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So far, we have worked our way through the study of life from molecules and cells to organisms and populations. We now expand our view further to the study of ecology. Ecology is a field within biology that focuses on the relationships of organisms to one another and to their environment. This includes how they interact with both abiotic (non-living) and biotic (living) factors. These components create ecosystems. An ecosystem consists of a specific biological community of organisms and the physical environment they interact with.
By exploring and understanding these relationships, we are able to better understand the natural systems around us, how balance is maintained in these systems, and how external impacts, such as human activities, affect the environment. Ecology also helps us view life at a larger scale. Looking at the bigger picture is beneficial as humans search for ways to protect and conserve the ecosystems and species on Earth.
In this unit, we will discuss how organisms respond to their environment, how the environment shapes animal behavior, and how energy flows through ecosystems. We will also explore population ecology and what controls population size and growth. Finally, we will look at how groups of organisms form communities, how this shapes biodiversity, and how the communities, and the ecosystems they are a part of, respond to change.
