- Ecology
- A few key terms


[SLIDE 1]

Ecology is the study of all processes influencing the distribution and abundance of organisms, and the interactions between living things and their environment.

Studying ecology involves understanding natural ecosystems and the species that live within these ecosystems.


[SLIDE 2]

A species is a group of individuals that share characteristics distinct from other groups. Robins are a species compared to blackbirds, for example.

Population is the number of individuals that make up a species in a certain area. Population refers to the gray wolves of an area, while species refers to all gray wolves in the world.

Biotic community includes all the life in the area from vegetation and algae to animals, microscopic creatures and more. Abiotic factors such as water, climate, salinity and soil type determines what kind of biotic community lives in an area.


[SLIDE 3]

An ecosystem is an interactive complex of communities and the abiotic environment. A forest is an example of an ecosystem. 

Landscapes consist of clusters of interacting ecosystems like forests, open meadows and rivers. A landscape is on a scale that a human being can envision.

Biomes are large areas on the Earth's surface with similar vegetation and are much larger than a landscape. 

Biosphere is the entire system of all living organisms within all ecosystems. The biosphere includes all ecosystems on Earth.