Ecology and Levels of Organization

Flashcards covering introductory ecology concepts, levels of organization, and biotic vs. abiotic factors.

What is the definition of Ecology?

Ecology is the scientific discipline in which the relationships among living organisms and the interactions the organisms have with their environment are studied.

In what order do the levels of organization in ecology range from smallest to largest?

Individual, Population, Community, Ecosystem, Biome, and Biosphere.

In ecology, what defines an Individual?

This is the most basic level, representing a single organism of a particular species.

How is a Population defined in ecology?

A population consists of all the individuals of a single species living within a defined area at a specific time.

What constitutes an ecological Community?

A community encompasses all the different populations of organisms that live and interact within a specific area.

What is an Ecosystem?

An ecosystem includes the community of organisms along with the non-living (abiotic) components of their environment, such as air, water, soil, and sunlight.

What is a Biome?

A biome is a large-scale region characterized by a specific climate, vegetation type, and animal life.

What is the Biosphere, and what physical components does it encompass?

The biosphere represents the sum of all ecosystems on Earth and is the highest level of ecological organization. It encompasses all living organisms and their interactions with the physical environment, including the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere.

What levels of ecological organization are depicted in this diagram from left to right?

Individual, Population, Community, Ecosystem, and Biosphere.

What are biotic factors?

Biotic factors are the living organisms within an ecosystem.

What are abiotic factors?

Abiotic factors are the non-living components of an ecosystem.

What examples of biotic factors are listed in the lecture?

Tree, Bird, Worm, Beetle, Vine, Wolf, and Bacterium.

What examples of abiotic factors are listed in the lecture?

Rain, Sunshine, Soil, Sand, Temperature, River, and Cloud.