Ecosystems – Lesson Summary

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Learning Objective

In this lesson we will be introduced to ecology – the study of living things and their environment.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this lesson you will be able to:

  • Define the terms ‘environment’, ‘ecosystem’, ‘biodiversity’ and ‘ecology’.
  • Differentiate between ‘biotic’ and ‘abiotic’ environmental factors, with examples.
  • Describe the different levels of ecological organisation, with examples.
  • Discuss how ecosystems are dynamic systems.

 
introduction to ecology lesson contents

(Image: Sid Mosdell, Wikimedia Commons)

Lesson Topics

1 | Living Things and Their Environment

2 | The Study of Ecosystems

3 | Levels of Organisation Within Ecosystems

4 | Summary

Lesson Summary

  • Ecology is the study of the interactions between living things and their environment.
  • Environment refers to all things and conditions that surround an organism.
  • Environment can be divided into biotic and abiotic factors.
  • Biotic factors include living things and materials derived from living things.
  • Abiotic factors include non-living things and environmental conditions.
  • There are several levels of ecological organisation:
  • Organism  →  population  →  community  →  ecosystem  →  biosphere
  • A population is a group of the same species of organism living and interacting within a specific area.
  • A community includes all species living and interacting within a specific area.
  • An ecosystem includes all species living and interacting within a specific area, as well as the non-living components of that area.
  • The biosphere incorporates all ecosystems on Earth.
  • The biodiversity of an ecosystem is a measure of the numbers of different species within it, as well as the variation within each species.
  • Ecosystems are referred to as dynamic systems as they are always changing.
  • Natural ecosystems are generally stable and maintain biodiversity.
  • Ecosystems that have been impacted by human activities are less stable and have reduced biodiversity.

 
purple rock crabs

(Image: Avenue, Wikimedia Commons)

(Header image: Save Jungle, Adobe Stock)