1. Unit 1: Interactions Within Ecosystems
Science 7 Section 1.3
Unit 1: Interactions Within Ecosystems
Chapter 1: Ecosystems
Section 1.3: Biotic Parts of the Environment
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2. REVIEW: Environment v.s. Ecosystem
Science 7 Section 1.3
REVIEW: Environment v.s. Ecosystem
Environment
An organism’s surroundings.
It is a place.
Ecosystem:
The interactions that take place between the biotic (living) and the abiotic (non-living) factors in the environment.
An ecosystem is not a place but rather a description of what is happening in a place.
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3. REVIEW: Environment v.s. Ecosystem
Science 7 Section 1.3
REVIEW: Environment v.s. Ecosystem
You are now in your grade 7 classroom. Describe the environment and the ecosystem.
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4. REVIEW: Environment v.s. Habitat
Science 7 Section 1.3
REVIEW: Environment v.s. Habitat
What is an organism’s habitat?
A habitat is the environment in which an organism lives.
Can you describe your current habitat and environment?
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5. Biotic Parts of the Environment
Science 7 Section 1.3
Biotic Parts of the Environment
In Section 1.3, you will learn four new key terms:
Species
Population
Community
Niche
What do you already know about each of these terms?
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6. Biotic Parts of the Environment Introduction (p.24)
Science 7 Section 1.3
Biotic Parts of the Environment Introduction (p.24)
Why do you think it is important for scientists to classify organisms into different groups?
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7. Biotic Parts of the Environment Introduction (p.24)
Science 7 Section 1.3
Biotic Parts of the Environment Introduction (p.24)
One way that scientists group organisms is to identify different species.
A species is a group of organisms that can reproduce among themselves to produce offspring of the same type that can also reproduce successfully.
For example: Cats and dogs are different species since they cannot mate with each other.
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8. Biotic Parts of the Environment Levels of Organization (p.25)
Science 7 Section 1.3
Biotic Parts of the Environment Levels of Organization (p.25)
Let’s say that a scientist wanted to study dogs. There are simply too many dogs in the world to consider them all at one time!
So, usually, scientists consider just the number (of dogs) in a particular ecosystem.
A population is the entire group of individuals of the same species that live together in one ecosystem at the same time.
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9. Biotic Parts of the Environment Levels of Organization (p.25)
Science 7 Section 1.3
Biotic Parts of the Environment Levels of Organization (p.25)
What is the population of dogs in this picture?
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10. Biotic Parts of the Environment Levels of Organization (p.25)
Science 7 Section 1.3
Biotic Parts of the Environment Levels of Organization (p.25)
Within any ecosystem there are many different populations of species.
Below, list at least 5 types of organisms that you would find during a fieldtrip of our schoolyard.
These organisms you listed, along with all the other organisms in our schoolyard, form a community.
Definition: All the interacting populations that live together in an ecosystem form a community.
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11. Biotic Parts of the Environment Levels of Organization (p.25)
Science 7 Section 1.3
Biotic Parts of the Environment Levels of Organization (p.25)
How would you describe this community of organisms?
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12. Biotic Parts of the Environment Niche (p.25)
Science 7 Section 1.3
Biotic Parts of the Environment Niche (p.25)
Within a community, each species uses the resources of the ecosystem in a slightly different way.
A niche describes the organism’s specific function (or job) in a particular community.
It includes where it lives, how it feeds, what it feeds on, and how it interacts with its environment.
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13. Biotic Parts of the Environment Niche (p.25)
Science 7 Section 1.3
Biotic Parts of the Environment Niche (p.25)
The niche of a moose:
Lives in the boreal forests, bogs, and river and pond edges.
Feeds on plants
Sometimes they can have a negative impact on plant growth where populations are not controlled (by hunting)
Provides food for wolves
In NL, no natural predators (although, sometimes bears will eat calves or the very old).
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14. Biotic Parts of the Environment Review
Science 7 Section 1.3
Biotic Parts of the Environment Review
Choose an organism from the picture. Use it to describe the following:
Environment:
Ecosystem:
Habitat:
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15. Biotic Parts of the Environment Review
Science 7 Section 1.3
Biotic Parts of the Environment Review
(continued…)
Species:
Population:
Community:
Niche
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16. Section 1.3 Complete the following questions Assignment Section 1.3
Science 7 Section 1.3
Section 1.3
Complete the following questions
P.29, #1, 3, 5, 6, 9
Assignment Section 1.3
To show the meaning of the terms environment, ecosystem, species, population and community, use them in a paragraph to describe an ecosystem of your choice. Include a diagram/picture.
Note: This is part of Assignment #1C
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