Unit 2 – Lecture 1

Ecologythe study of the relationships between living

things and their environments “eco” – environment or ecology

[greek: oikos = house / home – ie, Earth]

Review

What does the prefix

“bio” mean?

Ecology – cont’dIncludes relationships with biotic and abiotic

factors:biotic – living

Answer the Following:

Other than animals, name 3 examples of biotic factors

in an environment.

Ecology – cont’dIncludes relationships with biotic and abiotic

factors:abiotic – non-living

prefix “a-” means non, or not

Answer the Following:

Name 3-4 examplesof abiotic factors

in an environment.

Soil Water RockClimate: temperature, pressure, waterfall,

wind, etc.

Ecological OrganizationOrganism

anything which contains ALL of the characteristics of life

Species:a group of related organisms that can

interbreed [and produce offspring that are fertile]

Ecological Organization – cont’dPopulation:

a single species in a single location at the same time

Ecological Organization – cont’dCommunity:

a group of ALL of the populations in a single location at the same time

Ecological Organization – cont’dEcosystem :

includes the community [all biotic factors] PLUS all abiotic factors in an environment

Ecological Organization – cont’dBiome:

geographic area which has similar conditions

climate, flora, faunaflora – plant-lifefauna – animal-life

Answer the Following:Write down the names of

as many biomes as you can remember [at least 4],

and jot down a description of each

[rainfall, temperature, flora, fauna].

no specific number of biomes exist

Ecological Organization – cont’dBiosphere:

everywhere on earth where life can exist

Homework

Complete the North American Biomes w/s

found on pages 2-3 of your packet.