LEVELS OF ORGANIZATION atom atom is the smallest

LEVELS OF ORGANIZATION

atom ◦ atom is the smallest particle that maintains its physical and chemical properties; note that particles smaller than the atom have been discovered, but they do not maintain these properties

molecule ◦ when two or more atoms are bonded together

macromolecule ◦ when two or more molecules are bonded together to form large (gigantic!) molecules Lipids

organelles ◦ several macromolecules bonded together form these building blocks of a cell

Below this level begins what scientists consider living or alive

cells ◦ the smallest unit of life, a cell is a collection of organelles functioning together

tissues ◦ a collections of cells working together to perform a specific job

organs ◦ two or more types of tissues that work together to complete a specific task

organ systems ◦ several organs working in unison to achieve a common goal

organism ◦ several organ systems functioning together

population ◦ groups of individual organisms of the same species working together to achieve a common goal

community ◦ populations of different species of organisms ◦ A community is the set of all populations that inhabit a certain area. ◦ Communities can have different sizes and boundaries.

ecosystem ◦ groups of different populations living in the same environment ◦ the community plus its physical environment. ◦ include both the biotic and abiotic parts of an environment ◦ An ecosystem can be as large as the Sahara Desert, or as small as a puddle or a pond

biome ◦ a collection of ecosystems with similar climates – biomes are determined by rainfall amounts. ◦ a biome can be thought of many similar ecosystems throughout the world grouped together. Coral Reef Deciduous Forest Biome

Biomes of the World

biosphere ◦ The surface of earth as far out as life can be supported. ◦ All of the biomes on the planet earth