Section 1 – ecosystems Section 2 – evolution

Section 3 – diversity of life

CHAPTER 4THE ORGANIZATION OF

LIFE

An ecosystem is an area that …includes all the organisms and the physical (nonliving) environment

Section 1 - Ecosystems

examples…

CORAL REEF

DESERT

FOREST

STREAM

they do not have clear boundaries living things can move from one ecosystem

to another

Ecosystems are connected

Energy MineralsCarbon dioxide

(CO2)Water (H2O)Oxygen (O2)SoilLiving thingsAnd others….

Ecosystems have certain basic

components…….

If one part (component)

of an ecosystem is destroyed, or changes,

the entire ecosystem may be affected

ENERGY IN ECOSYSTEMS IS ESSENTIAL!!!

In most ecosystems – the original source of energy is the SUN

Biotic Factors/Components ….living or once living things Abiotic Factors/Components …..physical, nonliving things

Examples are……

TidesMoldButterfliesMineralsPrecipitation – snow, sleet, rain, …BacteriaFeatherWindSoilEarthwormsScat (poop)

What would these be? Biotic or Abiotic?

Each of the following slides shows an ecosystem,

……think of the biotic and abiotic factors

that might be present in each

Coral Reef

MARSH

….VACANT LOT

MOUNTAIN TOP

Hydrothermal Vent, Ocean

Badlands, South Dakota

Scientists organize living things into groups to make them easier to study …..

The Levels Of Organization of living things are….

organismpopulationcommunityecosytembiosphere

Organism…. a single individual of a species

SPECIES – organisms that are… structurally similar, naturally interbreed (mate),

and produce fertile offspring

Are these members of the same species?

The same species?

Population – includes all the members of a single species within a given area

Community – includes all the species (living things) within a given area

Ecosystem – includes all the living (biotic) and nonliving (abiotic) things within a given area

Biosphere – the areas of Earth where all life exists – includes all the ecosystems on Earth

organism

population

community

ecosystem

biosphere

HABITAT - the place that an organism lives

(its address)

Every habitat has specific biotic and

abiotic factors

Organisms tend to be well suited to their natural habitats

What is the habitat of the chipmunk?

Organisms within an ecosystem have a particular habitat and niche…..

An organism’s niche includes……1. the environmental factors

necessary for its survival 2. its interactions with other

organisms 3. its interactions with the

environment (its physical surroundings)

What is the niche of the chipmunk?

NICHE – an organism's role in its environment (its job or occupation)