Ecosystems-Cont.

Think Aloud

Ecosystems are made up of

• Individual Organisms (living things)

Population ( a bunch of the same species)

Community-Animals and plants of different species live together

Individuals, Populations and Communities make up Ecosystems

Energy Transfers Through Ecosystems

• The number one source of All energy is the SUN

Producers start each ecosystem

• Producers are also called AUTOTROPHS- (Can make their own food).

Consumers (Heterotrophs) can not make their own food

Decomposers –Break down dead plants and animals

• http://www.vtaide.com/png/foodchains.htm

A food chain shows how each living thing gets its food. Some animals eat plants and some animals eat other animals

• http://www.ecokids.ca/pub/eco_info/topics/frogs/chain_reaction/play_chainreaction.cfm

• http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/kidscorner/games/foodchaingame.htm

Food Pyramid

3 levels of Consumers

• Herbivore-Only eat plants

Omnivore-eats plants and animals

Carnivore-only eat meat

In every ecosystem, every organism has ROLE (Job)

• This is called a NICHE

The place where an organism(living thing) lives is called its HABITAT Habitat_and_Niche.asf

Habitat_and_Niche.asf

Habitat_and_Niche.asf

Limited Factors in Ecosystems

• Environmental Factors that limit population sizes. These may be:

Water

Food

Temperature

Predators

Extinction

• Lack of resources• Over hunting• Predator• Habitat destruction• Natural disaster• Deforestation

Organisms are Interdependent upon each other

• What do you think this means?

• Organisms living in a habitat depend on each other.

• If one part of a food chain dies out or is greatly reduced, the consumers have to find alternative food, move away, or starve.

• This then affects more consumers in the same way.