Transcript Unit One
Unit One
Ecology
Ecology
The study of the relationships that exist
between organisms and their
environments.
Ecological interactions are
influenced by two types of
factors
Abiotic Factors
Biotic Factors
Biotic Factors
These include all living organisms and
their effects both direct and indirect on
other living things
May include organisms that were
recently alive
Examples of Biotic Factors
Predator prey relationships
disease causing bacteria
poisonous plants
a huge tree that has fallen across a path
a dead moose that is found in a bog
Abiotic Factors
The nonliving factors in an environment
that effect ecological interactions
These factors define what type of
organisms can live in a particular area
There are several important abiotic
factors
Important Abiotic Factors
Light Availability
Temperature
Availability of Water
Composition of soil and nutrient/mineral
availability
Light Availability
Light from the sun (solar energy) is the
ultimate energy source for all living
things
The availability of light energy differs
greatly on different parts of the earth
Temperature
As you change latitude or altitude on the
earth the temperature patterns change
greatly
Water availability
The amount of precipitaion differs
depending where on the earth you are
Soil composition and availability
of Minerals/Nutrients
The development of soil will determine
such factors as pH, amount of organic
nutrients, amount and type of minerals
present
Biosphere
The area of land air and water on or
around the earth in which all living
things can be found