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Discover the origin of ecology and its study of interactions between living and non-living components, including plants, animals, and abiotic factors like light, water, and soil nutrients. Explore the levels of organization in the environment, from organisms to ecosystems and the biosphere. Gain insight into the integrated and dynamic nature of ecology as a whole. Visit www.worldofteaching.com for more free resources.
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What is Ecology? This Powerpoint is hosted on www.worldofteaching.com Please visit for 1000+ free powerpoints
Origin of the word…”ecology” • Greek origin • OIKOS = household • LOGOS = study of… • Study of the “house/environment” in which we live.
Ecology is study of interactions between • non-living components in the environment… • light • water • wind • nutrients in soil • heat • solar radiation • atmosphere, etc. AND…
Living organisms… • Plants • Animals • microorganisms in soil, etc.
To study Ecology involves… • For living (biotic) • animal behavior • Taxonomy • Physiology • mathematics (population studies) • etc. • For non-living (abiotic) • Climatology • Hydrology • Oceanography • Physics • Chemistry • Geology • soil analysis, etc.
Ecology… • views each locale as an integrated whole of interdependent parts that function as a unit. caribou tundra
Nonliving • dead organic matter • nutrients in the soil and water. • Producers • green plants Tundra
Consumers • herbivores and carnivores • Decomposers • fungi and bacteria Tundra Caribou
ECOLOGY: Levels of Organization - a hierarchy of organization in the environment
Levels of organization - Terms • Biosphere • Surface of the earth • Composed of many ecosystems • Ecosystem • Large or small as we decide • Backyard, O’Melveney Park, Hedge along Room 110, etc.
Levels of organization - Terms • Population – one species live in one place at one time • Community – All populations (diff. species) that live in a particular area.
Levels of organization - Terms • Habitat – physical location of community • Organism – simplest level of organization
Very complex • Can contain 100’s to 1000’s of interacting species.
THEN… Ecology is an integrated and dynamic study of the environment.