Ecology
101
An interactive explainer of the basics of ecology from the spheres to individual organism relationships, and everything inbetween.
Use the to begin – OR – select a section to jump ahead.
Ecology breaks down the world into categories, each one containing another smaller than itself.
Ecology studies the processes and relationships that affect living organisms and their environments.
What is ecology?
GEOSPHERE
HYDROSPHERE
ATMOSPHERE
BIOSPHERE
The Earth's Spheres
The Water Cycle
–click each stage of the cycle–
The Carbon Cycle
Biomes are major sections of the biosphere containing certian types of biotic life and certain climate features.
BIOMES
Use the to visit each biome – OR – select a specific biome to jump ahead.
ICE
MARINE
FRESHWATER
RAINFOREST
GRASSLAND
SAVANNA
DESERT
TEMPERATE FOREST
TAIGA
TUNDRA
A Beach 30 miles South
This Beach
And this one!
So is this one.
This tide pool is an ecosystem.
Shallow Marine Biome
Coastal Forest Biome
What is an ecosystem?
1
A rock surface is newly formed or exposed, usually due to volcanic activity.
Lichen or mosses make the rock home, creating soil through cycles of growth and decomposition.
2
The first species makes enough soil for small plants like grasses to grow.
3
Enough soil builds up to allow bushes and shrubs to grow.
4
5
Trees grow with enough soil, and the ecosystem can support a living community.
A disturbance, usually a fire or human development, destroys the existing ecosystem.
All biotic life is destroyed, leaving only the soil.
Grasses grow in the soil, reintroducing carbon and other nutrients to the ecosystem.
A climax community is established when larger trees and bushes have enough nutrients and soil.
How are ecosystems formed?
Biodiverse areas are more likely to survive disturbances such as changes in the climate.
Biodiversity
Genetic Diversity (variety within a species)
Species Diversity (variety within an ecosystem)
Ecosystem Diversity (variety of ecosystems)
Species Richness
Species Evenness
How is biodiversity measured?
Community Roles
food
water
shelter
reproduction
competition
aboitic factors
physical conditions
climate
presece of other species
The trophic level model (also known as the food chain) is a simplified ecological tool for mapping the energy efficiency of an ecosystem community.
Trophic Levels
Click each organism to follow the flow of energy.
The food web maps the community level interactions between different types of producers and consumers.
The Food Web
Species
Distribution
Symbiosis