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Ecology Defined

Ecology Defined. . Ecology is the study of organisms and their interactions with the environment. Levels of Organization. Types of Ecology. Ecologist u se observations & experiments to test explanations for distributions and abundance of species.

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Ecology Defined

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  1. Ecology Defined . Ecology is the study of organisms and their interactions with the environment.

  2. Levels of Organization

  3. Types of Ecology Ecologist use observations & experiments to test explanations for distributions and abundance of species. • Organismal ecology is the study of physiology and behavior interacting with environmental challenges • Population ecology studies the factors impacting the number of individuals of a species in an area • Community ecology is the study of how organisms interact with each other and the environment • Ecosystem ecology studies the energy flow and chemical cycling in a given area

  4. Abiotic and Biotic Interactions http://www.sci.uidaho.edu/scripter/geog100/lect/16-ecosystems-biomes/ecosystems-files/ecosystems.htm

  5. The First Law of Thermodynamics states that energy (or matter) cannot be created or destroyed, but can only change forms.

  6. Heat of the universe will increase during reactions and processes.

  7. Importance of Abiotic Factors Not every organism can live everywhere on Earth Abiotic factors determine which organisms can survive where: The Coral Reef is an environment teaming with life, but many organisms would find this environment unsuitable due to its abiotic factors (too much water, temperature, availability of light, etc. )

  8. W. J. Fletcher tested the effects of two algae-eating animals, sea urchins and limpets, on seaweed abundance near Sydney, Australia. In areas adjacent to a control site, either the urchins, the limpets, or both were removed. EXPERIMENT Removing bothlimpets andurchins orremoving onlyurchins increasedseaweed coverdramatically. Seaurchin Both limpetsand urchinsremoved 80 Onlyurchinsremoved Limpet 60 Seaweed cover (%) Only limpets removed Almost noseaweed grew in areas whereboth urchins andlimpets werepresent, or whereonly limpets wereremoved. 40 Control (bothurchins andlimpets present) 20 0 February 1983 August 1983 February 1984 August 1982 Importance of Biotic Factors 100 Seaweed cover (%)

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