Ecosystems: Everything Is Connected

What is an ecosystem?  An ecosystem is all of the organisms living in an area together with their physical environment *Example: Forest, coral reef, even a vacant lot

What are the components of the ecosystems pictured?

Components of an Ecosystem  An ecosystem is made up of both living and nonliving things. Biotic factors are the living and once living things parts of an ecosystem. *Example: plants, animals, leaves, waste Abiotic factors are the nonliving parts of an ecosystem. *Example: air, water, rocks, sunlight

What are the biotic and abiotic components of the ecosystems pictured?

Organization of Ecosystems  An individual living thing. Ex: a fish  A group of organisms that can reproduce fertile offspring. Ex: Bluegill fish  Members of the same species that live in the same area at the same time. Ex: all the Bluegill in a pond  Different species living in the same place and interacting. Ex: insects, frogs, fish, and plants in a pond. Organism Species Population Community

Habitat  A place an organism lives is called a habitat.  Every habitat has specific biotic and abiotic factors that organisms living there need to survive  Organisms tend to well suited to their natural habitat.

What are the biotic and abiotic factors of the habitat that allow zebras to survive?

Everything is Connected  You can think of an ecosystem as working like a car engine. The engine of a car is made up of hundreds of parts that all work together.  What might happen to the car if one of these parts breaks?

Everything is Connected  The same applies to an ecosystem  So, what might happen to an ecosystem if one part is changed or removed?