2.1.1 Ecosystems

Ecosystems

2.1.1

Even though you are in class, you still need to complete the knowledge check! Take a few minutes to answer the questions the best you can.

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Knowledge Check

Objectives

Learners can:

• describe the main components of an ecosystem

• explain how matter and energy move through an ecosystem

• abiotic

• biotic

• consumer

• ecosystem

• habitat

• photosynthesis

• producer

Prerequisite Vocab

• ecology

New Vocab

Vocabulary

the study of ecosystems

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Ecology

Match

Match the vocabulary word to its definition.

• abiotic

• biotic

• ecosystem

something that was never alive

something that is alive or once was

all of the living and non-living things

• something that was never alive

• something that is alive or once was

• all of the living and non-living things

Match

Match the vocabulary word to its definition.

• consumer

• habitat

• producer

• photosynthesis

organism that eats others for energy

where an organism is naturally found

organism that makes its own food

process producers use to create energy

• organism that eats others for energy

• where an organism is naturally found

• organism that makes its own food

• process producers use to create energy

Open Ended

Look outside your window, what objects do you see? In your response, note whether those things are biotic or abiotic.

An ecosystem includes all of the living and nonliving things in an area. Ecosystems are environments where many factors are closely tied together to make a complete system. Ecology is the study of ecosystems.

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Ecosystems

• ​living organisms

• ex. mushrooms, deer, grass, trees, birds, etc.

Biotic Factors

• nonliving objects

• ex. air, temperature, water, soil, etc.

Abiotic Factors

​Biotic and Abiotic Factors

Hotspot

Select the abiotic factors

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an example of a biotic factor interacting with an abiotic factor?

• A lion is hunting a zebra.

• Rain is falling into a pond.

• An earthworm is moving through the soil.

• Sunlight is heating up a rock.

• plenty of trees

• animals that are brown in color

• consistent rainfall

​​Forests

• succulents and dry bush

• animals that can stand high temps

• little to no rainfall

Deserts

• plenty of plant life

• animals with fins/gills

Oceans

• little vegetation

• animals are white in color

• plenty of frozen precipitation

Arctic

​Types of Ecosystems

Open Ended

Choose an organism that lives in one of the ecosystems we just learned about: forest, desert, ocean, or the Arctic. Describe in 3-5 sentences what a "day in the life" of this organism might look like.

Feel free to come on the mic to share your responses as well! If we have time, we'll have 5 people share their answer.

Many ecosystems get their energy in the form of sunlight, which enters the ecosystem through photosynthesis. Within an ecosystem, there are two types of organisms:

• Producers are organisms that make their own food, such as plants.

• Consumers eat other organisms for energy.

​Energy in Ecosystems

This pyramid shows how energy is passed through an ecosystem. Energy cannot be created nor destroyed but it can be transferred.

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Energy Pyramid

The sun introduces energy into the ecosystem.

The Sun

Plants, such as seaweed, capture energy from the sun during photosynthesis.

Producers

Herbivores are organisms that gather energy by eating plants.

Primary Consumers

Secondary consumers are organisms that get their energy by eating primary consumers. These animals are essentially carnivores.

Secondary Consumers

An apex predator is an organism that does not have a natural predator itself. They are at the top of the food chain.

Apex Predators

Decomposers are organisms that break down dead or decaying organisms for energy, carbon, and nutrients.

Decomposers

Labeling

Examine the image below to identify each organism.

Drag labels to their correct position on the image

Primary Consumer 1

Apex Predator

Producer

Primary Consumer 2

Scavenger