Ecosystem Organization

Ecology The study of the relationship between populations and the environment.

Organism Organism = an individual living thing

Population All individuals of one SPECIES that live in the same area at a given time

Community All the populations that live in an ecosystem. This includes all plants, animals, fungi, bacteria, etc.

Ecosystem All the living and nonliving parts of an environment (community & environment)

Biotic Factors of an Ecosystem Biotic = features of the environment that are alive or were once living. Examples: Bacteria Mushroom Hawk Grass

Abiotic Factors of an Ecosystem Abiotic = nonliving physical features of the ecosystem Examples: Climate (typical weather in an area from season to season) Air, Water, Sunlight, Soil, Temperature

What makes up an ecosystem?

Check for understanding! Ecosystem Organization

Label the diagram below using the words: Ecosystem Individual Organism Community Population

Study the picture below and list 3 biotic factors & 3 abiotic factors in this ecosystem

Carrying Capacity The largest number of individuals of a particular species that an ecosystem can support overtime.

Interdependence is a Balance Ecosystems will fail if they do not remain in balance. A balanced ecosystem is the result of interactions between the community and environment No community can carry more organisms than its food, water and shelter can accommodate.

Limiting Factors Anything that restricts or limits the size of a population, including the living and nonliving features.

More Examples of Limiting Factors Lack of resources like food, water, space Predation Climate Habitat Destruction All of these limit the growth of certain populations in the ecosystem.