Bell Ringer Week 1 Make a list of all the things you need for survival. Order the list according to the importance of each item.

Bellringer 1 – Notebook pg.3 1. Sit quietly. 2. Copy the homework in your agenda. 3. Add pgs. 3,4 and5 into your Table of Contents. 4. Divide page 3to look like this  Monday 5. Next to Monday, Make a list of all the things you need for survival. Order the list according to the importance of each item. Bellringer 1 Monday- Tuesday- Wednesday- Thursday- Friday- 5

Defining an Ecosystem Ecosystems are communities of organisms and their abiotic environment. Ex.: oak forest or a coral reef. Ecosystems do not have clear boundaries Things move from one ecosystem to another. Ex.: Pollen can blow from a forest into a field, soil can wash from a mountain into a lake, and birds migrate from state to state.

Levels of Ecological Organization

The Components of an Ecosystem In order to survive, ecosystems need five basic components: energy, mineral nutrients, water, oxygen, and living organisms. Plants and rocks are components of the land ecosystems, while most of the energy of an ecosystem comes from the sun. If one part of the ecosystem is destroyed or changes, the entire system will be affected.

Biotic and Abiotic Factors Biotic factors are environmental factors that are associated with or results from the activities of living organisms which includes plants, animals, dead organisms, and the waste products of organisms. Abiotic factors are environmental factors that are not associated with the activities of living organisms which includes air, water, rocks, and temperature. Scientists can organize these living and nonliving things into various levels.

Organisms Organisms are living things that can carry out life processes independently. Ex. humans, ants, and ivy plant, and each of the many bacteria living in your intestines. Every organism is a member of a species. Species are groups of organisms that are closely related can mate to produce fertile offspring.

Populations All of the individuals of a given species in a specific area or region at a certain time. Members of a population compete for food, water, space, and mates; for example, all of the loblolly pines in South Carolina.

Communities All the different populations in a specific area or region at a certain time. For example, all of the crabs, seagulls, and sea grass at the beach are part of the same community. Communities involve many types of interactions among the populations. Some of these interactions involve the obtaining and use of food, space, or other environmental resources.

Ecosystems Ecosystems include one or more communities in an area and the abiotic factors, including water, sunlight, oxygen, temperature, and soil

Biomes Biomes are individual ecosystems grouped together according to the climate and the predominant vegetation and characterized by adaptations of organisms to that particular environment.

Habitat Habitats are places where an organism lives in order to obtain its food, water, shelter and other things needed for survival.  A habitat is your address. It is where you live!  Organisms tend to be very well suited to their natural habitats. If fact, animals and plants usually cannot survive for long periods of time away from their natural habitat.

Niches A niche is the particular role of an organism in its environment including type of food it eats, how it obtains its food and how it interacts with other organisms.  A niche is a job. It is what you do. For example, the niche of a bee is to pollinate flowers as it gathers nectar for its food.