Ecosystems

Organisms and Environments

Lesson 1

TEKS 5.9A, 5.9C, 3.9A, 3.9C

Oh, Deer!!!!! Game!!!!!!!

• Living things depend on each other and on the nonliving things in their environment in order to thrive.

• Changes in the environment cause changes to living organisms.

Habitat

• The specific environment where an organism lives.

tree

pond

soil

meadow

river

Species

• A group of organisms that can produce offspring that are like themselves

Population

• All the organisms of the same species that live in the same area at the same time.

Community

• Populations of different species that live in the same area at the same time.

Nonliving things:SoilWaterOxygenCarbon DioxideSunlight

Living things:

PlantsAnimals

Ecosystem

Ecosystem: all the populations of organisms and the Nonliving things in an environment, and the interaction amongthem.

Can be small (pond). Can be large (desert).

Special Ecosystems

Biome

• One of the six major land areas of the world that is home to specific plant and animal populations and is defined by its climate.

Tropical Forest

• Warm temperatures

• Rainy climate

• Many trees and other plants

• Many animals

Have you seen Tarzan?

Desert

• Very little rainfall or snowfall

• Can be hot temperature or cold temperature

• Few plants or animals

Have you seen Rango?

Grasslands

• Mostly flat land

• Covered with tall grasses

• Few trees

• Warm climate

• Not as dry as desert

Have you seen Dances with Wolves?

Deciduous Forest • Has four seasons• Warm summer and Cold winter• Trees lose their leaves in autumn• Many plants and animals

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and aCinepak decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Taiga• Evergreen forest: fir and pine trees

• Long, cold winter

• Short, mild summer

• Elk, moose, bears, are some animals

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Have you seen Open Season?

Tundra• Flat, open ground• Always frozen and cold all year long• Few plants: mosses, lichens, shrubs• Too harsh for trees• Polar bears, arctic hares, arctic fox, musk ox

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Vocabulary• Habitat: the specific environment where an organism lives• Species: a group of organisms that produce offspring like

themselves• Population: All the organisms of the same species that live in

the same area at the same time• Community: Populations of different species that live in the

same area at the same time• Ecosystem: all the populations of organisms and the nonliving

things in an environment, and the interaction among them

• Biome: One of the six major land areas of the world that is home to specific plant and animal populations

and is defined by its climate• Drought: a period of very little rainfall• Flood: an overflow of water onto land that is normally dry• Thrive: to grow in a strong and healthy way• Perish: to die