Unit A: Interactions in the Environment

1.0 Ecosystems are communities where biotic and abiotic elements interact ● North American Aboriginal peoples believe that everything is connected through interactions – and this belief has led to a deep respect and gratitude for Earth ● Traditional ways of living require everything in nature to be treated with respect and used wisely

A3 Quick Lab ● What are the biotic and abiotic elements in this picture? ● How do living things interact with the environment? ● How would this fisherman's interaction affect the river ecosystem?

1.1 Interaction of Biotic and Abiotic Elements ● 5 basic needs of biotic (living) elements: oxygen (O2), water (H2O), food, energy, and a place to live (suitable habitat)

1.1 Interaction of Biotic and Abiotic Elements ● OXYGEN: a gas in the Earth's atmosphere ● You take O2 into your body when you breathe in ● O2 helps your body release and use energy made from the food you eat ● Almost every biotic element takes in O2 in order to survive

1.1 Interaction of Biotic and Abiotic Elements ● WATER:Your body is about 70% H2O ● Many chemical reactions that keep you alive take place in the water of your body (metabolism) ● Animals need clean water to survive ● Plants need water to make food (glucose)

1.1 Interaction of Biotic and Abiotic Elements ● FOOD: You need food to get the nutrients your body needs ● Nutrients are the components of food that your body converts into energy (fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and carbohydrates) ● You need these materials to make energy to move, grow, and repair your body's millions of cells

1.1 Interaction of Biotic and Abiotic Elements ● Cells: the smallest unit of an organism that is classified as living, and is often called the building block of life.

1.1 Interaction of Biotic and Abiotic Elements ● Energy: Oxygen, water, and nutrients from food interact in your body to produce energy-it is what moves your body, keeps your heart beating, and powers your breathing ● You do not think about all of these activities, but they keep you alive! ● Your brain uses 20% of all the energy your body produces

1.1 Interaction of Biotic and Abiotic Elements ● Suitable Habitat: A living thing requires a place where you can obtain everything you need to survive-like oxygen, water, food, shelter, and anything else needed for survival ● The salmon needs a clean river filled with water, oxygen, plants, rocks, and food to survive

1.1 Interaction of Biotic and Abiotic Elements ● Interactions to meet basic needs: plants use sunlight, soil, carbon dioxide (CO2), and water to grow – plants also provide shelter, shade, aesthetic beauty, oxygen, and food ● Both biotic and abiotic elements interact in an ecosystem to meet the basic needs of plants and animals

A6 Quick Lab: Interactions of Living and Non-Living Things ● We will be exploring the interactions between biotic and abiotic elements in our school yard forest ● Follow and complete the A6 Lab handout instructions and questions (Procedure 1-9) ● Watch out for poison ivy!(3 leaves...let it be!)