1. Day 1: Ecosystems and Ecotones
Unit: Ecology
Day 1: Ecosystems and Ecotones

2. Ecosystems: What they are
Natural areas with common rainfall, temperature,flora and fauna
Self-sustaining systems

3. U.S. Has 6 Major Ecosystems
Coasts/Oceans
Farmland
Forests
Fresh waters
Grass land/Shrub Land
Urban/Suburban

4. Biotic Communities Plant community Animal community
Trees
Shrubs
Grasses
Animal community
Mammals
Birds
Reptiles
Microbial community
Fungi
Bacteria
Protists

5. Abiotic Factors Non-Living Amount of rain Temperature Salinity
Elevation
Type of soil
Sunlight

6. Species
A group of organisms that can reproduce and produce fertile offspring in their natural habitat
One Individual

7. Population
The number of individuals that make up the interbreeding species in an area.

8. Community
All plants, animals, and microbes occupying an explicit unit of space and interacting with each other.

9. Ecotone
In passing from one ecosystem to another, there may be a transitional area that shares many of the species and characteristics of both ecosystems.

11. Examples of Ecotones A group of interacting ecosystems.
Coastal Wetlands
Saltwater bay
Salt Marsh
Estuary

12. Biomes
Similar or related ecosystems grouped together to form major ecosystems or biomes
Ex: Tropical Rainforests

13. *

14. Categories of organisms
Producers
Photosynthesize
Autotrophs
Chlorophyll
Ex: algae, grasses,
Flowers, cacti, trees

15. Categories continued…
Consumers
Eat Living things
Heterotrophs
Examples:
Protists
Bacteria
Worms
Fish
Birds
Mammals
Insects

17. Detritus feeders
Fungi
Mushrooms
Bacteria

18. Decomposers & Detritivores
Break down organic matter into recyclable materials
Examples:
termites
earthworms
fungi
bacteria

19. Consumer Pyramid Primary consumer Secondary consumer Omnivores
Herbivores
Secondary consumer
Feed on primary consumers
(carnivores)
Omnivores
Feed on primary & secondary consumers

20. Predators, Parasites, Pathogens
Organism that feeds on other organisms
Parasite
Organism (plant or animal) becomes intimately associated with their prey (host). Feed on prey usually without killing it.
Pathogen
Usually microbes that cause disease

21. Trophic relationships & food webs
Feeding levels

22. Know This!!!!!!!

23. Limits of Trophic Levels
Biomass
Total combined weight of all the organisms at each trophic level.
Each level moving up loses 90% mass
Biomass pyramid

24. Title
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