Organisms and Environments Lesson 1 TEKS 5.9A, 5.9C, 3.9A, 3.9C Ecosystems Organisms and Environments Lesson 1 TEKS 5.9A, 5.9C, 3.9A, 3.9C

Oh, Deer!!!!! Game!!!!!!! Living things depend on each other and on the nonliving things in their environment in order to thrive. Changes in the environment cause changes to living organisms.

Habitat The specific environment where an organism lives. meadow pond tree river soil

Species A group of organisms that can produce offspring that are like themselves

Population All the organisms of the same species that live in the same area at the same time.

Community Populations of different species that live in the same area at the same time.

Living things: Nonliving things: Ecosystem + = Ecosystem: all the populations of organisms and the Nonliving things in an environment, and the interaction among them. Nonliving things: Soil Water Oxygen Carbon Dioxide Sunlight Living things: Plants Animals + = Ecosystem Can be small (pond). Can be large (desert).

Special Ecosystems

Biome One of the six major land areas of the world that is home to specific plant and animal populations and is defined by its climate.

Tropical Forest Warm temperatures Rainy climate Many trees and other plants Many animals Have you seen Tarzan?

Desert Very little rainfall or snowfall Can be hot temperature or cold temperature Few plants or animals Have you seen Rango?

Grasslands Mostly flat land Covered with tall grasses Few trees Warm climate Not as dry as desert Have you seen Dances with Wolves?

Deciduous Forest Has four seasons Warm summer and Cold winter Trees lose their leaves in autumn Many plants and animals

Taiga Evergreen forest: fir and pine trees Long, cold winter Short, mild summer Elk, moose, bears, are some animals Have you seen Open Season?

Tundra Flat, open ground Always frozen and cold all year long Few plants: mosses, lichens, shrubs Too harsh for trees Polar bears, arctic hares, arctic fox, musk ox

Vocabulary Habitat: the specific environment where an organism lives Species: a group of organisms that produce offspring like themselves Population: All the organisms of the same species that live in the same area at the same time Community: Populations of different species that live in the same area at the same time Ecosystem: all the populations of organisms and the nonliving things in an environment, and the interaction among them Biome: One of the six major land areas of the world that is home to specific plant and animal populations and is defined by its climate Drought: a period of very little rainfall Flood: an overflow of water onto land that is normally dry Thrive: to grow in a strong and healthy way Perish: to die