Introduction to Ecology Unit

1. Introduction to Ecology Unit

2. Introduction to Ecology Unit We’ve been studying biodiversity – focusing on differences Now we’ll look at commonalities – what are characteristics of ecosystems, no matter where they are or what they are made of

3. Ecology Unit Overview Major topics in this unit: Structure of ecosystems (4-1) Energy flow in ecosystems (5-1) Cycling of materials (5-2) Ecological Succession (5-3) Terrestrial biomes (Ch. 6) Aquatic ecosystems (Ch. 7) Population Ecology (Ch. 8) Human Population (Ch. 9)

4. Ecology Definition of ecology: study of the interactions of living things with each other and with their environment From Greek word “oikos” which means “house” How is this an appropriate word for this field of study?

5. Levels of organization in Ecology Biosphere Ecosystem Community Population Individual organism

6. Levels of organization in Ecology Definition of biosphere: the narrow layer of the earth in which life can exist (about 9km above the earth’s surface to 11km below the ocean’s surface) The other three “spheres” are the atomosphere, the hydrosphere and the lithosphere – we will study them all

7. Levels of organization in Ecology • Definition of ecosystem: all of the organisms living in an area together with their physical environment Example: a deciduous forest ecosystem

8. Levels of organization in Ecology Another definition of ecosystem: the biotic and abiotic components of an area What do biotic and abiotic mean?

9. Biotic components of an ecosystem include: Living plants and animals Dead organisms Dead parts of organisms (e.g., leaves) Waste products

10. Abiotic components of an ecosystem: Air Water Soil Rocks Light Heat

11. Levels of organization in Ecology Definition of community: a group of various species that live in the same place and interact with each other Example: A riparian (river) community within a deciduous forest

12. Levels of organization in Ecology Definition of population: all of the members of the same species that live in the same place at the same time Example: yellow-bellied slider population in a river

13. Levels of organization in Ecology Definition of species: a group of similar organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring Example: horse + donkey = mule Why are horses and donkeys not in the same species????