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KEY CONCEPT Ecology is the study of the relationships among organisms and their environment. Organism. Organism. Environmental levels of organization:. An organism is an individual living thing (Ex: alligator). Population. Population. Organism. Organism.
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KEY CONCEPT Ecology is the study of the relationships among organisms and their environment.
Organism Organism Environmental levels of organization: • An organism is an individual living thing (Ex: alligator)
Population Population Organism Organism • A population is a group of the same species living in one area.
Community Community Population Population Organism Organism • A community is a group of different species that live together in one area.
Ecosystem Ecosystem Community Community Population Population Organism Organism • An ecosystem includes all living and nonliving things in a given area.
Biome Ecosystem Ecosystem Community Community Population Population Organism Organism • A biome is a major community of organisms--includes climate conditions
plants Ecosystems include both biotic and abiotic factors. • Biotic factors are living things. • plants • animals • fungi • bacteria
sunlight moisture • moisture • temperature • wind • sunlight • Abiotic factors are nonliving things.
Biodiversity • Biodiversity is the variety, of living things in an ecosystem. • Importance of Biodiversity: • Interrelationships • Potential medicines • An ecosystem will most likely remain stable if it has a high level of biodiversity
Ecosystem Energy • Producers (autotrophs) make their own food. • Consumers (heterotrophs) get their energy by eating other living or once-living things.
carnivore decomposer • Herbivores eat only plants. • Carnivores eat only animals. • Omnivores eat both plants and animals. • Decomposers eat dead organic matter. (fungi) • They break down organic compounds into atoms • Consumers are not all alike.
GRAMA GRASS DESERT COTTONTAIL HARRIS’S HAWK A food chain shows a sequence of feeding relationships. If the grass (the producer) disappears, the cottontail (prey) has no food (dies), the hawk ( a predator) will lose its prey
Trophic levels show flow of energy in a food chain (through nourishment/food) 90% of energy lost as it flows up the food chain. Carnivores Energy flow up the food chain Herbivores (primary consumers which are (anything that only eat plants) Producers (plants, anything that makes its own food)