List 10 words that come to mind when you see this image.

Where is life found?

How do living things interact with the Earth?

What is happening on Earth?

How does it affect me?

Atoms – Molecules – Cells – Tissues – Organs – Organ Systems – Organism – Population – Community – Ecosystem –

Biome~ Biosphere

Ecological Levels of Organization

Organism – an individual living thing Population

› Groups of individuals that belong to the same species that live in the same area

Species = organisms that are able to breed and produce fertile offspring

Communities› Several populations of different organisms

that inhabit the same general area.

Ecosystem› Living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic)

components of an environment. Biome

› Group of ecosystems that have the same climate and dominant communities.

Biosphere› All portions of the planet where life exists

(includes land, water, atmosphere)

What is biodiversity?

The sum of all the different types of organisms living on earth.

Common characteristics of organisms› Habitat – where it lives (water, land, etc)› Digestive cavity› Paired appendages (2 arms, 2 legs)› How does it obtain oxygen (gills, lungs, skin)› Sense organs visible (feelers, hands, etc)› Locomotion (how does it move)

Observing› Use the 5 senses (sight, sound, taste,

touch, smell) Experiments

› To test a hypothesis regarding a certain topic.

Modeling› Mathematic formulas created based on

data collected through observation and experimentation.

Why is biodiversity important?

Endangered species!!!!!› We as a society want to protect all the

different types of organisms present in our ecosystem.

More North American Endangered Species

Bighorn Sheep - Bison - Black Bear - Dolphin - Gray Wolf - Grizzly Bear - Humpback Whale - Lynx - Manatee - Mountain Lions - Ocelot - Polar Bear - Pronghorn Antelope - Seal -

Extinct – the permanent disappearance of a species from Earth

What is causing animals to become endangered or even extinct?

Alteration of habitats› Human Population Growth

Pollution› SMOG is killing trees over a wide area of

southern California› CO2 Levels are increasing

Decrease in H2O Forest Fires

What is so important about Rainforest?

Tropical rainforests are the most diverse ecosystem in the world.

Home to 2/3 of the worlds species

What is so important about making sure animals don’t go extinct?

Erases genetic material – what if that extinct species had favorable traits.

Simpler ecosystems are unstable – the biosphere becomes smaller

Future Importance of that plant or animal – what if that extinct plant could have been used to cure cancer in 10 years

The “Domino Effect” Every organism is connected to all

other organisms If we remove one of this pieces then it

could effect everyone

The Story of the Sea Otter

Sea otters → Urchin → Kelp Because the kelp was depleted fish

that relied on the kelp for habitat were reduced in number

So what does this mean to us?

Keeping a balance is key Restoring balance can be difficult and

costly to Conservationists› Predictions are only a guess

Unbalanced ecosystems could be disastrous

End of 9.1

Take this time to start on your Biology Notes for H.W.