Unit One

EcologyEcology

Ecology

The study of the relationships that exist The study of the relationships that exist between organisms and their between organisms and their environments.environments.

Ecological interactions are influenced by two types of

factors

Abiotic FactorsAbiotic Factors Biotic FactorsBiotic Factors

Biotic Factors

These include all living organisms and These include all living organisms and their effects both direct and indirect on their effects both direct and indirect on other living thingsother living things

May include organisms that were May include organisms that were recently aliverecently alive

Examples of Biotic Factors

Predator prey relationshipsPredator prey relationships disease causing bacteriadisease causing bacteria poisonous plantspoisonous plants a huge tree that has fallen across a patha huge tree that has fallen across a path a dead moose that is found in a boga dead moose that is found in a bog

Abiotic Factors

The nonliving factors in an environment The nonliving factors in an environment that effect ecological interactionsthat effect ecological interactions

These factors define what type of These factors define what type of organisms can live in a particular areaorganisms can live in a particular area

There are several important abiotic factorsThere are several important abiotic factors

Important Abiotic Factors

Light AvailabilityLight Availability TemperatureTemperature Availability of WaterAvailability of Water Composition of soil and nutrient/mineral Composition of soil and nutrient/mineral

availabilityavailability

Light Availability

Light from the sun (solar energy) is the Light from the sun (solar energy) is the ultimate energy source for all living ultimate energy source for all living thingsthings

The availability of light energy differs The availability of light energy differs greatly on different parts of the earthgreatly on different parts of the earth

Temperature

As you change latitude or altitude on the As you change latitude or altitude on the earth the temperature patterns change earth the temperature patterns change greatlygreatly

Water availability

The amount of precipitaion differs The amount of precipitaion differs depending where on the earth you aredepending where on the earth you are

Soil composition and availability of Minerals/Nutrients

The development of soil will determine The development of soil will determine such factors as pH, amount of organic such factors as pH, amount of organic nutrients, amount and type of minerals nutrients, amount and type of minerals presentpresent

Biosphere

The area of land air and water on or The area of land air and water on or around the earth in which all living around the earth in which all living things can be foundthings can be found