Ecology

ECOLOGY

* the branch of biology that deals with the interactions between organisms and their environment
* this can be studied at different levels of organization with different factors at each

I. LEVELS OF ORGANIZATION

1) population:

* includes all the members of a species in a given area
ex. all of the white tail deer in the Adirondacks is a population

2) community:

* all of the populations in a given area
ex. all of the organisms in the Adirondacks-- deer, pine trees, rabbits, maple trees, squirrels, bears, blueberries, etc... is a community

3) ecosystem:

* the living (biotic) community and the nonliving (abiotic) physical environment functioning together is an ecosystem
ex. the Adirondack ECOSYSTEM is made up of the BIOTIC community and the ABIOTIC factors-- weather, rocks, water, soil

4) biosphere:

* the biosphere is the portion of the earth in which LIFE exists
* is made up of many complex ecosystems
* ALL OF THE ECOSYSTEMS COMBINED MAKE UP THE BIOSPHERE!

II. ALL ABOUT ECOSYSTEMS
* the ecosystem is the structural and functional unit that is studied in ecology
* they involve important interactions between biotic and abiotic factors
* an ecosystem can support itself and is stable (not much change) when three conditions are met...the E.A.R. conditions...

1) there must be a constant supply of Energy (the sun is this source for all life on earth)

2) there must be living organisms that can convert the energy into organic compounds (plants--Autotrophs--photosynthesis)

3) there must be a Recycling of materials between organisms and the environment

A balanced aquarium is an example of a very small ecosystem. It is self-supporting because the requirements for a stable ecosystem are present:

ENERGY (1) is supplied to the ecosystem by light. There are PLANTS (2) to change the light energy into the organic molecule of energy (glucose). RECYCLING (3) of materials occurs during photosynthesis and respiration. During photosynthesis, plants use light energy and carbon dioxide to form glucose. They give off oxygen, which is used by the fish and snail during respiration. Animals release the carbon dioxide that is used by plants.

Ecology

What exactly is an ecosystem? Find out from one of the scientists who coined the phrase.

here is a cool ecosystem at the bottom of the ocean--one of the few ecosystems not based on the sun!

	ECOLOGY * the branch of biology that deals with the interactions between organisms and their environment * this can be studied at different levels of organization with different factors at each I. LEVELS OF ORGANIZATION 1) population: * includes all the members of a species in a given area ex. all of the white tail deer in the Adirondacks is a population 2) community: * all of the populations in a given area ex. all of the organisms in the Adirondacks-- deer, pine trees, rabbits, maple trees, squirrels, bears, blueberries, etc... is a community 3) ecosystem: * the living (biotic) community and the nonliving (abiotic) physical environment functioning together is an ecosystem ex. the Adirondack ECOSYSTEM is made up of the BIOTIC community and the ABIOTIC factors-- weather, rocks, water, soil 4) biosphere: * the biosphere is the portion of the earth in which LIFE exists * is made up of many complex ecosystems * ALL OF THE ECOSYSTEMS COMBINED MAKE UP THE BIOSPHERE! II. ALL ABOUT ECOSYSTEMS * the ecosystem is the structural and functional unit that is studied in ecology * they involve important interactions between biotic and abiotic factors * an ecosystem can support itself and is stable (not much change) when three conditions are met...the E.A.R. conditions... 1) there must be a constant supply of Energy (the sun is this source for all life on earth) 2) there must be living organisms that can convert the energy into organic compounds (plants--Autotrophs--photosynthesis) 3) there must be a Recycling of materials between organisms and the environment A balanced aquarium is an example of a very small ecosystem. It is self-supporting because the requirements for a stable ecosystem are present: ENERGY (1) is supplied to the ecosystem by light. There are PLANTS (2) to change the light energy into the organic molecule of energy (glucose). RECYCLING (3) of materials occurs during photosynthesis and respiration. During photosynthesis, plants use light energy and carbon dioxide to form glucose. They give off oxygen, which is used by the fish and snail during respiration. Animals release the carbon dioxide that is used by plants.
Ecology


		What exactly is an ecosystem? Find out from one of the scientists who coined the phrase.



		here is a cool ecosystem at the bottom of the ocean--one of the few ecosystems not based on the sun!