Ecology
Define ECOLOGY:
Sci 10 -Weir
 ____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
 Can begin at the level of a single organism
 May study such things as:
o Growth
o Reproduction
o _________________________________________________
o _________________________________________________
o _________________________________________________
ABIOTIC:
 the ______________________ aspects of an environment
 Ex: _____________________________________________________________________
BIOTIC:
 the ____________________ aspects of an environment
 Ex: _____________________________________________________________________
POPULATION:
 all the members of _________________________________ living in the same habitat
 Ex: _____________________________________________________________________
COMMUNITY:
 a collection of __________________________________________ living in one particular habitat
 Ex: Community of a forest: trees, shrubs, squirrels, owls, deer, moose, bears, wolves, etc.
A biologist would study the interaction of all the _______________ and ________________ factors in a
particular ecosystem, when studying ecology.
Ex: - they might study such things as the interaction of _________________________________
Ecology
ECOTONE:
 ___________________________________________________________________________________
 They contain organisms from both ecosystems and have greater biodiversity and interactions.
 Ex: - ecotone between brush desert and adjacent hills (contains species from both bordering
ecosystems)
-
Shoreline between ocean and land
BIODIVERSITY:
 Describes the ______________________ of species in an ecosystem, and the _________________
within those species.
 Ex: A goldfish bowl = _________ biodiversity
An ocean =
_________ biodiversity
WHY IS BIODIVERSITY GOOD?
 Ecosystem is less fragile/more stable
 Ecosystem is __________ susceptible to disturbance
 ___________ food sources for organisms
 ___________ susceptible to disease
NATURAL VS. ARTIFICIAL ECOSYSTEM
NATURAL
 the living community is free to interact with the physical & chemical environment
 __________ planned or maintained by humans!
 Example:
ARTIFICIAL
 ___________ planned and maintained by humans!
 Example: