Levels of Organization in Ecosystem

©Sockmonkey Science

What is an ecosystem?

You have probably learned about ecosystems in the
past.. However, many students seem to commonly
confuse ecosystems with environments.

An environment is WHERE an organism lives. This is a
place or the habitat you would typically find an
organism.

An ecosystem is made of living and nonliving things
that interact and exchange energy within that
environment. It is the system as a whole, not just one
part.

Today you will be learning about the factors that affect
an ecosystem and how they are organized.

Levels of Organization

Ecosystem Structure

PARTS OF AN ECOSYSTEM

POPULATION

In an ecosystem, many organisms may live
together in a certain area and interact.

A population is the number of ONE species
in that particular ecosystem.

COMMUNITY

A community is ALL of the populations of
organisms that live in the same area and
interact with each other.

Multiple Choice

 Which level is the least specific?

• Biosphere

• Ecosystem

• Community

• Population

• Organism

Multiple Select

 Which levels include only living (biotic) factors?  (check all that apply)

• Biosphere

• Ecosystem

• Community

• Population

• Organism

Multiple Choice

When describing an ecosystem, the student must include

• plants and animals

• water and air

• fungi

• all biotic and abiotic factors

Multiple Choice

Which level includes such factors as sunlight, air, and water?

• community

• population

• ecosystem

• organism

Multiple Choice

In the forest, there are bears, frogs, wolves, and coniferous trees.  Which level includes all this type of factors?

• Biosphere

• Ecosystem

• Community

• organism

• Population