Ecology Fundamentals

Study Notes

Definition: Study of the relationships between living organisms (biotic factors) and their environment (abiotic factors)
Levels of Organization:
- Ecosystem: Community of living and non-living components interacting in a specific environment
- Community: Group of different species living in a specific area
- Population: Group of individuals of the same species living in a specific area
- Organism: Individual living thing
Ecological Concepts:
- Energy Flow: Energy transfer from one level to the next in an ecosystem
- Nutrient Cycling: Reuse of nutrients in an ecosystem
- Symbiotic Relationships: Interactions between different species (e.g., mutualism, commensalism, parasitism)

Definition: Study of heredity, genes, and genetic variation
Mendelian Genetics:
- Laws of Inheritance: Mendel's laws governing the inheritance of traits
- Genotype: Genetic makeup of an individual
- Phenotype: Physical expression of a genotype
DNA Structure and Replication:
- Double Helix Model: Structure of DNA, with two complementary strands
- Replication: Process of creating a copy of DNA
Genetic Variation:
- Mutation: Change in DNA sequence
- Genetic Drift: Random change in allele frequency
- Gene Flow: Movement of genes between populations

Definition: Change in the frequency of alleles in a population over time
Mechanisms of Evolution:
- Natural Selection: Process by which individuals with favorable traits are more likely to survive and reproduce
- Genetic Drift: Random change in allele frequency
- Gene Flow: Movement of genes between populations
- Mutation: Change in DNA sequence
Evidence for Evolution:
- Fossil Record: Sequence of fossilized organisms showing gradual changes
- Comparative Anatomy: Similarities and differences in body structure between species
- Molecular Biology: Similarities and differences in DNA and protein sequences between species

Ecology is the study of relationships between living organisms (biotic factors) and their environment (abiotic factors)
An ecosystem consists of a community of living and non-living components interacting in a specific environment
A community is a group of different species living in a specific area
A population is a group of individuals of the same species living in a specific area
An organism is an individual living thing
Energy flows from one level to the next in an ecosystem
Nutrients are reused in an ecosystem through nutrient cycling
Symbiotic relationships exist between different species, including mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism

Evolution is the change in the frequency of alleles in a population over time
Natural selection is the process by which individuals with favorable traits are more likely to survive and reproduce
Genetic drift is a random change in allele frequency
Gene flow is the movement of genes between populations
Mutations are changes in DNA sequence
The fossil record shows a sequence of fossilized organisms with gradual changes
Comparative anatomy reveals similarities and differences in body structure between species
Molecular biology reveals similarities and differences in DNA and protein sequences between species