environments at

different levels of organization

Levels of organization• An organism is an individual living

thing, such as an alligator.

Levels of organization• A population is a group of the

same species that lives in one area

Levels of organization• A community is a group of different

species that live in one area

Levels of organization• An ecosystem includes all of the

organisms as well as abiotic factors

Levels of organization• A biome is a major regional or global area

defined by the climate and plant communities

Biotic factors• Biotic factors are any living part of the environment with which an organism might interact• Biotic factors relating to a bullfrog might include algae it eats as a tadpole, the herons that

eat bullfrogs, and other species competing for food or space

Abiotic factors• Abiotic factors are any nonliving part of the environment, such as sunlight, heat, precipitation,

humidity, wind or water currents, soil type, etc.• For example, a bullfrog could be affected by abiotic factors such as water availability,

temperature, and humidity.

Biotic and abiotic factors together• The difference between abiotic and biotic factors is not always clear. Abiotic factors can be

influenced by the activities of organisms and vice versa• For example, pond muck contains nonliving particles, and also contains mold and decomposing

plant material that serve as food for bacteria and fungi

Biotic and abiotic factors together• Also, trees and shrubs affect the amount of sunlight the shoreline receives, the range of

temperatures it experiences, the humidity of the air, and even the chemical conditions of the soil.

• A dynamic mix of biotic and abiotic factors shapes every environment.

Next Steps

• At the bottom of your notes summarize what you’ve learned in 3-4 sentences.

• Levels of organization triangle

ClosureConsider the following organisms:• Honeybees• Sunflowers• Earthworms• Black-birds• Mice

Draw a possible ecosystem using these and label at least three interactions.