Ecosystems (Part 1) Notes

Biotic Definition: A living component of an ecosystem. Examples: Trees Grass Birds Humans Flowers

Abiotic Definition: A non-living component of an ecosystem. Examples: Clouds Water Temperature Air Rocks Minerals

Producer Definition: An organism that makes its own food using sunlight. Examples: Trees Flowers Plants

Consumer Definition: An organism that eats other organisms to get energy. Examples: Humans Goats Wolves

Decomposer Definition: An organism that breaks down dead organisms to get energy. Examples: Bacteria Worms Fungi

Population Definition: A group of individuals of the same species living in a specific area. Examples: A group of jellyfish living in the same area of the ocean A group of wolves living together in Alaska

Community Definition: All of the populations of species living and interacting together in the same habitat. Examples: Jellyfish, sharks, and plankton all living together and interacting in the same ocean Wolves, deer, and bears all living together and interacting in Alaska

Ecosystem Definition: A community of organisms and their abiotic environment. Examples: Jellyfish, sharks, plankton, water, and temperature Wolves, deer, bears, rocks, clouds, temperature

Population, Community, Ecosystem

Population, Community, Ecosystem

Population, Community, Ecosystem

Influences on Population Size Food supply Temperature Rainfall Disease Pollution Invasive (new) species Human development

Indirect Causes of Population Change Changes in rainfall or average temperature can indirectly influence plant populations, which can indirectly influence animal populations that eat those plants for food.

Invasive Species New (invasive) species in an ecosystem can influence changes in populations. Zebra mussels and purple loosetrife cause changes in the populations of native species.