1. KEY CONCEPT Ecology is the study of the relationships among organisms and their environment.

2. Ecologists study environments at different levels of organization. What are some of the different levels of organization called? Ecology is the study of the interactions among living things, and between living things and their surroundings.

3. Organism Organism An organism is an individual living thing, such as an alligator.

6. Lab experiments are not reflective of the complex interactions in nature. Why?

7. Field experiments give a more accurate picture of natural interactions.

9. An ecosystem includes both biotic and abiotic factors. Biotic factors are living things. Give three examples. plants animals fungi bacteria

11. temperature

12. wind

13. sunlight

15. What is one drawback of a field experiment? A. It does not reflect complex interactions. B. It cannot be controlled. C. It is difficult to determine cause and effect. D. There are no manipulated variables.

16. What is one drawback of a field experiment? A. It does not reflect complex interactions. B. It cannot be controlled. C. It is difficult to determine cause and effect. D. There are no manipulated variables. Correct Answer = C Which of the following is ordered correctly from largest to smallest? A. organism, population, community, ecosystem, biome B. ecosystem, biome, community, population, organism C. biome, ecosystem, community, population, organism D. biome, ecosystem, population, community, organism

17. What is one drawback of a field experiment? A. It does not reflect complex interactions. B. It cannot be controlled. C. It is difficult to determine cause and effect. D. There are no manipulated variables. Correct Answer = C 3. Which of the following is ordered correctly from largest to smallest? A. organism, population, community, ecosystem, biome B. ecosystem, biome, community, population, organism C. biome, ecosystem, community, population, organism D. biome, ecosystem, population, community, organism Correct Answer = C

18. What is one drawback of a field experiment? A. It does not reflect complex interactions. B. It cannot be controlled. C. It is difficult to determine cause and effect. D. There are no manipulated variables. Correct Answer = C 3. Which of the following is ordered correctly from largest to smallest? A. organism, population, community, ecosystem, biome B. ecosystem, biome, community, population, organism C. biome, ecosystem, community, population, organism D. biome, ecosystem, population, community, organism Correct Answer = C

20. Levels of organization in ecology going from general to specific = biome, ecosystem, community, population, organism

21. Observations include careful watching over time

22. Lab experimentation and field experimentation have different benefits and downfalls

23. Biotic factors are living things

24. Abiotic factors are non-living things

25. Biodiversity is important for survival of organisms in changing circumstances