Ecology
Interactions of organisms and
their environments.
The study of ecology ranges
from the study of an
individual organism to the
entire biosphere.
Levels of
Organization
•Species- group of similar
organisms that can breed and
produce fertile offspring.
•Population- group of same
species that live in same area.
•Community- different
populations that live in same
area.
•Ecosystem- all biotic and
abiotic factors in a particular
place.
•Biome- group of ecosystems
that have same climate.
•Biosphere- contains all life,
land, water and air.
What shapes an ecosystem?
Ecosystems are influenced by a combination
of biological and physical factors.
• Biotic factors- living factors
(ex: birds, trees, bacteria)
• Abiotic factors- non-living factors
(ex: climate,
precipitation)
Recall that a biome is a
group of ecosystems that
share the same climate and
soil conditions.
• There are 10 different
terrestrial biomes and 2
aquatic biomes.
• Each biome has different
abiotic factors that plants
and animals must adapt to in
order to survive.
• Use pages 100-104 to fill in
your biome graphic
organizer.
Now that you have
completed your graphic
organizer, lets see what you
learned about biomes!
Write the name of the
biome that matches the
picture on the screen on
your whiteboard!
Can you identify this biome?
Hint: The plants are adapted with broad leaf
trees that can capture lots of light and most
animals make their homes in the tree tops.
Tropical Rainforest
Can you identify this biome?
Hint: Many conifers (pine trees).
Coniferous
Forest
Can you identify this biome?
Tundra
Hint: low plants (like mosses)
and animals with thick fur.
Can you identify this biome?
Desert
Hint: cacti and
scorpions are
abundant here.
Can you identify this biome?
Hint: Long cold winters.
Boreal
Forest
Can you identify this Biome?
Tropical Dry Forest
Hint: During the dry season, nearly all the
trees drop their leaves to conserve water.
Can you identify this Biome?
Savanna
Hint: Drought
resistant
shrubs,
elephants and
giraffes are
present here.
Can you identify this biome?
Woodland/
Shrubland
Hint: Woody evergreens and
plants that grow during winter
and die in summer.
World Biomes
Which biome do
you think Texas is
a part of?
a.Rainforest
b.Desert
c.Grassland
d.Tundra
If you answered b
or c, you are
correct!
Aquatic - Mangrove
“Forests”
Marine or
Freshwater?
Mangroves are
adapted to the
salinity of ocean
water.
Aquatic - Wetlands
Marine or
Freshwater?
Adaptations
• Now that you are a biome expert, let’s see if you
can guess the biome by only looking at organism’s
adaptations.
• Adaptation- trait or characteristic gives an organism
an advantage.
• Adaptations are the result of mutations, time, and a
changing environment.
Allow me to
tell you more
about
adaptations.
Adaptations
1. Spines rather than leaves.
Large water storage in stem.
WHAT
BIOME
IS the
THIS?
2. Animals
burrow
to escape
heat and sometimes only come out
at night.
DESERT
3. Waxy coating on
leaves protects
against water loss.
Adaptations
4. Soft stems allow them to
bend in the wind and small
leaves minimize water loss.
WHAT BIOME IS THIS?
Grassland / Prairie
5.Small rodents burrow
to escape predators
and have sharp teeth to
gnaw on grass.
Adaptations
6. Drip-tip
leaves help
shed excess
water.
8. Animals live
in treetops and
can digest
cellulose.
Rainforest
WHAT
BIOME IS THIS?
7. Poisonous
animals
display
bright colors
Adaptations
9. Plants are low
and clumped to
conserve heat.
WHAT
BIOME
IS
THIS?
TUNDRA
10. Animals have thick
layer of fat and
insulating fur.
Adaptations
11. Green limited
to above water
surfaces.
WHAT BIOME IS THIS?
AQUATIC - FRESHWATER
12. Animals must
be able to swim
to catch food.
Adaptations
13. Broad leaves
capture lots of light.
Temperate
14. Animals use
camouflage
hide
Deciduous
WHAT
BIOMEtoIS
THIS?
from predators or to
sneak up on prey.
Forest
15. Deciduous trees drop
their leaves in autumn to
minimize water loss.
Summary: Plants and animals are
specially adapted for the
places they live.
Each biome has a unique
climate – the year-to-year
temperature and
precipitation.
Organisms depend on the
biotic and abiotic features of
their ecosystem for survival.
Question 1
Question 2
Question 3
Question 4
Question 5
In which biome do the
evaporation
rates exceed the precipitation
rates?
A Desert _
B Tropical jungle
C Grassland
D Hardwood forest