Life Beyond the Organism

Life does not stop with the individual body. There are still several levels of biological organization lying beyond the organism (but including it).

POPULATIONS

Of course, male and female organisms of the same species or ‘‘kind’’ can breed with one another. The result of such breeding is a population. A population consists of a group of individuals of the same species that live together in the same place. A population of human beings, for example, consists of individuals of the species Homo sapiens – literally ‘‘men’’ (Homo) who are ‘‘wise’’ (sapiens), living and breeding together.

COMMUNITIES

Found above the population level is the community level. A community consists of all the organisms (including those of different species) living and potentially interacting with each other in the same area. An interacting group of Homo sapiens and various species of plants, animals, birds, and insects, for instance, could make up a particular forest community.

ECOSYSTEMS

Perched at the peak of the Pyramid of Life is the ecosystem. An ecosystem includes both the living organisms in a biological community as well as the non-living factors present in their physical environment. A forest community like the one just described, for example, could include rivers, waterfalls, and scenic gorges.

4 Replies to “Life Beyond the Organism”

  1. I liked how the article included the meaning of Homo Sapiens because I knew our scientific name was Homo Sapiens best I never knew what it really meant. I also like the little visual of a mini pyramid of life with organisms and everything above it!

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  2. I liked how the definition of Homo sapiens meant man wise so i guess the article is saying that we are wise for breeding with our own kind and how the article said the pyramid of life and how the article described ecosystems, population, and community

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  3. hi, I like how in the article it talked about ecosystems because I am very familiar with them (I learned it twice)so it helped me better understand what I’m learning.

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