Ecosystem Dynamics

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What's your favorite song right now?

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How do humans impact ecosystems?

​Change is happening all around you. Sometimes that change can be sudden, like a strong storm that blows down a tree. Other times, the change is slow, such as a tree growing each day.

Impacts on the environment, whether sudden or slow, cause ecosystems to change and adapt.

We may not notice is, but is it still happening?

Does a tree make a sound when it falls if no one is around?

Changing Ecosystems

​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMMjX4GUTiI

Ecosystems are dynamic, meaning they are characterized by constant change.

A forest may not seem to change much over time, but when you look more closely, you will see that the populations within that forest ecosystem are constantly changing. A flood could destroy habitats and lead to the decline of animal populations.

A wildfire could kill the old growth tree of an area.

Changing

One change in an ecosystem could result in a variety of species being affected.

Let's look at the image to the right.

How are the organisms in this image connected?

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Ecosystem Connections

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What other connections can you think of between two organisms? Does not have to be in PA.

Draw

Circle the organisms that would be impacted with the mouse population declining.

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What concept of our ecosystem topic was confusing?