Basic terms of ecology

1. Introduction to Ecology
Unit 1

2. What is Ecology?
 Ecology: the study
of the relationship
between organisms
and their
environment
 Involves observing
relationship
patterns and
seeking to explain
them

3. Levels of Ecological
Organization
 1) Biosphere: Earth & its atmosphere
 2) Biome: very large climatic regions
 3) Ecosystem: organisms and non-living
things in one area
 4) Community: interacting organisms in
one area
 5) Population: all members of one
species in an area
 6) Organism: how they are adapted to
their environments

4. Levels of Ecological
Organization

5. Interdependence
 “Interconnectedness”
 All organisms interact with other
organisms and non-living things in the
environment
 Survival depends on this
 Any disturbance may cause widespread
effects

6. Factors that Influence Organisms
 2 Types:
 1) Biotic
Factors: “living”
 i.e. bacteria,
plants, animals
 2) Abiotic:
“non-living”
 i.e. temperature,
pH, climate

7. Adaptations
 A trait with a
current functional
role in the life
history of an
organism
 Is maintained and
evolved by means
of natural
selection.
 Adaptations
enhance the fitness
and survival of
individuals.

8. Survival Mechanisms
 1)Acclimation: organisms
adjust their tolerance to
abiotic factors (NOT
adaptation!!)
 2) Dormancy: state of
decreased activity in
response to unfavorable
conditions
 3) Migration: when
organisms move to more
favorable environmental
conditions

9. Niche
 Niche: the specific role a species plays in
the environment
 Includes:
 The conditions they can tolerate
 Their methods of obtaining resources
 # of offspring created
 Time of reproduction (ex: human = 9 months)
 All other specialized interactions with the
environment

10. Biogeography
Biogeography: the
study of the distribution of
species and ecosystems in
geographic space and
through geological time.
Phytogeography:
the branch of biogeography
that is concerned with the
geographic distribution of
plant species and their
influence on the earth's
surface. (Flora)
Zoogeography: the
branch of the science of
biogeography that is
concerned with the
geographic distribution
(present and past) of animal
species. (Fauna)