1. What is an ecosystem?

2. Ecosystem  An ecosystem is all the living (biotic) and non-living things (abiotic) that interact with each other in an environment

3. Ecosystems have living, or biotic, parts and nonliving, or abiotic, parts. Biotic=Living Abiotic=Nonliving Biotic  Plants  Animals  Microorganisms Abiotic  Nutrients  Light  Air  Soil Can you think of any other biotic or abiotic parts of an ecosystem?

4. What’s the difference between a population and a community?  A population is all of the organisms of the same kind that live together in an ecosystem  For example: A population of deer live in the field south of 114.  A community is made up of the populations of plants and animals that live in the same area and interact with each other  For example: The field south of 114 is a community in which deer, wild flowers, coyotes, trees, and other populations live.

5. Important Fact:  Many organisms in the same community might compete for food and space.  For Example: In a pond community, both fish and toads might compete for insects.

6. What is a habitat?  The place where an organism lives is called a habitat  Did you know? -In a habitat, an organism can find everything it needs to live

7. Niche  Organisms play a certain role in their habitat. (In other words they have jobs!)  The role a plant or an animal plays in its habitat is called its niche

8. Thoughts for your journal…  Think of some examples you’ve seen where ecosystems have been changed.  How might changing one part of an ecosystem affect other parts of an ecosystem?  Extension: Describe how plants and animals are connected by the gases they produce and use. Since these organisms interact, take a deep breath, and consider how they might be interdependent.

9. What are the Roles of Organisms in Ecosystems?  Remember, every organism in an ecosystem has a special role called a ____________. Let’s look at some of these roles….

10. Producers:  Producers make or produce their own food  All plants are producers  They use the sun’s energy and produce sugars for food through a process called photosynthesis

11. Consumers:  Consumers must eat or consume plants or other animals

12. Interesting Fact:  Sometimes producers and consumers depend on each other.  For example, think about what a squirrel does with acorns to prepare for winter. How does the squirrel benefit? How does the oak tree benefit?

13. There Are Different Types of Consumers… Herbivores Eat plants CONSUMERS Carnivores Eat meat Omnivores Eat both plants and animals Scavengers Eat the remains of dead animals Decomposers Breaks down dead or dying plant and animal remains or waste

14. Predators:  Predators are organisms that are the hunter

15. Prey  Prey are the organisms which are hunted

16. Some Final Questions…  Can you think of an organism that might be both predator and prey?  Where can we trace the energy we get back to? Explain.