Introduction to Ecology

Year 7 Science
 What is Ecology?
 The scientific study of how groups of living organisms interact with
each other and their environment.
 An ecologist is a scientist who studies ecology
 Abiotic vs. Biotic Factors
There are many factors that may affect how an organism (living thing) lives in an
environment. Some of these factors may be living, while others are non-living.

Look at the ecosystems below:

1. What non-living factors could affect the life of an organism?

2. What living factors could affect the life of an organism?

Scientific Terms:

ABIOTIC FACTOR = BIOTIC FACTOR =

NON-LIVING LIVING
rainfall

24/04/2023
bird

24/04/2023
organism
24/04/2023
acidity
24/04/2023
beetle
24/04/2023
salt
24/04/2023
 Biotic and Abiotic Factors
This table is full of mistakes. Some biotic factors are in the abiotic column
and visa versa. Draw up the table in your book with all factors in the correct
columns.
Biotic Factor Abiotic Factor
Ants
Fungi Trees
Sunshine
Competition
Trees Temperature
Wind
Rainfall
Water Ice
Bushfire
Wombats Fungi
Rainfall
Bacteria
Predation Sunshine
Temperature
Wind
Parasites Wombats
Bushfire
Predation
Ants Algae
Competition
Salinity
Bacteria Humidity
Water
Algae Parasites
Salinity
 Today:

 Ecosystem – A system of living things that interact with each other

and with the non-living things in their environment.

 Habitat - The place where an organism lives. It provides

everything the organism needs to survive.

 Population - A group of organisms of the same species living

in the same area

 Community - All the populations of different species living in the

same area at the same time.

Populations in the same community will interact with each other and affect
each other’s ability to survive.
 Ecosystems

 Any group of biotic and abiotic things interacting with each

other in an ecosystem
 Vary in size e.g. puddle or a whole country
 Communities
 More than one population of different species interacting with each other in
a single habitat are called communities

 For example Hyena, Lions and Zebras or native trees and introduced weeds.
 ACTIVITY

 Draw an Ecosystem and add:

 Four Non-living things (abiotic)
 Five Living things (biotic)
 Label them