Ecology

What is biology?

the study of living organisms

What are ecosystems?

A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment

What is ecology?

The study of the relationship of organisms to their environment and to each other

Something is living if it satisfies the acronym…

MRS GREN

What does MRS GREN stand for in the characteristics of living things?

Movement, Reproduction, Sensitivity, Growth, Respiration, Excretion, Nutrition

Define movement in the characteristics of living things?

Moving away or towards things

How does movement relate to animals?

Animals move to find shelter, escape from predators/denger, find food and find a mate

How does movement relate to plants?

Plants move their leaves to best absorb sunlight

Define reproduction in the characteristics of living things?

Creating offspring, all living things produce offspring in one way or another for the continuation of the species

Define sensitivity in the characteristics of living things?

Responding to the environment

How does sensitivity relate to animals?

Animals use senses to know if something is safe to eat or to escape danger

How does sensitivity relate to plants?

Plants grow towards the light or water

Define growth in the characteristics of living things?

increasing in size

How does growth relate to living things?

Living things gain energy - some energy is used in growth, living things become larger and more complicated as they grow

Define respiration in the characteristics of living things?

the release of energy (from digested food - using oxygen)

How does respiration relate to cells and living things?

using oxygen for the release of energy from glucose or other chemicals in our cell, respiration happens in all living things

Define excretion in the characteristics of living things?

removal of waste from the chemical reactions in the body

Define nutrition in the characteristics of living things?

taking in or making food

Why is nutrients important for living things?

to provide the materials for cell growth and repair and provide living things with energy

What are environmental factors?

factors can affect an organism within an ecosystem

What are the two environmental factor groups?

Biotic (living parts of an environment), Abiotic (non-living parts of an environment)

What are the levels of organization in Ecology?

Individual (species) → Population → Community → Ecosystem → Biosphere

What are considered species?

Similar organisms that can successfully reproduce among themselves in their natural environment (they produce offspring that can produce as well - only living things within the same species can do this)

What are considered population?

made of many of the same kind of species that live in the same area

What are considered communities?

made of many groups of populations that interact in an area

What is considered an ecosystem?

includes all the living organisms in an area and all the non-living things that affect it

What is considered the biosphere?

part of the earth that supports all organisms, made up of all the Earth’s ecosystems (water, land, air, living things)