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“All of the ecosystems we know are part of the biosphere, Earth.”
Ecology is the study of how living things interact with each other and their environment. This includes living things (biotic factors) and non-living things (abiotic factors).
How do organisms use different life history strategies to maximize fitness? Learn about different ways that different species allocate energy and other resources between growth, maintenance/survival, and reproduction.
Key points:
- Ecology is the study of how organisms interact with one another and with their physical environment.
- The distribution and abundance of organisms on Earth is shaped by both biotic, living-organism-related, and abiotic, nonliving or physical, factors.
- Ecology is studied at many levels, including organism, population, community, ecosystem, and biosphere.
Have you ever hiked through a forest and noticed the incredible diversity of organisms living together, from ferns to trees to mushrooms the size of dinner plates? Or taken a road trip and watched the landscape change outside the window, shifting from oak forest to tall stands of pine to grassy plains? If so, you’ve gotten a classic taste of ecology, the branch of biology that examines how organisms interact with each other and with their physical environment.
Ecology isn’t just about species-rich forests, pristine wilderness, or scenic vistas, though. Have you, for instance, ever found cockroaches living under your bed, mold growing in your shower, or even fungus creeping in between your toes? If so, then you’ve seen equally valid examples of ecology in action.
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How do organisms use different life history strategies to maximize fitness?
Learn about different ways that different species allocate energy and other resources between growth, maintenance/survival, and reproduction.
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