Introduction to Ecology

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Introduction to Ecology
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Introduction to Ecology

• Ecology is the scientific study of interactions
  among organisms and between organisms and their
  environment.

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Levels of Organization
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Levels of Organization

• Organism A complete living unit which make up a
• Species A group of organisms so similar to one
  another that they can breed and produce viable
  offspring.
• This is the same level of organization.

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Levels of Organization

• Population All members of a single species in an
  ecosystem.

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Levels of Organization

• Community All the populations of different
  species in an ecosystem.

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Levels of Organization

• Ecosystem A collection of all the organisms that
  live in a particular place, together with their
  nonliving (Abiotic), environment.

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Levels of Organization

• Biomes A group of ecosystems that have the same
  climate and similar dominant communities.
• These are usually classified according to the
  predominant vegetation.

Also, fresh water and marine biomes
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Levels of Organization

• The biosphere contains the combined portion of
  the planet in which ALL life exists (all
  ecosystems).
• This includes all
• Land
• Water
• Air (atmosphere)

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Levels of Organization

• The biosphere extends about 8 km above the
  Earths surface and as far as 11 km below the
  surface of the ocean.

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Ecological Methods

• Ecologist use a wide range of tools and
  techniques to study the living world.
• Binoculars
• Field guides
• Soil/Water Test kits
• Etc..

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Ecological Methods

• Regardless of the tools they use, scientists
  conduct modern ecological research using three
  basic approaches.

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Ecological Methods

• Observing This is usually the first step in
  asking ecological questions?
• Most questions are simple
• What species live here?
• How many individuals of each species are there?

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Ecological Methods

• Observations (cont.)
• Many observations can lead to more complex
  questions and may form the first step in
  designing experiments and models.
• What is the effects do humans have on the
  environment?

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Ecological Methods

• Experimenting Experiments can be used to test
  hypotheses.
• May use artificial environments in a lab.
• Other experiments are conduct in the natural
  ecosystem.

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Ecological Methods

• Modeling Many ecological phenomena occur over
  long periods of time and on very large scales
  which make them difficult to study.
• Example Global Warming
• Most models consist of mathematical formulas
  based on data collected through observation and
  experimentation.
• Predictions made by ecological modeling are often
  tested by further observations.

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Quiz Questions

• You have 15 20 minutes to study for a quiz
  based on the following questions
• List the six levels of ecological organization,
  in order, from smallest to largest.
• Define each of the six levels of organization.
• Suppose you wanted to know if the water in the
  Carson River is safe to drink. Which ecological
  method(s) would you choose and why?

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Question 1

• Define Organism.

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Question 2

• Define Biome

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Question 3

• Define Population

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Question 4

• Define Ecosystem

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Question 5

• Define Biosphere

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Question 6

• Define Community

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Question 7

• List the six levels of ecological organization,
  in order, from smallest to largest.

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Answers

• Organism A complete living unit which make up a
  species
• Biome A group of ecosystems that have the same
  climate and similar dominant communities.
• Population All members of a single species in an
  ecosystem.
• Ecosystem A collection of all the organisms that
  live in a particular place, together with their
  nonliving (Abiotic), environment.
• Biosphere The biosphere contains the combined
  portion of the planet in which ALL life exists
  (all ecosystems).
• Community All the populations of different
  species in an ecosystem.

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Answers

• 7.