February 12, 2012

Basics of Ecology

Ecology (from Greek: οἶκος, "house"; -λογία, "study of") is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount (biomass), number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems. Ecosystems are hierarchical systems that are organized into a graded series of regularly interacting and semi-independent parts (e.g., species) that aggregate into higher orders of complex integrated wholes (e.g., communities). Ecosystems are sustained by the biodiversity within them. Biodiversity is the full-scale of life and its processes, including genes, species and ecosystems forming lineages that integrate into a complex and regenerative spatial arrangement of types, forms, and interactions. Ecosystems create biophysical feedback mechanisms between living (biotic) and nonliving (abiotic) components of the planet. These feedback loops regulate and sustain local communities, continental climate systems, and global biogeochemical cycles.

Ecological Organization Pyramid:

The study of ecology has many layers, ranging from the individual organism, to the population, to the ecosystem, to the planet. It is important for students to know the levels within this hierarchy and to recognize which level they are focusing on at any one time. For the purposes of this activity, students will learn about the different levels (organism, population, community, ecosystem, biome, and biosphere) by choosing an organism and the illustrating a pyramid about that organism. The result is a colorful display of organizational pyramids.
Objectives
Can define and explain the relationships among: individual organisms, populations, communities, ecosystems, biomes, and the biosphere.
Can explain some of the reasons why different regions of the globe have different climates, and thus support different biomes.
Can describe the characteristics of familiar biomes: tundra, desert, prairie (grassland), deciduous forest, tropical rain forest, ocean.
Vocabulary
Organism
Population
Community
Ecosystem
Biome
Biosphere
Tundra
Desert
Prairie
Deciduous forest
Tropical rain forest
Ocean