Ecosystems & Biomes Vocabulary

Biome- A large region on earth that has certain types of organisms and a certain climate Biome- A large region on earth that has certain types of organisms and a certain climate Climate- The weather conditions that are usually found in an area Climate- The weather conditions that are usually found in an area Weather- The conditions in the atmosphere at a particular time Weather- The conditions in the atmosphere at a particular time Ecosystem- A community of living things and the environment in which they live Ecosystem- A community of living things and the environment in which they live

Ecosystem -- A Community of living things and the environment in which they live A Community of living things and the environment in which they live The Individual is apart of the Population which is apart of the Community which makes up the Ecosystem The Individual is apart of the Population which is apart of the Community which makes up the Ecosystem Source: Deer Image from Google

Questions Can you tell me … Can you tell me … If the deer is the individual, what is in the deer’s ecosystem? If the deer is the individual, what is in the deer’s ecosystem? What is the population? What is the population? What is the community? What is the community? What kind of ecosystem might you find the deer in? What kind of ecosystem might you find the deer in? What other populations might exist in this ecosystem? What other populations might exist in this ecosystem?

Habitat -- A Habitat is the place where a plant or animal lives or grows naturally A Habitat is the place where a plant or animal lives or grows naturally Food Food Water Water Shelter Shelter Space Space A Population of Deer Source: Microsoft Images

Adaptive Characteristics Adaptive – to change something to fit different conditions Adaptive – to change something to fit different conditions Characteristics – a special quality or appearance that makes something different from others Characteristics – a special quality or appearance that makes something different from others

Example Seed – is transported and sets in soil Seed – is transported and sets in soil Seeds are all scattered in different ways- Some coast along the currents of the wind Some coast along the currents of the wind Some are transported by water Some are transported by water Transported by animals- Transported by animals- Attachment to fur (humans – shoe strings, pant legs, etc…) Attachment to fur (humans – shoe strings, pant legs, etc…) Stomach (Scat) Stomach (Scat) Burying, carrying, etc… Burying, carrying, etc… What Adaptive Characteristics do Seeds have? What Adaptive Characteristics do Seeds have?

Example of Adaptive Characteristics Sea turtles lay 1800 eggs which is an adaptive characteristic against predators like Raccoons who eat the eggs. Sea turtles lay 1800 eggs which is an adaptive characteristic against predators like Raccoons who eat the eggs. Only 400 will hatch Only 400 will hatch Only 2 to 3 will become adult Only 2 to 3 will become adult From Page B42 From Page B42 Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtles Source: National Geographic

Niche Niche – The function or position of an organism or a population within an ecosystem Niche – The function or position of an organism or a population within an ecosystem Example of a Niche: Great Horned Owls & the Golden Eagle. Example of a Niche: Great Horned Owls & the Golden Eagle. Golden Eagle Source: Google Images Both Eat Mice Great Horned Owl

Food Chain/Food Web Food Chain- A chain or series of living things which eat each other for energy Food Chain- A chain or series of living things which eat each other for energy Food Web- Interrelated food chains in an ecosystem Food Web- Interrelated food chains in an ecosystem

Consumers, Producers, & Decomposers Consumer – an organism in a community that must eat to get the energy it needs Consumer – an organism in a community that must eat to get the energy it needs Producer – green plants that make their own food through photosynthesis; producers form the base of any food web. Without producers, energy form the sun would not be able to enter the food web Producer – green plants that make their own food through photosynthesis; producers form the base of any food web. Without producers, energy form the sun would not be able to enter the food web Decompose – to rot or decay Decompose – to rot or decay

Types of Consumers Herbivore- An animal whose only food is plants Herbivore- An animal whose only food is plants Carnivore- An animal that eats meat Carnivore- An animal that eats meat Omnivore - an animal that eats both animals and plants. Omnivore - an animal that eats both animals and plants.

Basic Food Chain Sun Plants Rabbit Hawk Can you think of another food chain? Draw the food chain in your journal.

Food Chain Sun Plants RabbitHawk Herbivore Carnivore Herbivore Carnivore Producers Consumers (photosynthesis) Producers Consumers (photosynthesis) Now label your food chain with the terms Producers, Consumers, Herbivores, and Carnivores.

Food Chain # 2 Sun Plants Butterfly/Caterpillar Turkey Bobcat Herbivore Omnivore Carnivore Producers Consumers Producers Consumers (photosynthesis) (photosynthesis)

Carbon Dioxide/Oxygen Cycle Oxygen (O 2 ) Sun Plants Rabbit Hawk Sun Plants Rabbit Hawk Carbon Dioxide (CO 2 ) Carbon Dioxide (CO 2 ) Draw this cycle in your journal and label it Carbon Dioxide (CO 2 ) is an odorless gas in the air which is made out of carbon and oxygen.

Nitrogen Cycle The nitrogen cycle is a cycle in which nitrogen passes from air, to the soil, to living things, and finally back into the air. The nitrogen cycle is a cycle in which nitrogen passes from air, to the soil, to living things, and finally back into the air. Draw this cycle in your journal and label it Sun Plants RabbitHawk Decomposers pictures from Google search

Food Chain Producers Sun Plants (photosynthesis) Animals & Insects Consumers Consumers