Levels of Ecological Organization

• The study of how organisms interact with each other and

with their environments

• Scientists study ecology at various levels of organization.

Lesson 4.1 Studying Ecology

Levels of Ecological Organization

Population

Single Organism

Individual

Multiple organisms of the same species in one area

Community

Multiple species interacting with each other in one area

Levels of Ecological Organization

Biosphere

All of the biotic and abiotic factors in a particular area interacting with each other

Ecosystem

All the living things on Earth and the non-living things with which they interact

Biotic and Abiotic Factors

• Biotic factors: Parts of an ecosystem that

are living or used to be living

• Abiotic factors: Parts of an ecosystem that

have never been living

Lesson 4.1 Studying Ecology

Did You Know?Decaying organisms
are biotic factors as long as their
structure remains cellular.

Habitat

•The specific environment in which an organism lives

•Habitats provide an organism with resources—anything an organism needs to survive and reproduce, including food, shelter, and mates.

Lesson 4.1 Studying Ecology