CHAPTER 4 THE ORGANIZATION OF LIFE Section 1 – ecosystems Section 2 – evolution Section 3 – diversity of life

Section 1 - Ecosystems An ecosystem is an area that …includes all the organisms and the physical (nonliving) environment

examples… STREAM CORAL REEF FOREST DESERT

Ecosystems are connected they do not have clear boundaries living things can move from one ecosystem to another

Ecosystems have certain basic components……. Energy Minerals Carbon dioxide (CO2) Water (H2O) Oxygen (O2) Soil Living things And others…. If one part (component) of an ecosystem is destroyed, or changes, the entire ecosystem may be affected

ENERGY IN ECOSYSTEMS IS ESSENTIAL ENERGY IN ECOSYSTEMS IS ESSENTIAL!!! In most ecosystems – the original source of energy is the SUN

Biotic Factors/Components … Biotic Factors/Components ….living or once living things Abiotic Factors/Components …..physical, nonliving things Examples are……

What would these be? Biotic or Abiotic? Tides Mold Butterflies Minerals Precipitation – snow, sleet, rain, … Bacteria Feather Wind Soil Earthworms Scat (poop)

Each of the following slides shows an ecosystem, ……think of the biotic and abiotic factors that might be present in each

Coral Reef

MARSH

…. VACANT LOT

MOUNTAIN TOP

Hydrothermal Vent, Ocean

Badlands, South Dakota

Scientists organize living things into groups to make them easier to study ….. The Levels Of Organization of living things are…. organism population community ecosytem biosphere

a single individual of a species SPECIES – organisms that are… structurally similar, naturally interbreed (mate), and produce fertile offspring

Are these members of the same species?

The same species?

Population – includes all the members of a single species within a given area Community – includes all the species (living things) within a given area Ecosystem – includes all the living (biotic) and nonliving (abiotic) things within a given area

Biosphere – the areas of Earth where all life exists – includes all the ecosystems on Earth

biosphere organism ecosystem population community

Organisms within an ecosystem have a particular habitat and niche….. HABITAT - the place that an organism lives (its address) Every habitat has specific biotic and abiotic factors Organisms tend to be well suited to their natural habitats What is the habitat of the chipmunk?

NICHE – an organism's role in its environment (its job or occupation) An organism’s niche includes…… 1. the environmental factors necessary for its survival 2. its interactions with other organisms 3. its interactions with the environment (its physical surroundings) What is the niche of the chipmunk?