Chapter 18 Section 1

Objectives:

 Distinguish between biotic and

abiotic parts of the environment

 Explain how populations and

communities are related

 Describe how the abiotic parts of the

environment affect ecosystems
Studying the Web of Life:

 The Science of Ecology –

 The study of the interactions of organisms
with one another and their environment

 The Two Parts of an Environment:

 Biotic: living factors; all the organisms that
live together and interact with one another
 Abiotic: non-living factors such as water, soil,
light, and temperature
Organization in the Environment:

 Levels:
 Organism

 Population

 Community

 Ecosystem

 Biosphere
Populations:

 Definition: a group of individuals of

the same species that live together
in a specific geographical area

 Often compete with one another for

food, nesting space, and mates

 Examples?
 Communities:

 Definition: all of the populations of

species that live and interact in an area

 The populations in a community depend

on each other for food, shelter, and
many other things

 Examples ?

http://www.wcskids.net/shhs/clubsorgs/ecology
1.gif
Ecosystems:

 Definition: made up of a community

of organisms and the abiotic
environment of the community

 How organisms interact as well as

how temperature , precipitation, and
soil characteristics affect organisms
 Ecosystem:

http://www.nrri.umn.edu/worms/forest/images/ecosystem_fig3.gif
The Biosphere:

 Definition: the part of the Earth

where life exists

 From the deepest part of the ocean

to high in the air
Apply:

 Part 1:
 List all of the biotic and abiotic factors in
your neighborhood

 Part 2:
 Describe how biotic factors change when
abiotic factors change
Quick Quiz:

 A caterpillar, a deer, and a rabbit all

want to drink from the same puddle,
eat the same plant, and bask in the
same spot of sunshine. Are they
competing members of a population?
Why or why not?

 Using a salt marsh example, explain

why ecologists state that saving a large
animal such as the heron or egret can
also save an ecosystem.