Interactions in the Ecosystem Read each slide and write down all information in your notebook.

5.1 HABITATS AND NICHES Habitat: the place where an organism lives. Habitats always include food, space, shelter and water. Each organism is adapted to its habitat. Have special ways of gathering food, reproducing, avoiding predators. Ecosystems contain many different habitats and organisms.

Examples of habitats Forest Pond Field Neighborhood streets Anywhere that living things exist.

Niches Niche: the role of a species in the habitat. Niche includes: What foods does a species eat What type of shelter does the species choose How does the species interact with others What climate does the species need -All members of the same species have the same niche--- -2 different species may NOT share the same niche.

Example of different species with same habitat but different Niches Open to Page 92 in textbook. Look at the diagram at the top of the page. Notice that the 3 species have same habitat(spruce tree). Notice that the 3 species have different niche. They feed in different parts of tree Draw diagram 4-5 in your notes.

Make sure: 1) Your succession outline is done 2) The 2 articles that you read and wrote paragraph summaries are handed in 3) You have completed and understand the notes on Habitat and Niche Your are caught up