Section 1 What is an Ecosystem? Grade 10 Biology Spring 2011

 Distinguish an ecosystem from a community  Describe the diversity of a representative ecosystem  Sequence the process of succession

 Ecology: study of the interactions of living organisms with one another with their physical environment (soil, water, climate)

 Habitat: place where a particular population of a species lives

 Community: the many different species that live together in a habitat

 Ecosystem: community and all the physical aspects of its habitat (soil, water, weather)

 Abiotic: physical aspects of a habitat (nonliving)  Biotic: organisms in a habitat (living)

 Biodiversity: variety of organisms, their genetic differences, and the communities and ecosystems in which they occur

 Pioneer species: first organisms to live in a new habitat where soil is present  Small, fast growing plants  Make ground more hospitable

 Succession: somewhat regular progression of species replacement

 Primary succession: succession that occurs where life has not existed before

 Secondary succession: succession that occurs in areas where there has been previous growth  Abandoned fields  Forest clearing  Fire

 Glacier Bay Example:  Primary succession  Receding glacier, new land is being exposed  Most recently exposed areas: piles of rock and gravel, nutrient deficient  Pioneer species carried in by wind: lichens, moss  Crowded out eventually, other plants take over  Nutrients build up, supports more species

1. A fire burns down 20 acres of forest. The type of succession that will follow is? 2. The type of succession after a volcanic island forms is? 3. The type of succession that follows an abandoned farm field is? 4. Aspects such as soil, and weather are considered which type of factor?

1. Secondary succession 2. Primary succession 3. Secondary succession 4. Abiotic