Ecosystem Elements

SNC1D1 – RHSA

• An ecosystem is a complex self-regulating system in which living things interact with non-living factors.

• Name some living things in the ecosystem.

• Name some non-living factors in the ecosystem.

• The biotic factors are the living parts of the ecosystem including the plants, animals, fungi, and bacteria.

• The abiotic factors are the non-living parts of the ecosystem including the rocks, air, water, concrete, temperature, sunshine or amount of salt.

• The smallest biotic part of an ecosystem is one individual organism.

• A species is a group of organisms that can successfully reproduce fertile offspring.

• A liger can only be bred in captivity as lions and tigers prefer to mate with their own species.

• But a population has the members of one species that live in the same ecosystem and can actually reproduce together.

• A raccoon in Vancouver is the same species as a raccoon in Toronto but they are not part of the same raccoon populations.

Levels of Ecological Organization

• A community consists of all the populations of organisms that live in the same ecosystem. In Toronto, robins, worms, raccoons, grass and cats all share the same habitat or physical environment.

• But each one of these organisms has a special niche or role to play in the habitat. For example, in the Toronto ecosystem, cats are predators of birds and provide the soil with nutrients.

• Ecosystems are interconnected with other ecosystems and come in all shapes and sizes. However, a large area of land or ocean that has similar producers, consumer, temperature and rainfall is a biome.

• Biomes can be aquatic or terrestrial.

• This an aquatic biome - a salt water coral reef biome.

• Identify some abiotic and biotic components.

• This is a terrestrial biome – a desert biome.

• Identify some producers and consumers.

• Planet Earth clip 2 min – Angel Falls• Think about the organisms, populations,

communities and ecosystem in the biome of a tropical forest with a large fresh water river.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8x-3r5fjIr4