1. Course Introduction Flashcards
Define ecology
The scientific study of interactions between organisms and their environment in a hierarchy of levels of organization:
● Individuals
● Populations
● Communities
● Ecosystems
What are the 5 major levels of organization?
● Biosphere
● Ecosystem
● Community
● Population
● Individual
Define biosphere
All space occupied by living things on earth
Define ecosystem
A region containing interacting biotic and abiotic factors
Define community
A population of different species that occur together in the same space and time
Define population
Individuals of the same species that co-occur in the same space and time
Define individual
Living organisms that are genetically and physically discrete
How is an ecosystem defined?
Arbitrarily, it is a geographic volume containing interacting biotic and abiotic factors
How are ecosystems connected?
Through a series of inputs and outputs
E.g. Glaciers flow into a mountain lake where the water interacts with plants and animals
What are some examples of abiotic factors?
●Water
●Light
●Temperature
●Air
●Salinity
●Time
What are some examples of biotic factors?
●Plants
●Animals
●Fungi
●Bacteria
●Humans
Are humans a part of a system or separate?
They can be either
What is the time dimension?
Ecosystems can change through time
What are some examples of a geographic volume?
●The temperate rainforests in BC
●The ocean floor
●An urban area like Edmonton
●A tropical beach shore
