ECOLOGY Levels of Organization Biosphere Biome Ecosystem Community

ECOLOGY

Levels of Organization. Biosphere Biome Ecosystem Community Population Individual

Biotic – Living Factors – all the interactions of the living organisms in an area. Abiotic – NON-Living Factors – all the physical and chemical components in an area. Ex: Temperature, Rainfall, Light Availability etc.

Levels of Organization: Individual • Individual or Organism • Smallest level for ecologists • Ecological research at the organism level focuses on adaptations of organism to its environment – So actually looks at species, not an individual • SPECIES: – A group of very similar organisms that are able to breed and produce fertile offspring

Population • Groups of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the same area • Ex: – Upper Cape Freshman students

Community • Grouping of all populations that live in same area – Include all interacting organisms of different populations • Ex: All living organisms at Jacob’s Pond (algae, deer, fish, protists, bacteria)

Ecosystem • A collection of all organisms that live in a particular place, together with their nonliving environment. • Ex: All living organisms (plant, animal, fungi, protists, etc) at a lake, including water and dissolved chemicals in lake (nonliving), types of rock (nonliving)

Ecosystem-Video Clip

Biome • Group of ecosystems that have same climate and similar dominant communities • Climate – Typical weather patterns of an area over time – Major factors = temperature and precipitation

Biosphere • Largest and most inclusive of Nature’s “houses” • Contains all portions of planet in which life exists • It includes nonliving environment (land, water, air) • Highest level of organization that ecologists study • It extends from 8 km above earth’s surface to 11 km below surface of ocean.

Are there organizational levels smaller than the individual? • YES, but not studied in ecology • What is smaller than individual or organism? – Organ system – Organ – Tissue – Cell – Atoms and Molecules