MODULE 4 – LEVEL OF ORGANIZATION

Level of organization refers to the structures in nature that are defined by part-whole relationships, with things at higher
levels being composed of things at the next lower level.
The scientific study of these helps us gain insights into the complexities of their structure and functions.

Level of Description Example 1

Organization

BIOSPHERE Part of the Earth in which life exists including land, all of the ecosystems on Planet
water, air and atmosphere. earth
POPULATION LEVEL

BIOME Groups of ecosystems that have the same climate and Tundra
similar dominant communities
ECOSYSTEM Groups of all the organisms that live in a particular the Yellowstone community, plus
place, together with their nonliving environment. the energy, water, air, soil, etc.
COMMUNITY Groups different populations that live together in a the wolves, all the other animals,
defined area the plants of Yellowstone Park
POPULATION Groups of individuals of the same species that live in all of the wolves in Yellowstone
the same area.
ORGANISM Living things composed cells (multicellular a wolf
organisms).
ORGANISMAL

ORGAN SYSTEM Groups of organs that work together to the brain, the nerves, and sensory
perform closely related functions. organs (skin, eyes, ears)
LEVEL

ORGAN Groups of tissues that work together to perform the brain

closely related functions.
TISSUE Groups of similar cells that perform a particular the nerve cells on the outer layer
function. of the brain
CELL The smallest unit of life – collections of living matter a nerve cell
enclosed by a barrier that separates them from their
CELLULAR

surroundings.
LEVEL

ORGANELLE Specialized structures that perform important cellular the nucleus of a nerve cell
functions within cells
MOLECULE The smallest units of most compounds a protein that lets nerve cells send
formed by the chemical bonding of impulses
atoms.
ATOM The smallest unit of matter that cannot oxygen
be broken down into anything simpler
by chemical means.