What is Ecology?
 The study of organisms and how they
interact with their environment.
(includes both biotic and abiotic factors).
What is an Ecosystem?
 A collection of the organisms that live in
a particular place together with their
nonliving or physical environment.
Biotic & Abiotic Factors
 Biotic factors – the biological influences
on an organism within an ecosystem,
the living cast of living characters
Biotic v. Abiotic Factors
 Abiotic factors – physical or non living factors
that influence an ecosystem.
Levels of Organization
within an Ecosystem
 The study of ecology ranges from the
study of individual organisms to the
study of the entire biosphere.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Species (Individual)
Population
Community
Ecosystem
Biome
Biosphere
Levels of Organization
1. A species is a group of organisms
that can breed and produce fertile
offspring. (ex: black bears)
2. A population is a group of individuals
that belong to the same species and
live in the same area (ex: all the black
bears in Yellowstone Park)
Levels of Organization
3. A community is a group of different
populations that live together in a
defined area. Exp. lions and tigers and
bears living in the same area
4. A ecosystem is a collection of all the
organisms that live in a particular
place, together with their physical
environment
Levels of Organization
5. A biome is a group of ecosystems
that have the same climate and
dominant communities.
6. A biosphere is the parts of the earth
in which life exists, including land,
water, air and atmosphere.
Ecology: Levels of
Organization
The Niche
 An organisms' niche is the full range of
physical and biological conditions in
which the organism lives and the way in
which it uses those conditions.
The Niche
A organisms niche includes
- the type of food it consumes
- how it obtains food
- physical conditions necessary to survive
- the organism's reproductive pattern
Niche v. Habitat
 An organisms habitat is where it
lives
 An organisms niche is how it lives
No two species can share the
same niche in the same habitat.
Cape May Warbler
Feeds at the tips of branches
near the top of the tree
Bay-Breasted Warbler
Feeds in the middle
part of the tree
Spruce tree
Yellow-Rumped Warbler
Feeds in the lower part of the tree and
at the bases of the middle branches