Ecology - scientific study of the interactions between living organisms and their environment, including the relationships between organisms and the physical and biological components of their surroundings.
Levels of organism
Individual/Organism: Single organism
Population: A group of individuals of the same species
Community: Interacting population in a defined area
Ecosystem: Biological community and physical area
Biome: Large geographic region with distinct climates and vegetation
Biosphere: The highest level of organization, encompassing all ecosystems on Earth. The biosphere includes all living organisms and their interactions with the lithosphere (earth's crust), hydrosphere (water), and atmosphere (air).
Biotic and Abiotic
Biotic - living factors
Abiotic - Non-living factors eg. temperature, water, sunlight, and soil
Energy flow - transfer of energy through ecosystems, usually starting with sunlight and progressing through producers, consumers, and decomposers. Follows the 10% energy rule.
Habitat and Niche
Habitat - specific physical environment where organism lives.
Niche - the role or function of an organism within its habitat.
