Ecology

Ecology is the study of organisms and how they interact with their environment. This section of the module will investigate several aspects of cheetah ecology so you can understand their role in the ecosystem. This module concentrates on specific aspects of cheetah ecology. If you want to expand your knowledge of cheetah ecology there a several interesting Internet sites to visit.

There are many different ways to study ecology. Why do you think that ecology is divided into so many different areas of study? You can begin with one of the following questions.

• How would you define the niche and habitat of a cheetah?
• What are the dynamics of cheetah populations and how does this affect their population growth?
• How do cheetahs interact with other organisms in their community?
• What are the interactions of cheetahs and the biotic and abiotic factors in their environment?
• What are the physiological responses of cheetahs to their environment?