Ecology is the study of the relationships between living organisms and their environment. An ecosystem includes all the biotic factors (living things like plants and animals) and abiotic factors (non-living things like water, soil, sunlight) in a particular environment. Biotic and abiotic factors interact in complex ways and influence each other. Ecosystems may not have clear boundaries and can change daily as things move between ecosystems. Examples of ecosystems include deserts, forests, and coral reefs. Major biomes that group similar ecosystems include tundra, grasslands, and rainforests.

1. © 2004 Plano ISD, Plano, TX
Introducing

2. © 2004 Plano ISD, Plano, TX
the study of the relationships
between biotic and abiotic factors
in environments
eco (G) root home, abode
ecoclimate
ecosystem
ecotourism
log, -o, y (G) suffix study of
zoology
epidemiology
climatology
Ecology
Ecology

3. © 2004 Plano ISD, Plano, TX
Ecosystem
includes all abiotic and biotic factors in
one particular environment
Biotic Factors
the living parts of
an ecosystem
Abiotic Factors
the nonliving parts
of an ecosystem

4. © 2004 Plano ISD, Plano, TX
Biotic Factors
Bio
bio(s), bio(t) (G) root life
include plants, animals, fungi,
microorganisms
biology
biostatistics
biography
biotechnology
biosphere
biomechanics
biotic
biofeedback

5. © 2004 Plano ISD, Plano, TX
Examples of Biotic
Factors

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Abiotic Factors
include air, water, soil, temperature,
wind, source of energy (usually sun)
A
a, an (G) prefix not, without
atoxic
amoral
abiotic
amusia

7. © 2004 Plano ISD, Plano, TX
Examples of Abiotic
Factors

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Examples of Ecosystems
Arizona Desert
Mountains in Colorado
Coral Reef in Belize

9. © 2004 Plano ISD, Plano, TX
do not necessarily have clear boundaries
due to biotic and abiotic changes
Ecosystems
Biotic Abiotic
migration, seed
dispersal
flood, erosion,
drought
can change daily as things move from one
ecosystem to another

10. © 2004 Plano ISD, Plano, TX
interact with each
other in complex
ways
Biotic Factors
also interact with
abiotic factors in
the ecosystem
parasitism
mutualism
competition
dependent upon
water, minerals,
temperature, light
such as

11. © 2004 Plano ISD, Plano, TX

12. © 2004 Plano ISD, Plano, TX
a major regional or global biotic
community, a super ecosystem,
defined chiefly by the dominant
forms of plant life and the
prevailing climate
Biome

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desert
grassland
tropical rain forest
deciduous forest
coniferous forest
tundra
Major Biomes of the World
ocean

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Levels of Organization
smallest unit
of living
things
group of
similar cells
organized to
work together
group of
different
kinds of
tissues
working
together
group of
organs
working
together
one individual
living thing
all organisms
of the same
kind living in
one area
all interacting
populations in
an ecosystem
all living and
nonliving
things
interacting
within a
certain area
large region
with typical
plants and
animals that
includes
several
ecosystems
cell

15. © 2004 Plano ISD, Plano, TX
McLaren, James E, and Rotundo, Lisa (1985).
Heath Biology. D. C. Heath and Company.
The American Heritage Dictionary of the
English Language, Third Edition. (1992).
Houghton Mifflin Company.
Arms. (1996). Environmental Science.
Orlando,Florida: Holt, Rinehart and
Winston, Inc.
Bibliography