Intro to Ecology

• Ecology is the study of how organisms interact with each other and their physical environment.
• People who work in the field of ecology are called “ ecologists ”.
• Organization/Cells

  Living things are made of cells. In multicellular organisms, these are highly organized.
• Growth

  Living things are capable of growing larger, even single-celled organisms like bacteria.
• Response to Stimuli

  Living Things can respond to things in their internal and external environment - we call these “ Stimuli “.
• Reproduction

  Living things can reproduce to make more organisms. This can be sexual or asexual.
• Homeostasis

  Living things can control their internal environment, e.g. Body Temperature.
• Metabolism

  Living things have chemical reactions occurring all the time - the sum of this is called metabolism.
• Evolution

  Living things form populations which can evolve over time. This is possible through the passing on of genetic material from one generation to another.