Name:_________________________
Keystone Review Guide: Ecology
BIO.B.4.1.1 Describe the levels of ecological organization (i.e., organism, population,
community, ecosystem, biome, and biosphere).
Determine the appropriate ecology level for each of the following:
Word Bank: Population, Organism, ecosystem, Community, Biosphere
1. _____________________________________
Fact: THE BROADEST, MOST INCLUSIVE LEVEL
Fact: This level IS THE THIN VOLUME OF EARTH AND ITS ATMOSPHERE THAT
SUPPORTS LIFE
Fact: ALL ORGANISMS ARE FOUND HERE
Fact: LIVING THINGS ARE NOT DISTRIBUTED EVENLY HERE
2. _____________________________________
Fact: IS ALL THE INTERACTING ORGANISMS LIVING IN AN AREA.
Fact: ECOLOGISTS OFTEN FOCUS ON HOW SPECIES INTERACT AND HOW THESE
INTERACTIONS INFLUENCE THE NATURE OF THIS LEVEL
3. _____________________________________
Fact: INCLUDES ALL THE MEMBERS OF A SPECIES THAT LIVE IN ONE PLACE AT ONE
TIME.
4. _____________________________________
Fact: THE SIMPLEST LEVEL OF ORGANIZATION IN ECOLOGY
5. ______________________________________
Fact: INCLUDES ALL OF THE ORGANISMS AND THE NONLIVING ENVIRONMENT FOUND
IN A PARTICULAR PLACE.
BIO.B.4.1.1 Describe the levels of ecological organization (i.e., organism, population,
community, ecosystem, biome, and biosphere).
Levels of Organization
Practice Keystone Question: Use the list below to answer the question.
A student observes and records the following in his field notebook. Which term best
classifies all of the student’s observations :
• two grey wolves
• five moose
• several species of conifer trees
• large granite rock
• shallow pond
A. population
B. food chain
C. ecosystem
D. community
BIO.B.4.1.2 Describe characteristic biotic and abiotic components of aquatic and terrestrial
ecosystems.
THE LIVING COMPONENTS OF THE ENVIRONMENT ARE CALLED BIOTIC FACTORS – THEY
INCLUDE ALL OF THE LIVING THINGS THAT AFFECT THE ORGANISM
THE NONLIVING FACTORS, CALLED ABIOTIC FACTORS, ARE THE PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ENVIRONMENT.
Label each item with a B for Biotic or A for Abiotic:
_______TEMPERATURE
_______INSECTS
_______MUSHROOMS
_______HUMIDITY
_______pH
_______BACTERIA
_______SALINITY
_______OXYGEN CONCENTRATION
_______AMOUNT OF SUNLIGHT
_______AVAILABILITY OF NITROGEN
_______WATER CURRENT
_______OTHER SPECIES OF ANIMALS
_______TREES
_______ PRECIPITATION
Practice Keystone Question: Use the list below to answer the question.
A researcher observing an ecosystem describes the amount of sunlight, precipitation, and
type of soil present. Which factors is the researcher most likely describing?
A. biotic factors in a forest
B. biotic factors in a tundra
C. abiotic factors in a prairie
D. abiotic factors in an ocean
KEY
Keystone Review Guide: Ecology
BIO.B.4.1.1 Describe the levels of ecological organization (i.e., organism, population, community,
ecosystem, biome, and biosphere).
1. THE BIOSPHERE
THE BROADEST, MOST INCLUSIVE LEVEL
THE BIOSPHERE IS THE THIN VOLUME OF EARTH AND ITS ATMOSPHERE THAT SUPPORTS LIFE
ALL ORGANISMS ARE FOUND IN THE BIOSPHERE
LIVING THINGS ARE NOT DISTRIBUTED EVENLY THROUGHOUT THE BIOSPHERE
2. ECOSYSTEM
AN ECOSYSTEM INCLUDES ALL OF THE ORGANISMS AND THE NONLIVING ENVIRONMENT FOUND IN A PARTICULAR
PLACE.
CONSIDER A POND ECOSYSTEM
3. COMMUNITY
A COMMUNITY IS ALL THE INTERACTING ORGANISMS LIVING IN AN AREA.
ECOLOGISTS OFTEN FOCUS ON HOW SPECIES INTERACT AND HOW THESE INTERACTIONS INFLUENCE THE NATURE
OF THE COMMUNITY.
4. POPULATION
A POPULATION INCLUDES ALL THE MEMBERS OF A SPECIES THAT LIVE IN ONE PLACE AT ONE TIME.
5. ORGANISM
THE SIMPLEST LEVEL OF ORGANIZATION IN ECOLOGY
BIO.B.4.1.2 Describe characteristic biotic and abiotic components of aquatic and terrestrial
ecosystems.
THE LIVING COMPONENTS OF THE ENVIRONMENT ARE CALLED BIOTIC FACTORS – THEY INCLUDE ALL OF THE LIVING
THINGS THAT AFFECT THE ORGANISM
THE NONLIVING FACTORS, CALLED ABIOTIC FACTORS, ARE THE PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE
ENVIRONMENT.
o TEMPERATURE
o HUMIDITY
o PH
o SALINITY
o OXYGEN CONCENTRATION
o AMOUNT OF SUNLIGHT
o AVAILABILITY OF NITROGEN
o PRECIPITATION