Lesson Overview What is Ecology?

Objectives 3.1What is Ecology?

-Describe the study of ecology.

-Explain how biotic and abiotic factors influence an ecosystem.

-Describe the methods used to study ecology.

Lesson Overview What is Ecology?

Studying Our Living PlanetThe biosphere consists of all life on Earth and all parts of the Earth in which life exists.

The biosphere extends ~ 5 miles above Earth’s surface to ~ 6.8 miles below the surface of the ocean.

Lesson Overview What is Ecology?

What is Ecology?

Ecology is the scientific study of interactions among and between organisms and their physical environment.

The levels are:

Lesson Overview What is Ecology?

Biotic Factors

A biotic factor is any living part of the environment.

Lesson Overview What is Ecology?

Abiotic Factors

An abiotic factor is any nonliving part of the environment.