1. What are Ecosystems? Chapter 2 Lesson 1

2. Ecosystem An ecosystem is an area where organisms interact with one another as well as with the nonliving parts of the environment. An ecosystem has both biotic and abiotic parts

3. Biotic The biotic parts are the living parts of an ecosystem. This includes everything from tiny bacteria to gigantic trees. These parts help shape the environment and also interact with one another. Abiotic The abiotic parts of an ecosystem are its nonliving parts, such as climate, water, soil nutrients, light and air. These parts help determine what lives in it IE : climate, temperature and moisture levels

4. Population A population is a group of organisms of the same species living together in an ecosystem.

5. Community All of the populations living in an ecosystem make up a community.

6. Habitat An organism’s habitat is the part of the ecosystem in which it lives. The habitat supplies everything the organism needs- heat, light, water, food, and shelter Mrs. K’s Habitat

7. Niche An organism’s niche is its role in an ecosystem. – This includes everything the organism needs and everything it does, such as how it gets food and where it finds shelter.

8. Look at the broader picture… Organisms with a narrow niche usually live in one particular habitat. They eat only a certain type of food or live in only a small range of conditions. How do you think a narrow niche relates to a species becoming endangered?

9. Diversity Diversity is the variety of species in an ecosystem. Some ecosystems are very diverse, while others have just a few species. Climate and location are two of the most important factors of diversity in an ecosystem

10. What location, do you think, has the most diversity …. – Further from the equator? Further from the equator? – Closer to the equator? Closer to the equator?

13. HUMANS The actions of people are making ecosystems less diverse. Can you brainstorm some ways that people destroy habitats and/or food sources? Within an ecosystem, what do you think this affects?

14. What are some things we can do to help the ecosystems? *Images provided by Google and AltaVista