SCIENCEPOWER 7

p.6 1.1 Individuals, Populations, and Communities

Biotic living things (humans, plants, animals, birds,
insects)
Abiotic non-living things 9 (air, water, soil, fire)
Ecologist a scientist who studies biotic parts of the
environment and their interactions with abiotic parts
Biological population a group of individuals of the same
species, living together in one place at one time
Species a group of organisms who can successfully
reproduce among themselves
Unit 1: INTERACTIONS WITHIN ECOSYSTEMS
Ch 1 The Big Picture: Levels of Life
Biological community made up of all the populations
that live in one area. For example, a park has a biological
community made up of the population of squirrels and
the population of trees they feed off of. A population of
robins might nest in the tree. Robins would eat feed on
the population of earthworms in the park
Habitat a place where a species lives








Adaptation an inherited characteristic that helps
organisms survive and reproduce

p. 11 1.2 Ecosystems
Ecosystem interactions between abiotic features of an
area and the biotic community that lives there (ex. a rotting
log, a forest)




Figure 1.5 The ecosystem is the fourth level of biological organization

p. 20 1.4 Climates and Biomes
Weather local conditions that change from day to day
Climate average weather pattern for a region
Biome a large area with characteristic climate, soil,
plants, and animals (ex. If you see elephants, lions, and
giraffes, you are in Africa. If you see coyotes, beavers, and
owls, you are in Canada)

Figure 1.13 The biome is the fifth
level of biological organization
- Biomes can contain several different ecosystems
- All of Earth can be divided into six biomes







- N.B. Ice is not a biome








-see p. 22 for examples of the biomes found in Canada
Using Plants
- Canadians use plants in agriculture, forestry, to sell as cut
flowers, to make diet supplements, and medicines