Interactions within Ecosystems

1. Interactions within Ecosystems Chapter 1

2. What is an ecosystem? An ecosystem is a group of interacting, living and non-living things.

3. Types of Ecosystems in Newfoundland and Labrador • Ocean ecosystem • Cold water from the Labrador current. • Organisms adapted to cold termperatures. • Light penetrates between 100 and 200 meters. • Examples of organisms would be cod, seals, whales, jellyfish, seaweed, microscopic plants, etc.

4. Pictures of Oceans

5. Forest ecosystem • Cover much of the province. • Summers are cool and winters wet. • Some bogs and marches develop where drainage is poor. • Species include balsam fir, white birch, black spruce, mountain ash, moose, caribou, black bear, lynx, red fox, pine marten, and mink.

6. Forest ecosystem

7. Arctic • Northern tip of Labrador. • Very low temperatures and little precipitation. • In winter nights are long. • Soil is permanently frozen about 1 meter down (called permafrost) • Species include low shrubs, mosses, lichens, caribou, wolves, arctic foxes, arctic hares and lemmings.

8. Arctic Ecosystem Pictures

9. Freshwater ecosystems • Rain or snow supply water to freshwater ecosystems. • Species include whitefish, sticklebacks, beavers, ducks, geese, frogs, insects etc.

10. Freshwater Ecosystem Pictures

11. Chapter 1 Terms • Define the following in a foldable. After defining the word, use it in a sentence. • Ecosystem • Abiotic • Biotic • Species • Organism • Population • Community • Habitat • Niche • Range of Tolerance • Population • Community

12. Core Lab #1 – Field trip to school yard • Bring you rubber boots

13. Abiotic Influences Abiotic conditions affect ecosystems greatly. The following are some examples of abiotic factors in our ecosystems. • Light and Light intensity – • Plants and algae need light to survive. • They carry out photosynthesis. • Amount of light limits the plants that can grow. • Unlike plants, many animals love dark places. Eg. Insects under rocks. • Changes in day length affects all living things. Eg. Trees shed their leaves in fall.

14. 2. Temperature – • Many reptiles, amphibians, fish, and insects depend on sunlight for warmth. • Temperature also affects the speed at which some organisms can reproduce and grow. Eg. Bacteria. • Fruits ripen faster when the temperature is warm .

15. 3. Soil – • Soil is composed of dead plants, nutrients, air and water. • It is needed for plants to anchor and provide nutrients. • Provides habitat to some organisms. Eg. Worms, insects, etc.

16. 4. Air – • Plants and animals use oxygen for respiration (breathing). • Birds, bats, ducks, etc. fly though air. • Plants use air to spread seeds. • Some plants have adapted to living in windy conditions. Eg. Tuckamore.

17. 5. Water • All organisms require water. • Some can live in dry conditions for long periods of time. • Water keeps the land warmer in the winter and colder in the summer. • The Labrador current has a cooling effect on the air temperature. • Water also gives a surface for organisms to hunt from. Eg. Polar bears on ice.

18. 6. Wind – • Windy areas tend to be dry. • Many organisms on the coast have high tolerance for salt that gets carried form the ocean by the wind.