The Basic Needs of Living Organisms

Pg 43-44

Water

Shelter

Air

Minerals

FoodDecomposers

The Basic Needs of Living Organisms

Water

• Transports nutrients to cells and carries waste products away

• Regulates body temperature in humans• Needed by plants

Shelter

• Needed to make life more comfortable.• Climate control• Protect from harm

Air• Filled with gases such as nitrogen,

oxygen, carbon dioxide and other gases.• Oxygen needed by organisms for

respiration• Nitrogen is needed for building structural

proteins in plants. Also controls combustion rate of oxygen.

• Carbon dioxide needed by plants for photosynthesis

Minerals

• Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, iron, zinc, manganese are minerals found in plants.

• We receive these minerals through the food chain.

Food

• Plants and animals provide carbohydrates and fats for energy and normal body functions

Decomposers

• Decomposers include bacteria and fungi• These organisms recycle organic material

to keep the soil fertile. • This allows more plant growth which

supports all ecosystems.