5: Levels of Organization Flashcards
What are levels of organization?
things in nature are organized in a hierarchy; each level is composed of elements of the level below; it is what we call the different levels of hierarchy
What are the levels of organization?
atoms –> molecules –> cells –> tissues –> organs –> organ (body) system –> organism –> population –> community –> ecosystem –> biosphere
What levels of organizations does ecology focus on?
population, community, ecosystem
What is a population?
group of organisms of the same species living in the same area
ex: bison herd
What is a community?
populations of different species living together in the same area and interact with each other
ex: hawks, bison, snakes, prairie dogs, grass,
What is an ecosystem?
it is a community plus the non-living surroundings
ex: hawk, snake, bison, prairie dog, grass, stream, rocks, air, and soil
What is a biosphere?
it contains all the ecosystems on Earth
What is a species?
all organisms of the same kind that are genetically similar enough to breed in nature and produce live, fertile offspring
What is the human population today?
it is almost at 8 billion people worldwide
What is a biological community?
several populations of different species that live together and interact with one another in a particular place
What is an ecosystem?
a specific biological community (biotic factors) and its physical environment (abiotic factors) interacting in an exchange of matter and energy
What are biotic factors?
living parts of an ecosystem
What are abiotic factors?
nonliving parts of an ecosystem
What are examples of abiotic factors?
level of salt in water, amount of light, minerals that compose the soil, temperature, humidity, level of acidity in water, precipitation
What are examples of biotic factors?
unicellular organisms (bacteria), fungi (mushrooms), animals, plants
