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Connected Ecosystem

Connected Ecosystem. Michele Kissinger. Moorea Coral Reef Long Term Ecological Research Program. What is an Ecosystem?. Algae use Carbon Dioxide. Fish breathe Oxygen. An Ecosystem is all the living and non-living things in an area working together. Algae use Sunlight

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Connected Ecosystem

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  1. Connected Ecosystem Michele Kissinger Moorea Coral Reef Long Term Ecological Research Program

  2. What is an Ecosystem? Algae use Carbon Dioxide Fish breathe Oxygen An Ecosystem is all the living and non-living things in an area working together. Algae use Sunlight (Algae is like a plant, it does photosynthesis) Fish compete against one another for food

  3. The Fish and Algae are the living components of the ecosystem that are interacting. The Sunlight, Oxygen, and Carbon Dioxide are the non-living components of the ecosystem that these animals and algae need to survive.

  4. Scientists call living things BIOTIC, and non-living things ABIOTIC.

  5. Can you identify the biotic parts of this coral reef ecosystem? Plankton Fish Coral Algae

  6. Can you identify the abiotic parts of this coral reef ecosystem? Nutrients Sunlight CO2 Temperature O2 Currents Sediment Space

  7. Animals have to adapt to the biotic influences in an ecosystem… These fish are hiding from their predators. This fish is hiding in the coral Can you see me? This fish is camouflaged

  8. …and they must adapt to the abiotic influences in an ecosystem. These animals are protected against waves. This seastar is holding on tight. This fish is hiding in this hole.

  9. Most animals are adapted to live in only certain types of environments like ecosystems that are either cold or hot. Polar bears would not do very well in the desert!

  10. Animals and plants in an ecosystem have to share the abiotic resources available. They must make trade-offs… • Use less rock space • Grow toward sun • Less wave protection This coral grows tall before it spreads out = • Maximize space • Wave protection • Less sunlight This coral grows low and strong =

  11. …or they must adapt to use different resources. These animals all eat different foods. Some animals filter plankton from the water Some fish eat other fish Some fish eat algae off the rocks

  12. We have been talking about coral reef ecosystems, but there are a lot of interesting animals in the water off our California coast

  13. Most of the biotic components in the kelp forest ecosystem are the same as in the coral reef… • Plankton • Fish • Algae Biotic Competitors Prey (the water off CA is too cold for big, reef-building corals, but there are some small, soft corals) Predators Herbivores Decomposers Carnivores Omnivores

  14. …but some abiotic components of kelp forest ecosystems are different. Can you guess what some of them are? • Sediment • Nutrients • Currents/Waves • CO2 • O2 • Sunlight • Temperature • Space there can be more nutrients in the water there can be more organisms living near waves Abiotic there can be less sunlight deep in a kelp forest the water is colder

  15. And just like in coral reef ecosystems, animals and plants in kelp forests must adapt to the conditions in this ecosystem they call home. • Colder water • Darker water • Different food • More waves (if living in the tidepools)

  16. These mussels live in tide pools. Can you guess how they are adapted? Mussels have strong byssal threads that hold on to the rock like cement when waves hit. Shells close tightly to keep in water that is the right temperature and salinity.

  17. Kelp has these air bladders. Can you guess what they might be used for? SUNLIGHT! Kelp uses air sacs to lift their leaves toward the surface because they need sunlight for photosynthesis

  18. Is sunlight biotic or abiotic? Abiotic! What about kelp? Biotic! Is kelp (algae) a producer or a consumer? A Producer

  19. Can you think of some abiotic problems organisms might face in these tide pools? SUNLIGHT! Air and no sun protection can dry them out WAVES! Strong waves can wash them out to sea TEMPERATURE! SALINITY! Small pools can warm up in the sun Pools can get more salty as water evaporates

  20. Remember, humans are connected to these ecosystems too (through food webs!). Our actions can affect the resources that our ecosystem produces for us (like food, clean water, and clean air).

  21. The End

  22. This lesson covers California State Science Content Standards: 4th Grade Life Science • 2b • producers and consumers (herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, and decomposers) are related in food chains and food webs and may compete with each other for resources in an ecosystem • 3a • Ecosystems can be characterized by their living and non-living components. • 3b • In any particular environment, some kinds of plants and animals survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all.

  23. Credits This Lesson Was Developed By: Michele Kissinger Education and Outreach Coordinator Moorea Coral Reef LTER Funding By:

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