How are all living things connected? Unit 1 Lesson 1 Introduction to Ecology How are all living things connected? Each individual organism has a role to play in the flow of energy and matter. In this way, organisms are connected to all other organisms, and their relationships affect each one’s growth and survival. A biotic factor is an interaction between organisms in an area.

How are all living things connected? Unit 1 Lesson 1 Introduction to Ecology How are all living things connected? All organisms rely on the nonliving environment for survival. An abiotic factor is a nonliving part of an environment, such as water, nutrients, soil, sunlight, rainfall, or temperature. Abiotic factors influence where organisms can survive.

Objective (s)/ I can: 1. Analyze the interactions among biotic and abiotic factors in an ecosystem. 2. Identify the levels of organization in an ecosystem.

Starter: (10 min) Recall from previous session: Show a picture of an ecosystem. - what are the parts of an ecosystem? - give example of each factor define each factor - Do biotic and abiotic factors interact? - give an example

Main task: Students use the text book pg:72 number:6, to create a flow chart that shows the interaction among the living and non-living factors related to prairie dogs.

Activity 2: identify the levels of organization in an ecosystem. DCI Part 1: integration with LS1-1 Have groups arrange the levels of organization in a human body or in any other system (room, school, building, company,…) from the smallest to the largest. Pg: 73 #7 Part 2: discussion Students explain how an ecosystem might be divided into similar types of levels. List those levels and describe why you chose them?

Option 1 Arrange the following pictures from the smallest to the biggest

Option 2 classify the biotic and abiotic factors into the different levels of organizations (crocodiles and great blue Herons)

OPTION 3 classify the biotic and abiotic factors into the different levels of organizations(crocodiles and great blue Herons) Extended thinking: How does the removal or extinction of a predator might affect the population of a prey, as well as the larger community and ecosystems?