Section 13-1 & 13-2 Introducing Ecology

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Section 13-1 13-2Introducing Ecology

• Write everything that is Underlined

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Section 13.1 KEY CONCEPT Ecology is the study
of the relationships among organisms and their
environment.
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• Overview of Terms
• Ecology is the study of the interactions among
  living things, and between living things and
  their surroundings.

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• An organism is an individual living thing (such
  as an alligator)

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• A population is a group of the same species that
  lives in one area.

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• A community is a group of different species that
  live together in one area.

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• An ecosystem includes all of the organisms as
  well as the other nonliving things in a given
  area. (such as climate, soil, water, rocks)

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• A biome is a major regional or global community
  of organisms characterized by the climate
  conditions and plant communities that thrive
  there.

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Research MethodsEcological research methods
include observation, experimentation, and
modeling.

• Observation is the act of carefully watching
  something over time.

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• Experiments are performed in the lab or in the
  field.

• Lab experiments give researchers more control but
  are not reflective of the complex interactions in
  nature.

• Field experiments give a more accurate picture of
  natural interactions.

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• Computer and mathematical models can be used to
  describe and model nature.

• Modeling allows scientists to learn about
  organisms or ecosystems in ways that would not be
  possible in a natural or lab setting.

Ecologists use data transmitted by GPS receivers
worn by elephants to develop computer models of
the animals movements.
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Section 13.2 KEY CONCEPT Every ecosystem
includes both living and nonliving factors.
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• Elements in an Ecosystem
• Biotic factors are living things.
• Remember, BIO means LIFE! (like Biology)
• plants
• animals
• fungi
• bacteria

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• Abiotic factors are nonliving things.
• Remember, A means NOT (like Asymmetrical means
  not symmetrical)

• sunlight
• temperature
• wind
• Moisture
• Water, rain, clouds
• soil

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• Changing one factor in an ecosystem can affect
  many other factors.
• A keystone species is a species that has an
  unusually large effect on its ecosystem.

If you moved this stone the whole arch would fall
down
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• Keystone species form and maintain a complex web
  of life.

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Chapter 13-1 13-2 Review questions

• What is Ecology?
• Define organism, population, community, biome,
  biotic, and abiotic factors.
• Give two examples of biotic and abiotic factors.
• What is a keystone species?
• What does every ecosystem include?