Ecosystems

A Unit Review

What are Ecosystems?

• Groups of living things and the non-living environment in which they live.

• The people that study ecosystems are called: “ecologists.”

Let’s look at the living parts of the ecosystem:

Individual: onePopulation: group of organisms of the same species living in the same place

Community: A community is made up of all the populations that live in the same area. When thinking about the deer we just looked at, their community would include:

rabbits

snakes

birds

and

bears

Just to name a few.

Squirrels

Habitat: is the physical space that is used by a population. You can remember that habitat also means “home.”

For example: when thinking about the deer that we just saw, they might live in a forest. The forest is also home to those rabbits, snakes, squirrels, bears, and birds. This is their habitat. It’s where they live. Notice that you don’t see sharks, giraffes, or polar bears here. The forest is not their habitat.

So, how do all the living things in an ecosystem live together without killing one Another?

Well, the truth is they do kill each other. They have to – it’s the “circle of life” Remember Lion King?

We represent this cycles three different ways:

Way 1: Energy Pyramid:

Notice how there is a lot ofgrass, but fewer primaryconsumers, and even fewersecondary consumers. That’s what makes the pyramid.

Which organisms in the ecosystem contains the most energy?

Which organisms in the ecosystem contains the least energy?

Contributing Factors=“What causes?”

What is the contributing factor to more producers than consumers

In the energy pyramid? a. There is more energy available to the producers.b. There is more energy available to the consumers.

Way 2: Food Chain

Way 3: The food web shows how all the food chains are connected.

What is the main sourceOf energy in this foodWeb?

What organisms does theBird eat for energy?

If the population of birdsRapidly increased, whatWould be the effect on thePopulation of kangaroos?

You’ll need to know lots of definitions in order to understand how energy is transferredin ecosystems:

1. Energy - The sun provides the energy for all living things on Earth. The amountof sunlight an ecosystem receives affects the types of organismsthat live in it.

2. Producers - Organisms that use energy from the sun to make their own food.That process is called “photosynthesis.”

3. Consumers – Organisms that get energy by eating other organisms.

a. Herbivores – eat only plants.

b. Carnivores – eat only meat.

c. Omnivores – eat both plants and meat.

d. Scavengers – eat dead materials

4. Decomposers – Get energy by breaking down nutrients in dead organisms. This causes “decay”.

Predator Vs. Prey

Predator – An organism that

eats other organisms in order to live.

Prey – The organism that is eaten

So what is it called when organisms live together in ecosystems?

Symbiosis

Mutualism – when both organisms

benefit

Parasitism – when only one organism

benefits.

Here’s an example of Symbiotic Relationship that is mutually beneficial:

The ox gets the bugs eaten off of him, and the bird gets lunch!

Here’s an example of a symbiotic relationship this is parasitic.

The flea lives off the dog, but the dog doesn’t benefit. He only gets itchy skin and maybe even worse.

What happens when animals don’t have long term relationships, but they still share same habitat?

This means they “compete” or have a contest to see who gets the food, water, sunlight, or shelter. Ever heard the phrase “survival of the fittest?”

Which one do you think would survive if they needed to run away from a big, mean bear?

Predator – the animal that hunts

Prey – the animal that gets eaten

Sometime animals share resources:

Owls and hawks eat the same things, only at different times of the day.

Exotic AnimalsAnimals that are not native to a country, but instead have been

brought to that environment. Pythons are not native to Florida. Look what this has done to one of Florida’s top predators.

How could this impact the rest of the Everglades Ecosystem?

Biomes – large-scaled ecosystems.

We talked about 3 Terrestrial (Land) and 3 Aquatic (Water):

1. Tropical rainforest2. Temperate Deciduous forest3. Grasslands4. Estuaries5. Oceans6. Lakes and Ponds

Rainforest

Estuaries

Oceans

Lakes and Ponds

Whew! – That’s a lot!

Your test is coming up soon!

Make sure you know your stuff!

Good Luck!