Studying the Web of Life 🕸️
**$\text{Ecology}$** is the scientific study of how living things ($\text{organisms}$) interact with each other and with their surrounding environment. It explains how nature is organized into different levels, from small groups to the entire planet.
Levels of $\text{Ecological}$ $\text{Organization}$ 🪜
The study of $\text{ecology}$ is organized into ascending levels of complexity:
1. Individual (Organism)
A single living being (e.g., one fox 🦊).
2. Population
A group of the **same species** living in the same area (e.g., all the foxes in a forest).
3. Community
All the **different populations** (plants, animals, fungi) that live together in an area (e.g., foxes, rabbits, trees, and grass).
4. Ecosystem
The **Community** ($\text{all living things}$) **PLUS** the **$\text{Abiotic}$** ($\text{non-living}$) $\text{factors}$ (e.g., foxes, rocks, water, and air).
Video: The $\text{Food}$ $\text{Chain}$ ($\text{Energy}$ $\text{Flow}$) 🔗
Watch how energy moves from the sun to $\text{producers}$ and $\text{consumers}$ in an $\text{ecosystem}$.
Practice Problems ($\text{Biotic}$ vs. $\text{Abiotic}$)
Click whether the factor is **$\text{Biotic}$** ($\text{living}$) or **$\text{Abiotic}$** ($\text{non-living}$).
⚡ $\text{Trophic}$ $\text{Level}$ Challenge!
Click on the organisms in the correct order to form a basic **$\text{Food}$ $\text{Chain}$** (starting from $\text{Producer}$).
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