Chap.1
Ecology- scientific study of relationships between organisms + their environment
Environmental
oPhysical
oChemical
oBiological
oRelationships
oInteractions w/physical aspects of environment
oInteraction w/ same + other species
Darwin’s theory of natural selection is a cornerstone of the science of ecology
Organisms interact w/ environment in the context of the ecosystem
Organisms interact w/ their environment at many levels
Physical + chemical conditions influence an organism’s physiology
oEx) temperature, light, oxygen, carbon dioxide
Ecosystem- an environment which organisms carry out their “struggle for existence”
The ecosystem consists of
oBiotic- living interactions
oAbiotic- nonliving (physical + chemical) interactions
Ecological Systems form a Hierarchy
1. Individual
2. Population- a group of individuals of the same species that occupy a given area
