Ecosystems support life. Student Name ∧ Total Score Alexander, Anthony - Brown, Davison Brown, Kasey Brown, Kody 75.0% Butler, Ryan 100.0% Castro-Barriga, Maria Cole, Emily Emory, Andrew Farmer, Brianna Guzman, Lisbeth Johnson, Destany Jordan, Chandler Koller, Taylor McLain, Michael 85.0% Nicholson, Haven Rash, Elijah Reed, Cheyenne 60.0% Salem, Rhiannon Smith, Damion 70.0% Smith, Layla St John, Audrianna Steed, Ivory Warren, Chance Wheeler, Kelsey 65.0% Wilson, Luke

Ecology The scientific study of how organisms interact with their environment and all the other organisms that live in that environment

Ecosystem describes a particular environment and all the living things that are supported by it. what is important in an ecosystem is how the living parts of the ecosystem relate to the nonliving parts

Biotic factors Living parts https:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1pp_7-yTN4

Abiotic factors-nonliving parts temperature light soil water

Temperature affects the types of plants that will do well there types of plants available for food and shelter, determine the types of animals animals are as sensitive to temperature as plants Do you think a polar bear would survive in Africa?

Light Sunlight warms Earth’s surface and atmosphere The Sun provides the energy that plants capture and use to produce food (photosynthesis, we’ll get to that later) Strength and amount of sunlight available in a land ecosystem determine the types of plants in an ecosystem

Light (continued) Strength and amount of sunlight available in a land ecosystem determine the types of plants in an ecosystem (examples: cacti in the desert where sunlight is very strong; moss on the forest floor where sunlight is filtered.

Some more about light Light a factor in ocean ecosystems (the deeper the water the less light is available). Shallow water near the shore photosynthetic organisms can survive on the surface and the ocean floor. light is only available in the first hundred meters below the surface of open ocean

Soil Soil is a mixture of small rock and mineral particles Organisms within soil break down the remains of dead plants and animals. Process of decay provides important raw materials to the living plants and animals of an ecosystem

More about Soil Characteristics of soil affect plant growth Soil rich in humus (remember that word?) holds water and allows air to reach the plant roots Sandy soil doesn’t hold water well because water flows through too easily Clay will not allow water to move through easily Minerals in the soil also affect plant growth

Water Amount of water available to support life Plants need water as well as sunlight for photosynthesis (remember we’ll get to it later) Animals need water to digest food and release energy stored in food Ecosystems with a lot of water can support a large number of different plants which in turn can support a large number of different animals (Rainforest verses desert which has more types of plants and animals? Why?)