1. ECOSYSTEMS
CHAPTER 10

2. WHAT IS AN ECOSYSTEM?
An ecosystem is all the living things and nonliving things in a given area
Examples of ecosystems:
Forests, deserts, grasslands, rivers, beaches, and coral reefs

3. Abiotic Vs. Biotic Factors
Abiotic factors: the nonliving parts of an ecosystem
Ex. Sunlight, temperature, air, water, soil
Biotic factors: the living OR once-living things in an ecosystem
Ex. Bacterium, dead organisms(fallen leaves), decayed plant matter in soil, people, animals, trees, etc

4. Parts of an Ecosystem
Habitat: the place within an ecosystem that provides food, water, shelter, and other biotic and abiotic factors that an organism needs to survive and reproduce
Population: All the organisms of the same species that live in the same area at the same time
Community: ALL of the populations living in the SAME area at the SAME time

5. Too Many Fish in the Sea?
How can you determine if an area contains too much of something?
You could calculate the population density!
Population Density: the size of a population compared to the amount of space available
POPULATION DENSITY:
number of individuals
unit area or volume of space

6. Relationships Within Ecosystems
How does a niche differ from a habitat?
A habitat is a PLACE within an ecosystem that provides abiotic and biotic factors that an organism needs to survive and reproduce.
A niche is the WAY a species interacts with abiotic and biotic factors to obtain the needs to survive

7. Relationships within an ecosystem continued….
Competition: describes the demand for resources such as food, water, and shelter, in short supply in a community.
** Competition limits population size
Overpopulation: occurs when a population becomes so large that it causes damage to the environment

8. Relationships within Ecosystems
Predation: the act of one organism, a predator, feeding on another organism, its prey.
Ex. Dragonfly capturing a fly-Dragonfly is the ???? And Fly is the????
Symbiosis: a close, long term relationship between two species that usually involves an exchange

9. 3 Types of Symbiosis
Mutualism: a relationship in which both organisms benefit
Commensalism: a relationship in which ONE organism benefits but NEITHER is harmed
Parasitism: relationship in which ONE organism benefits and the other is harmed

10. Matter & Energy in Ecosystems
Producer: An organism that uses the sun to produce its own food…ex. Plant
Consumer: An organism that cannot make their own food. Consumers obtain food by eating producers and other consumers… ex. Humans
Food Chain: A model that shows the flow of energy in an ecosystem through feeding relationships
Food Web: a model that shows the transfer of energy in food chains and communities that are interconnected

11. Design Your Own Ecosystem
REMEMBER! You are envisioning this ecosystem in your own head…
Some things to think about:
What biotic and abiotic factors can you assemble to create a functioning ecosystem?
What types of organisms could live in your ecosystem? (You will NEED to research this)
Would it be aquatic(water)? Terrestrial(land)?
What needs would have to be met for your organisms in your ecosystem to survive?
What would your ecosystem look like? Imagine and write about it!

12. IDEAS FOR YOUR ECOSYSTEM
DRAWING/ILLUSTRATION WITH EXPLANATIONS
MODEL (SHOEBOX?)
POWERPOINT WITH PICTURES/ILLUSTRATIONS
***YOU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PRESENTING AND EXPLAINING
DUE MONDAY, MARCH 4TH

13. HOMEWORK WEDNESDAY, FEB 27TH
RESEARCH ABIOTIC AND BIOTIC FACTORS THAT COULD LIVE IN YOUR ECOSYSTEM. EXPLAIN WHY/HOW THEY SURVIVE THERE.
***QUESTIONS REGARDING THE PROJECT ARE PAGE 338 & 339