Connected Ecosystem Michele KissingerMoorea Coral Reef Long Term Ecological Research Program

What is an Ecosystem? An Ecosystem is all the living and non-living things in an area working together. Fish breathe Oxygen Algae use Carbon Dioxide Fish compete against one another for food Algae use Sunlight (Algae is like a plant, it does photosynthesis)

FishAlgae The Fish and Algae are the living components of the ecosystem that are interacting. SunlightOxygenCarbon Dioxide The Sunlight, Oxygen, and Carbon Dioxide are the non-living components of the ecosystem that these animals and algae need to survive.

Scientists call living things BIOTIC, and non-living things ABIOTIC.

Can you identify the biotic parts of this coral reef ecosystem? Fish Coral Algae Plankton

Can you identify the abiotic parts of this coral reef ecosystem? Nutrients Sediment O2O2O2O2 CO 2 Currents Sunlight Space Temperature

Animals have to adapt to the biotic influences in an ecosystem… This fish is camouflaged This fish is hiding in the coral Can you see me? These fish are hiding from their predators.

…and they must adapt to the abiotic influences in an ecosystem. This seastar is holding on tight. This fish is hiding in this hole. These animals are protected against waves.

Most animals are adapted to live in only certain types of environments like ecosystems that are either cold or hot. Polar bears would not do very well in the desert!

They must make trade-offs… This coral grows low and strong = Maximize space Wave protection Less sunlight This coral grows tall before it spreads out = Use less rock space Grow toward sun Less wave protection Animals and plants in an ecosystem have to share the abiotic resources available.

…or they must adapt to use different resources. Some fish eat algae off the rocks Some animals filter plankton from the water Some fish eat other fish These animals all eat different foods.

We have been talking about coral reef ecosystems, but there are a lot of interesting animals in the water off our California coast

Most of the biotic components in the kelp forest ecosystem are the same as in the coral reef… Plankton Fish Algae Competitors Predators Prey Herbivores Carnivores Omnivores Decomposers (the water off CA is too cold for big, reef-building corals, but there are some small, soft corals) Biotic

…but some abiotic components of kelp forest ecosystems are different. Sediment Nutrients Currents/Waves CO2 O2 Sunlight Temperature Space there can be more nutrients in the water there can be more organisms living near waves there can be less sunlight deep in a kelp forest the water is colder Can you guess what some of them are? Abiotic

And just like in coral reef ecosystems, animals and plants in kelp forests must adapt to the conditions in this ecosystem they call home. Colder water Darker water Different food More waves (if living in tidepools)

These mussels live in tide pools. Can you guess how they are adapted? Mussels have strong byssal threads that hold on to the rock like cement when waves hit. Shells close tightly to keep in water that is the right temperature and salinity.

Kelp has these air bladders. Can you guess what they might be used for? Kelp uses air sacs to lift their leaves toward the surface because they need sunlight for photosynthesis SUNLIGHT!

Is sunlight biotic or abiotic? Abiotic! Is kelp (algae) a producer or a consumer? A Producer What about kelp? Biotic!

Can you think of some abiotic problems organisms might face in these tide pools? Air and no sun protection can dry them out Small pools can warm up in the sun Pools can get more salty as water evaporates Strong waves can wash them out to sea SUNLIGHT! WAVES! TEMPERATURE! SALINITY!

Remember, humans are connected to these ecosystems too (through food webs!). Our actions can affect the resources that our ecosystem produces for us (like food, clean water, and clean air).

This lesson covers California State Science Content Standards: 4 th Grade Life Science 2b –producers and consumers (herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, and decomposers) are related in food chains and food webs and may compete with each other for resources in an ecosystem 3a –Ecosystems can be characterized by their living and non- living components. 3b –In any particular environment, some kinds of plants and animals survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all.

Credits This Lesson Was Developed By: Michele Kissinger Education and Outreach Coordinator Moorea Coral Reef LTER Funding By: