The Farm as an Ecosystem

1. The Farm as an Ecosystem Parts of the Farm Ecosystem

2. What is an Ecosystem? An ecosystem is a group living things interacting with their physical environment to share energy and nutrients. The plants and animals in an ecosystem depend on each other and adapt to factors such as weather and available resources. An example of a small ecosystem is a pond. An example of a large ecosystem is a desert.

3. The Farm as an Ecosystem • A farm can also be classified as an ecosystem. • The farmer works with the environment to produce food. • Some factors can be controlled (pests, soil quality) and others cannot (weather).

4. Parts of the Farm Ecosystem There are nine elements that interact to produce food.

5. Sunlight • Provides light, warmth, and energy. • Controls the weather. • Required for crops to survive and produce usable energy (photosynthesis). • The sun is the first part of any food chain.

6. Air • Necessary for survival. • Provides oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon. • Plants use carbon and nitrogen and provide oxygen. • Animals use oxygen.

7. Water • Necessary for survival. • Water falls and collects on the earth’s surface and underground. • When there is not enough rain, farmers pump water to their crops and livestock. • Keeping the water supply clean is very important.

8. Soil • Provides nutrients. • Holds water. • Filters waste. • Keeps plants in place. • Needs to be protected.

9. Plants • Source of food (energy) for many animals, including humans. • Pulls carbon dioxide from the air. • Holds soil in place. • Provides fibers, starches, and oils for uses other than food.

10. Animals • Provide food: meat, milk, and eggs. • Provide textiles (leather) and other renewable ingredients. • Work on the farm (labor and protection). • Animals waste replaces nutrients in the soil. • Can eat plants from land that humans cannot. • Can be pests that kill livestock and eat crops.

11. Insects • Pollinate flowers to produce fruit. • Can be a source of food. • Can be pests: cause disease, eat and destroy crops • Can be used to control other insects.

12. Decomposers • Eat dead plants, animals. • Eat animal waste. • Replace nutrients in the soil (nitrogen cycle).

13. Flow of Energy & Matter Primary Consumer • All parts of the farm ecosystem work together to move energy and matter. Producer Primary and Secondary Consumer Sunlight

14. Producing Food • The farmer works to his or best ability to control the different parts of the ecosystem to produce enough food to make a living and feed the people of the world.