Relationships within Ecosystems
ECOSYSTEM All the living (biotic) and the non-living (abiotic) factors within an area. Example: Coral reef, desert, rainforest
ECOSYSTEM Abiotic (non-living) Biotic (living)
Levels of Ecosystems Individual – one organism Population – group of same species Community – all the populations living in same area Habitat – where a population lives in an ecosystem
2 Major Ecosystems Terrestrial (Land) Aquatic (Water) Biomes (Tundra, Desert, Rainforest) Aquatic (Water) Freshwater (ponds, streams, lakes) Marine (oceans, gulfs, seas)
ENERGY Flows through an Ecosystem! Energy flow shown through a food chain. Arrows show how energy flows from 1 organism to next. algae small fish large fish osprey
Food Web A model that shows many feeding relationships in an Ecosystem Made of many food chains
FOOD WEB Third-level Consumers Bobcat Hawk Arrows show direction of energy flow: from organism to consumer. Second-level Consumers Weasel First-level Consumers Woodrat Desert Cottontail Producers Prickly Pear Cactus Mesquite
Producers Form the base of the food web AKA: Autotrophs Make food by using energy from surroundings, mostly the sun Plants – through photosynthesis
Producers in Aquatic Ecosystems Phytoplankton: tiny plant-like organisms found in fresh or marine waters. SUPER important in these ecosystems! Through photosynthesis, supplies a HUGE amount of oxygen to the world!
Consumers Get energy by eating other organisms AKA: Heterotrophs 3 Types Herbivore – eats plants Omnivore – eats plants and animals Carnivore – eats animals
Carnivores only eat meat (other animals)
Herbivores eat only plants.
Omnivores eat both meat (animals) and plants.
Stop…Review…Check… Turn to your partner and tell them the meaning of each word. Also give two examples of each. Autotrophs: Heterotrophs:
Decomposers Decomposers eat dead things and return nutrients back into dirt, or soil. Examples: Mushrooms Worms Bugs Bacteria
How they relate .
Energy Flow through an Ecosystem Least amount of energy Largest amount of energy