Introduction to Ecosystems
Ecology

Ecology
• Ecology is the study of organisms and their interaction with the environment.
– An organism is any living thing
• Examples: Humans, animals, plant, bacteria

Ecology
• The Biosphere
– The biosphere is the living world
– Includes any organisms that are found in the air, on land, or in the water

Ecology
• The Ecosystem
– Is a self supporting area composed of living and nonliving things such as the Rain Forest or the Desert
– It produces energy, transfers energy, decomposes, and recycles
– It made up of two (2) types of factors:
• Biotic and Abiotic

• Abiotic Factors
– are non living parts of the environment such as rocks, the sun, and temperature
Ecology

Ecology
• Biotic Factors
– The living parts of the environment such as plants, bacteria, and animals

Ecology
• Community
– Is composed of all of the populations of different organisms living together in a given area such as your lawn (contains grass, insects, and worms)
• A population is a group of organisms that belong to the same species & live in a given area
– Ex: heard of cattle or a gaggle of geese

Ecology
• Biome
– Is a major type of ecosystem with its own temperature ranges, rainfall amounts, and types of organisms

Biomes

Aquatic Biomes
• Marine (Salt Water)
– Location: Oceans & Estuaries
– Types of Organisms: Kelp, Whales, Dolphins,
Sharks, Tuna, Crabs, Shrimp, Lobsters,
Salmon, Eels, Plankton

Aquatic
• Marine

Aquatic Biomes
• Freshwater
– Location: Wetlands, Rivers, Streams, Ponds,
Lakes, & Creeks
– Types of Organisms: Algae, Muskrats, Ducks,
Geese, Fish, Pike, Carp, Bass, & Catfish

Land Biomes
• Fresh Water

Aquatic Biomes
• Photic Zone – marine zone in which there is the presence of light from the sun
(plants can grow in this zone)
• Aphotic Zone - marine zone in which no light from the sun is present (very few organisms live in this zone)

Aquatic Biomes
• Estuary – shallow area where salt water and fresh water mix

Aquatic Biomes
• Wetland – area where fresh water, salt water, and land mix
(marshes, swamps, and bogs)

Land Biomes
• Tundra
– Location: northern North America, northern
Europe, northern Asia
– Climate: Cold, ground stays covered in snow, permafrost – permanent frozen layer of ground, scarce rainfall, very short summers

Land Biomes
• Tundra
– Plants: mosses, lichens, small plants that do need a lot of water
– Animals: caribou, migrating birds (come for the short summer)

Land Biomes
• Tundra

Land Biomes
• Tropical Rain Forest
– Location: near the Equator, Africa, & South
America
– Climate: Hot and Humid, rains everyday

Land Biomes
• Tropical Rain Forest
– Plants: Jungle (think Tarzan), very tall trees, thick vegetation on the ground, dense canopy
– Animals: parrots, Apes, Toucans, Monkeys,
Leopards, other predatory Cats, Snakes

Land Biomes
• Tropical Rain Forest

Land Biomes
• Coniferous Forest
– Location: Canada, Washington (State),
Russia, China
– Climate: long cold Winters, short Summers, frequent Rain

Land Biomes
• Coniferous Forest
– Plants: Evergreens (think Christmas Trees),
Pines, Spruces, Cedars
– Animals: Moose, Bear, Lynx, Hibernating
Animals, Migrating Animals

Land Biomes
• Deciduous Forest
– Location: eastern United States (think about where we live), most of Europe, Australia
– Climate: hot Summers, cold Winters, Rainfall throughout the year

Land Biomes
• Deciduous Forest
– Plants: Trees that lose their leaves, Maples,
Oaks, Hickories, Sycamores, Willows
– Animals: Bears, Foxes, Raccoons, Deer,
Squirrels, Birds

Land Biomes
• Deciduous Forest

Land Biomes
• Desert
– Location: Africa (think Scorpion King or the
Mummy)
– Climate: Hot, can snow at night, sparse
Rainfall

Land Biomes
• Desert
– Plants: Succulent Plants (retain water in the leaves), Cacti, and small Shrubs
– Animals: Lizards, Snakes, small Rodents, other Rodents

Land Biomes
• Desert

Land Biomes
• Grassland
– Location: Midwest United States (think Little
House on the Prairie), Africa (think the Lion
King), Asia, South America
– Climate: long dry periods with occasional fires

Land Biomes
• Grassland
– Plants: several species of Grasses, scattered
Trees, and Wildflowers
– Animals: burrowing Animals – Rabbits, Moles,
& Rodents, grazing Animals – Buffalo, Zebras, and Giraffes, Lions, and Hyenas

Land Biomes
• Grassland

Land Biomes
• Chaparral

Land Biomes
• Taiga