1. Interactions within Ecosystems
Unit A Topic 1
Interactions within Ecosystems

2. I Can…
I can analyze an ecosystem to identify biotic and abiotic components, and describe interactions among these components
I can illustrate how life-supporting environments meet the needs of living things for nutrients, energy sources, moisture, suitable habitat, and exchange of gases 

3. Intro to the Unit
Watch the two videos – what are some things you notice?
How does this relate to Interactions in Ecosystems?
How do we interact as people?
How do the Caribou interact in the ecosystem?
Is there monitoring involved? Is there something that we can do to change what’s going on?

4. What is ecology?
Ecology is the study of relationships between living and non-living parts of the environment
A person who studies the ecology of an area is an…

5. What are those Living and Non-Living Parts Called?
The living parts are biotic factors of an ecosystem
The non-living parts are abiotics factors of an ecosystem
What are some examples of abiotic and biotic parts?

6. PRACTICE: BIOTIC OR ABIOTIC?

7. ID the Factors

8. What Happens when the Parts Combine?
When the abiotic and biotic factors combine, that forms an ecosystem
A Species is an individual in an ecosystem
The Population is a group of species in an area
A community is where different populations interact.

9. Cross out the statements below that do not apply to ecosystems.
An ecosystem is not a place, it is a set of relationships.
Ecosystems are always huge, including whole forests and prairies.
An ecosystem includes only living things.
Ecosystems can be huge like a forest or small like a rotting log.
An ecosystem includes only non-living factors like light, temperature and moisture.
An ecosystem includes living and non-living things.
Small ecosystems have very few organisms in them.
When one part of an ecosystem changes, the whole ecosystem is affected.
Even small ecosystems will have billions of organisms because some organisms are microscopic.

10. Check Your Answers
An ecosystem is not a place, it is a set of relationships.
Ecosystems are always huge, including whole forests and prairies.
An ecosystem includes only living things.
Ecosystems can be huge like a forest or small like a rotting log.
An ecosystem includes only non-living factors like light, temperature and moisture.
An ecosystem includes living and non-living things.
Small ecosystems have very few organisms in them.
When one part of an ecosystem changes, the whole ecosystem is affected.
Even small ecosystems will have billions of organisms because some organisms are microscopic.

11. Basic Needs
There are 4 basic needs that every living thing must fulfil in order to survive:
food, water, suitable habitat, and gas exchange.
Each statement from the 11 short statements below applies to one of the basic needs of living things.
Rewrite each short statement in the proper place in the set of notes below about the 4 basic needs.

12. Short Statements Plants use up carbon dioxide (CO2).
Makes up about 67% of every person.
Provides nutrients to animals.
Eaten by animals.
To meet this need, some animals build shelters.
Helps living things grow, repair and reproduce.
Forms a large part of almost every organism.
Plants produce oxygen (O2).
Provides energy for organisms.
Most organisms do not change theirs.
Even microscopic bacteria need oxygen.

13. Check your Answers Living Things (Organisms) Need Food
provides nutrients to animals
eaten by animals
helps living things grow, repair and reproduce
provides energy for organisms
Living Things (Organisms) Need Water
makes up about 67% of every person
forms a large part of almost every organism

14. Check your Answers Living Things (Organisms) Need a Suitable Habitat
to meet this need, some animals build shelters
most organisms do not change theirs
Living Things (Organisms) Exchange Gases
plants use up carbon dioxide (CO2)
plants produce oxygen (O2)
even microscopic bacteria need oxygen

15. Think about it! How do you meet your 4 basic needs?

16. Adaptations
When an organism has features that help it survive in its environment, we say that the organism is adapted to its environment.

17. Which Adaptations Allows…
Which adaptation allows:
birds to be light enough to fly?
a robin to perch on a tree branch?
a curlew to pick tiny bugs from between leaves?
a seal to swim well?
Think of an animal adaptation that you can share with the class

18. What is an Adaptation?
Adaptations are inherited characteristics. In the table below a number of characteristics are described for different organisms.
Beside each description write “inherited characteristic” or “learned behaviour” to correctly identify the characteristic.

19. Inherited characteristic or Learned behaviour
Fill out the Table!
Adaptation
Inherited characteristic or Learned behaviour
An eagle has a sharp beak to tear meat to eat.
A giraffe has a very long neck to reach leaves on high branches.
A circus dog can do a backward flip.
Joseph speaks English and has done so since he was tiny.

20. Adaptations Assignment
Complete the Adaptations Activity on a separate piece of paper.
You are to create a new animal and develop its new adaptations to survive in an environment.
For example – A flying shark has wings instead of fins to allow for it to fly

21. I Can…
I can describe examples of interaction and interdependency within an ecosystem 
I can analyze ecosystems to identify producers, consumers and decomposers; and describe how energy is supplied to and flows through a food web

22. INTERDEPENDENCE
Each and every species depends on many other species within an environment in order to survive and prosper.
Interdependence shows that diversity is important, for it connects species together. If one species becomes threatened, the others will also be affected.

23. SYMBIOSIS Symbiosis is a type of interdependence
which is the association between members of different species.
There are three types of symbiosis that we will look at.
Commensalism (+/o)
Mutualism (+/+)
Parasitism (+/-)
Predator Prey (+/-)

24. Symbiosis Sort
In your groups, you have to sort the cards into the types of symbiosis. When you are finished, put your hands up as a group to check your answers .

25. COMMENSALISM
One of the participating members benefits, but the other does not and there is no harm done to that organism.
Ex. A bird that builds its nest in a tree; the bird benefits and the tree is not affected.
Can you think of other examples?

26. COMMENSALISM

27. COMMENSALISM a bird using a tree to build its nest in
barnacles on a whale
Others?

28. MUTUALISM
Both organisms benefit. The benefit is mutual (as the root word suggests).
Ex. A lichen growing in the arctic tundra is a combination of two organisms (a fungus and alga). The Alga cells provide food for themselves and the fungus, and the fungus protects the cells from dehydration.
Other examples?

29. MUTUALISM

30. MUTUALISM
lichen (algae and fungi) growing in the Arctic Tundra benefit each other
flower Clusia provides medicine to bees
Others?

31. PARASITISM One organism benefits and the other is harmed.
Ex. A tapeworm attached to the intestinal wall of the human. The tapeworm absorbs nutrients, leaving little nutrients for the human to absorb.
The parasite usually doesn’t kill the host, because the host represents the parasites food supply.
Other examples?

32. PARASITISM

33. PARASITISM Goldenrod Ball Gall Fly
A Fly lays eggs on goldenrod, then larvae uses the plant for food, which creates a growth that kills the plant

34. PREDATOR-PREY
A predator prey relationship involves an animal using the other for food.
The predator acts as the hunter, and the prey acts as the food in the relationship.
What’s an example of this?

35. Think about it
Why are these relationships important?

36. What to do
Read the following examples of symbiotic relationships between two species. In the space provided, identify each relationship as parasitism, mutualism, or commensalism, and state why you think so.

37. I Can…
I can illustrate how life-supporting environments meet the needs of living things for nutrients, energy sources, moisture, suitable habitat, and exchange of gases 
I can analyze ecosystems to identify producers, consumers and decomposers; and describe how energy is supplied to and flows through a food web

38. Food Webs Animals also interact in a predator prey relationship.
This connection can be known as the Food Chain or a food web
What’s the difference between a food chain and a food web?
Come up with an example of a Food Chain

39. Some terms to know
In a predator prey relationship, there are some key parts to make this work. In your pairs, pick a term and find the definition in your book. Be prepared to share the definition for the class
Consumers
Herbivores
Carnivores
Predators
Prey
Omnivores
Scavengers
Decomposers

40. Web of Life Post Game Discussion
What are things you have observed during the game
Think about it – Are all parts of the ecosystem affected by a change in the environment?

41. Debrief of Web of Life