1. Introducing Ecosystems
(text ref. page 32-35)

2. Video Clip: Planet Earth
Watch the Planet Earth video “Jungles”.
Record on your whiteboard everything you observe.
Circle all living things.
Put an “x” beside all non-living things.

3. Ecosystems
ecosystem: all of the living organisms that share a region and interact with each other and their non-living environment
an ecosystem is made up of abiotic (non-living) and biotic (living) factors

4. Abiotic and Biotic Factors
Abiotic (non-living)
Biotic (living)
sunlight
temperature
wind
soil
minerals
nutrients
water
air
plants
animals
micro-organisms

5. Describing Ecosystems
ecosystems are diverse and vary in size and biotic and abiotic features (see page 34)
examples of ecosystems:
Coniferous forest
Coral reef
Beaver pond
Rotting log

6. Sustainable Ecosystems
sustainable ecosystem: an ecosystem that maintains constant over a period of time
sustainability: the ability to meet the needs of the present without jeopardizing the future
human activities can affect sustainability

7. Activity: Ecosystems ABC’s
Everything we use and consume in our daily lives comes from the biotic and abiotic parts of our environment.
In this activity you will reflect on our dependence on the environment for the items we use every day.
Follow the instructions on page 33 in your textbook.

8. Homework
Read pages 32-35
Answer questions #1-4 on page 35