Ecology Levels of Organization
Transcript of Ecology Levels of Organization
What is Ecology?
A. Ecology
The study of interactions of organisms and between organisms and their environment.
B. Levels of Organization
1. Species (smallest)
2. Populations
3. Communities
4. Ecosystems
5. Biomes
6. The Biosphere (largest)
1. Species
A group of similar organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring.
Panthera leo
2. Population
A group of similar organisms that belong to the same species, can interbreed, live in the same area
3. Community
An assemblage of different populations that live together in a defined area.
Many species!
4. Ecosystem All the organisms that live in a place
and their physical environment Biotic factor: biological (living)
influences on an organism Predators Food Other members of a community
Abiotic factor: physical (non-living) components Sunlight Precipitation Heat
5. Biome A group of ecosystems that share
similar climates and organisms Temperate deciduous forest (here) Desert Tundra Savanna
6. Biosphere
The entire planet with all organisms and physical environments