1. Interactions and Energy Supply in Ecosystems
SNC1P
Friday September 12th, 2014

2. Learning Check
Think back to the first few classes and complete the questions below:
What is Ecology?
Ecology is a branch of science that studies the relationship between living things and the environment.
What is an Ecosystem?
An ecosystem is a system that is made up of all the interacting biotic and abiotic parts of a certain place

3. Two Types of Ecosystems
Terrestrial
An ecosystem that is based mostly or totally on land.
Examples: desert, forest, tundra
Aquatic
An ecosystem that is based mostly or totally in water
Examples: pond, lake, river, ocean

4. Learning Check
What are some similarities and differences between an aquatic and a terrestrial ecosystem?

5. This picture shows an ecosystem that includes both an aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem. Identify 3 interactions in the land ecosystem and 3 interactions in the water ecosystem. Finally, identify three interactions that involve both the land and water ecosystems

6. Ecosystems are about connections
Ecosystems are made up of biotic and abiotic parts that interact
Interactions between terrestrial ecosystems and aquatic ecosystems help keep all ecosystems healthy

7. How do interactions supply energy to ecosystems?
No matter what you eat each day, your food choices always have one main thing in common. Each and every food item carried with it some of the Sun (the Sun’s energy to be precise). The energy you depend on to sustain your life is stored in the food you eat.

8. Photosynthesis
A process in the cells of plants, algae and some bacteria that converts light energy from the Sun into stored chemical energy.
Write an equation for photosynthesis (hint: what it uses and what it produces)

10. Cellular Respiration
A process in the cells of most organisms that converts the energy stored in chemical compounds into usable energy
Write an equation for Cellular Respiration

11. Interactions of Cell Respiration and Photosynthesis

12. Food and Feeding in Ecosystems
Define the following:
Producers
Any living thing that gets the energy it needs by making its own food
Consumers
Any living thing that gets the energy it needs by eating producers or other consumers
Decomposers
An organism that obtains energy by consuming dead plant and animal matter

13. The Nutrient Cycle
The pattern of continual use and re-use of a nutrient
What is a nutrient?
Any substance that a living thing needs to sustain its life

15. Learning Check What role do decomposers play in nutrient cycles?
Explain what is meant by the statement “you and all other living tings owe your lives to decomposers”.
The living things that decompose dead organisms link the biotic and abiotic parts of ecosystems. How do they do this?