ECOSYSTEMS

1. ECOSYSTEMS

2. Ecosystems

3. Biotic vs. Abiotic Biotic living parts of an ecosystem example: you, animals, plants abiotic nonliving parts of an ecosystem example: rocks, water, soil, light, air, bio=life a=not

4. Biotic vs. Abiotic In your Science notebook, please draw a T-chart like the one below.

5. Biotic vs. Abiotic Abiotic factors play a big role in what an ecosystem is like. Even changing one of the abiotic factors a little can make a huge change in an ecosystem. Example: A change in temperature can make life uncomfortable for certain animals. Animals then have to adapt or move away to survive.

6. Biotic vs. Abiotic

7. Microorganisms very small, often one-celled, living things that can�t be seen without a microscope

8. Populations all members of one kind of organism that live in a particular area Example: all white-tailed deer in a forest all rainbow trout in a stream all the bald cypress trees in the swamp

13. Communities a group of different populations of organisms Examples: all of the squirrels, acorn trees, and grass in a park all of the cacti, rattlesnakes, and scorpions in the desert

15. Ecosystems terre; terrestrial ecosystems land ecosystems includes forests and grasslands aqua; aquatic ecosystems water ecosystems includes fresh water (lakes and ponds) and saltwater (oceans, estuaries, and saltwater marshes)

16. Terrestrial Ecosystems Forests many trees (with needles or with leaves), shrubs, grasses and ferns, and a variety of animals usually receives more rain than grasslands temperatures vary depending on where the forest is located

18. Terrestrial Ecosystems Grasslands fertile soil covered with tall grasses receive rain, but not as much as forests temperatures vary animals include: prairie dogs, bison, grasshoppers

20. Aquatic Ecosystems (Freshwater) Lakes and Ponds Ponds are usually shallower than lakes. The temperature of water stays the same from top to bottom. Plants and algae usually grow along the edges where the water is shallow. Animals: fish, amphibians, ducks, turtles, beavers

22. Aquatic Ecosystems (Saltwater) Oceans large bodies of water divided by continents (view this on a globe or map) Oceans have many types of ecosystems depending on: sunlight temperature depth salinity

25. Aquatic Ecosystems (Saltwater) Shallow Water Ecosystems Most organisms live where the ocean is shallow (near the shore) because sunlight is able to reach this area. Food is abundant in this area because of the amount of sunlight. Organisms: jellyfish, seaweed, fish, crabs, corals

28. Aquatic Ecosystems (Saltwater) Deep Ocean Ecosystems Some organisms live in the open ocean, near the surface or near the bottom where it is very deep. An organism that lives in this area has to be able to adapt to the living conditions of little sunlight and cold waters. Organisms: whales, turtles, sharks, octopi, tubeworms

30. Aquatic Ecosystems (Estuaries) Estuaries found where the freshwater rivers meet the oceans saltier than a river, but not as salty as an ocean contain salt marshes with grasses and marsh plants Organisms: crabs, shrimp, birds (blue heron and egrets), muskrats

37. Organisms All organisms need energy to live and grow. This energy is obtained from food. The role that an organism serves in an ecosystem can be described by the way in which it gets its energy.

38. Organisms Producers Plants are called producers because they are able to use light energy from the Sun to produce food (sugar) from carbon dioxide in the air and water. In your Science notebook, list as many producers as you can.

42. Organisms Consumers Animals cannot make their own food so they must eat plants and/or other animals. There are three main groups of consumers: herbivores carnivores omnivores

43. Organisms Herbivores plant-eaters

44. Organisms Carnivores flesh-eating animals

45. Organisms Omnivores eat both plants and animals

46. Organisms Decomposers Consumers (including microorganisms, termites, worms, and fungi) that get the energy they need by breaking down dead or decaying matter. These decomposers speed up the decaying process that releases nutrients back into the food chain for use by plants.

48. Food Chains a series of plants and animals in which each organism is a source of food (energy) for the next in the series In a typical food chain, plants use the Sun�s energy to make their own food and then they are eaten by one kind of animal which in turn is eaten by another kind of animal.

49. Food Chains Most organisms are a part of more than one food chain and eat more than one kind of food in order to meet their energy requirements. Interconnected food chains form a food web.

50. Food Chains Most food chains have no more than six organisms. There cannot be too many links in a single food chain because the animals at the end of the chain would not get enough food (energy) to stay alive.

51. Food Chains The role of an organism can be identified by its placement on the food chain. Decomposers are not typically noted on a food chain; they will break down any organism on the food chain when it dies.

52. Food Chain Examples Below is an example of a grassland food chain. Which are producers? Which are consumers?

53. Food Chain Examples Below is an example of an aquatic food chain. Which are producers? Which are consumers?

54. Food Chain Examples In your Science notebook, draw an example of a food chain with at least four organisms.

55. Predators & Prey Organisms can also be identified based on how they interact with other organisms. Predators are animals that hunt and kill other animals for food. Prey are animals that are hunted and killed as food for other animals.

56. Predators

57. Prey

58. Parasites & Hosts A parasite is an organism that spends a significant portion of its life in or on a living host organism usually causing harm to the host without immediately killing it. Hosts are organisms or cells that serve as a home or a source of food for a parasite.

59. Parasites & Hosts

60. Limiting Factors The relationship between numbers of organisms and the resources available in an ecosystem is often described as the balance of nature. A condition or resource that keeps a population at a certain size is known as a limiting factor.

61. Limiting Factors If any of the limiting factors change, animal and plant populations may also change. Some changes may cause a population to increase; others may cause a population to decrease.

62. Limiting Factors Increases in population may result in overcrowding. Sometimes a population will grow too large for the environment to support.

63. Limiting Factors Some examples that may cause a population to increase may be: If there are more plants than usual in an area, populations of animals that eat that plants may increase. If the population of predators increases, the population of prey will decrease. If the population of prey increases, the population of predators will also increase because of the availability of food.

64. Limiting Factors Other changes in limiting factors may cause a population to decrease. Some examples may be: If the water supply in an area decreases, the population that needs that water may decrease. Then the population of animals that eat that animal could decrease too. If trees are cut down, die because of disease or parasites, the population of the animals that use the trees for food or shelter will decrease. If organisms no longer have enough space to survive, they will either have to move or will die. This change in space may be due to human influence or natural hazards.