Ecology Study Guide + Class Notes

-
Ecology:
Scientific
study
of
interactions
among
organisms
&
between
organisms
&
their
environment
-
Biosphere:
Contains
combined
portions
of
planet
in
which
all
life
exists
-
Includes:
-
Land
-
Water
-
Air/atmosphere
-
Interactions
within
biosphere
→
Web
of
interdependence
between
organisms
&
environment
-
Contributes
to
ever-changing
or
dynamic
biosphere
-
interdependence
:
the
dependence
of
two
or
more
people
or
things
on
each
other
-
Levels
of
Organization
-
Species:
Group
of
organisms
similar
to
one
another
-
Can
breed
&
produce
fertile
offspring
-
Populations:
groups
of
individuals
that
belong
to
same
species
&
live
in
same
area
-
Communities:
Assemblages
of
different
populations
that
live
together
in
defined
area
-
Ecosystem:
Collection
of
all
organisms
that
live
in
a
particular
place
-
Together
with
non
living
or
physical
environment
-
Biome:
Group
of
ecosystems
that
have
same
climate
&
similar
dominant
communities
-
Biosphere:
High
level
of
organization
-
CYCLES
-
-
Understand
water
cycle
(maybe) -
-
Understand
carbon
cycle
(maybe)
-
-
Understand
Nitrogen
cycle
-
-
Understand
Phosphorus
cycle
(maybe)
-
Energy
Flow
-
Sunlight
is
main
source
of
energy
on
Earth
(for
most)
-
Energy
captured
by
producers/autotrophs
-
Heterotrophs:
Organisms
that
rely
on
other
organisms
for
energy
(aka
Consumers)