Biology

Study of living organisms and their interactions with the environment.

Basic Concepts

Ecosystems and Interactions

Living Together

Organisms don’t live alone—they interact with each other and their environment in many ways. These interactions create ecosystems, where living (biotic) and nonliving (abiotic) things work together.

Types of Interactions

  • Predation: One organism eats another.
  • Competition: Organisms compete for resources like food, water, or space.
  • Symbiosis: Close relationships between different species (like bees and flowers).

Ecosystem Levels

  • Population: Members of one species in an area.
  • Community: All living things in an area.
  • Ecosystem: Living things plus nonliving things (like air, water, and soil).

Why Interactions Matter

These connections keep life balanced. When one part changes, it can affect the whole system!

Examples

  • Wolves hunt deer in a forest, keeping the deer population under control.

  • Algae and fish depend on each other for clean water and food.

In a Nutshell

Ecosystems are made of living things and their environment, all interacting in complex ways.

Key Terms

Ecosystem
A community of living things and the environment they live in.
Symbiosis
A close relationship between two different species.