Ecology Living Environment Objectives I can identify the

Ecology Living Environment

Objectives • I can identify the levels of organization in the biosphere. • I can identify how biotic and abiotic factors influence ecosystems.

1. Ecology • The study of the interactions of organisms with each other and their environment

2. Organization of Living Things • A. Organism – one individual living thing • B. Population - individuals of the same species living in an area - species – organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring • C. Community – group of interacting populations of different species

Organization of Living Things – con’t • D. Ecosystem – all the organisms in a certain area and their physical environment – Abiotic factors – nonliving parts examples: soil, water, temperature, sunlight - Biotic factors – living parts Examples : animals, plants, microorganisms

• Niche – organism’s way of life, the role it plays in an ecosystem • Habitat – place where an organism lives

Organization of Living Things – con’t • E. Biosphere - layer around earth where life is found

Check For Understanding 1. Arrange the following terms from most inclusive to least inclusive: – population community biosphere ecosystem organism 2. What is the difference between an organism’s niche and its habitat?