Levels of Ecological Organization
Presentation
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Science
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6th Grade
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Practice Problem
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Medium
+2
Standards-aligned
Barbara White
Used 24+ times
FREE Resource
8 Slides • 8 Questions
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Middle School
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Define the five levels of ecological organization from organism to biosphere.
Differentiate between biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) factors in an ecosystem.
Understand how these levels are organized from the smallest to the largest.
Identify the level of organization based on questions ecologists ask.
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Key Vocabulary
Species
A group of related organisms that can breed and produce fertile young.
Population
A group of organisms of the same species living and interacting in the same area.
Community
All the different populations of species that live and interact together in the same area.
Ecosystem
All the living organisms and the non-living factors that interact in a single area.
Biosphere
The part of our planet, including oceans and atmosphere, that contains all living things.
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Species
A species is a group of similar organisms that can have offspring.
They are genetically similar and share common traits.
For example, the "sapiens" in Homo sapiens identifies our species.
Population
A population consists of all the members of one species in an area.
It is the next level of organization up from a species.
All the zebras in a grassland are an example of a population.
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Multiple Choice
Which of these describes a population?
The part of the Earth where life exists.
A single zebra.
All the zebras, lions, and acacia trees in an area.
A group of zebras living together in the same area.
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Interactions: Community and Ecosystem
A community is all the living organisms in one area.
An ecosystem includes the community and non-living factors.
Non-living factors are things like water, soil, and sunlight.
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Multiple Choice
What is the primary difference between a community and an ecosystem?
A community includes abiotic factors, while an ecosystem does not.
There is no difference between a community and an ecosystem.
An ecosystem includes abiotic factors like water and soil, while a community does not.
A community is one species, while an ecosystem has many.
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The Biosphere
The biosphere is the highest level of ecological organization.
It is the part of our planet that is able to support life.
This level includes the land, the oceans, and the atmosphere.
Scientists study how CO2 in the air affects global temperature.
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Multiple Choice
An ecologist asks, 'How does the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere affect global temperature?' Which level of organization are they studying?
Biosphere
Ecosystem
Community
Population
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Misconception | Correction |
|---|---|
A community includes non-living things. | A community is made up of only living (biotic) things. |
A population contains many different species. | A population has individuals of only one species. |
An ecosystem and a community are the same. | An ecosystem includes the community and its non-living environment. |
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Multiple Choice
A scientist is studying how a fire affects the various populations of mammals in the African grasslands. Which level of organization is being studied?
Organism
Population
Community
Biosphere
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Multiple Choice
Why is an ecosystem considered a more complex level of organization than a community?
Because it has more species than a community.
Because it includes a single species, which is very complex.
Because it includes the interactions between living organisms and their non-living environment.
Because it is the largest level of organization on the planet.
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Multiple Choice
A severe drought strikes a grassland, reducing the amount of available water. This directly impacts the ecosystem. How might this abiotic change affect the 'population' level?
The number of different species in the grassland will increase.
The global temperature will immediately increase.
The growth of a specific zebra herd might decline due to lack of water.
The genetic makeup of a single zebra will change.
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Multiple Choice
If the population of a predator suddenly increases, how does this change affect the community?
It only affects the non-living factors within the ecosystem.
It has no effect on the community.
It can decrease the populations of prey species, affecting the community's overall structure.
It could cause the extinction of the entire biosphere.
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Ecology is studied at five main levels, from organism to biosphere.
A population is one species, while a community is many species together.
An ecosystem includes all living and non-living factors in an area.
Ecologists study the patterns and processes that happen at each level.
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Poll
On a scale of 1-4, how confident are you about the concepts covered in today's review?
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