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Origin of the wordecologyGreek originOIKOS = householdLOGOS = study of

Study of the house/environment in which we live.

Ecology is study of interactions between non-living components in the environmentlight waterwindnutrients in soilheatsolar radiationatmosphere, etc.

AND

Living organismsPlantsAnimalsmicroorganisms in soil, etc.

To study Ecology involvesFor non-living (abiotic)ClimatologyHydrologyOceanographyPhysicsChemistryGeologysoil analysis, etc.

For living (biotic) animal behavior Taxonomy Physiology mathematics (population studies) etc.

Ecologyviews each locale as an integrated whole of interdependent parts that function as a unit.tundracaribou

The interdependent parts are

Nonlivingdead organic matternutrients in the soil and water. Producers green plantsTundra

Consumers herbivores and carnivoresDecomposersfungi and bacteria TundraCaribou

ECOLOGY: Levels of Organization- a hierarchy of organization in the environment

Levels of organization - TermsBiosphereSurface of the earth Composed of many ecosystemsEcosystemLarge or small as we decideBackyard, OMelveney Park, Hedge along Room 110, etc.

Levels of organization - TermsPopulation one species live in one place at one time

Community All populations (diff. species) that live in a particular area.

Levels of organization - TermsHabitat physical location of community

Organism simplest level of organization

Very complexCan contain 100s to 1000s of interacting species.

THENEcology is an integrated and dynamic study of the environment.