What is an Eco System?

What is an Eco System?

(You will be able to answer this question by the end of this lesson)•Abiotic Vs. Biotic•Basic Needs of Biotic Components•Biological Organization

Life in a pond

• Look at the picture of a pond.

• Make a T-chart on a piece of paper.

• On the left-side write “Living

Components”.

• On the right-side write “Non-

Living Components”

• With a partner record as many items as

possible under each heading.

Abiotic

• Abiotic: Refers to any non-living component of the environment.

• Some examples of abiotic components in an environment include:

air

water

soil

sunlight

Biotic

• Biotic: Refers to any living component found in an environment.

• Examples of biotic components in an environment include:

Humans

Plants

Birds

Animals

Basic Needs of Biotic Components

• Biotic components have 5 basic needs for survival.

• Most biotic components - polar bears, mosquitoes, dandelions, oak trees, and you - need these five basic things

Basic Needs of Biotic Components

• Air (Oxygen or carbon dioxide)

• Water

• Food

• Energy

• Suitable habitat (place to live)

Biological Organization

• Organism: a living thing

• Population: a group of organisms of the same species in a given area

• Community: a group of populations of different species in a given area

Q: What is your definition of an ecosystem?

•A: An ecosystem is the network of interactions and relationships that link the biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) parts of an environment

Ecosystem Definition cont.

• An ecosystem can be large or small, but it must contain all abiotic and biotic features of the area.

• Example: A rotting log is an ecosystem, as long as all the organisms living in or on the log and all of the abiotic factors affecting the log are included.

Classwork

• 1. Read over section 4.1 “What is an Ecosystem?” in your textbook.

• 2. Answer questions 3, 4, and 5 in “Check Your Learning” at the end of section 4.1.

• 3. Answer questions 2 and 4 in “Check Your Learning” at the end of section 4.2.

• (Make sure your answers are written using complete sentences, start with part of the question and include science vocabulary/concepts.)