Everything is Connected Unit 1: Seventh Grade

An alligator (Jump!) drifts along a river in Florida… He’s watching a fish (a gar). The gar swims too close… Then, in a rush of muddy water SNAP!!! Jump swallows the gar whole and slowly swims away Biotic factors? Abiotic factors?

It’s clear that Jump and the gar interacted… But organisms have any other interactions other than simply who is eating who. For example, Jump may dig a hole underwater to escape the heat. After the hole is abandoned, other organisms may live in the holes

Studying the Web of Life All things are connected in web of life. Scientists who study these webs are ecologists. Ecology is the study of interactions of organisms with one another and their environment

Two parts of an Environment Biotic Abiotic Living parts Plants Animals Nonliving and dead Soil Temperature Water air

Environmental Organization At first glance, the environment may seem disorganized. However, the environment can be arranged in different levels Organism Population Community Ecosystem Biosphere Oh Please Can Elizabeth Bake

Organism An individual (1)organism. You Jump

Population A group of individuals of the same species that live together. Your family, classmates Jump’s family, swampmates Compete for food, nesting space and mates

Community All the populations of biotic species that live and interact in an area. People, plants, and animals of South Douglas County All plants and animals in Jump’s swamp They depend on each other for food, shelter, and many other things

Ecosystem Made up of the biotic and abiotic members of the community.

Biosphere Part of the Earth where life exists Lithosphere (land) Hydrosphere (water) Atmosphere (air)