The Organization of LifeCh4, Section 1: Ecosystems- Everything is ConnectedStandards: SCSh.7.c, SEV2a, SEV2b

What are the components of an ecosystem?1. Habitat• Place where an

organism lives• Animals and plants

are well adapted for the habitat in which they live

• How many habitats are in this picture?

What are the components of an ecosystem?2. Biotic factors

• Living & once living parts of an ecosystem.

• Ex: plants, animals, dead organisms & parts of organisms

3. Abiotic factors• Non-living parts of an

ecosystem• Ex: air, water, rocks,

sand, light, temperature

What is the relationship between biotic & abiotic factors? Biotic & Abiotic

factors influence each other.

Ex: The temperature of water will affect the survival of coral.

Ex: Fish excrete nitrogen waste into a pond increasing nitrate levels.

What are the levels of life that are studied by ecologists?

What are the levels of life that are studied by ecologists? Organism

An individual living thing.

Ex: A caribou, a fire ant; a bacterium; a human

What are the levels of life that are studied by ecologists? Population

All the members of the same species that live in the same place at the same time.

Ex: all the caribou in eastern Alaska, all fire ants that live in an ant mound in your backyard. All E. coli that live in your intestine.

What are the levels of life that are studied by ecologists?

Community Group of various

species that live in the same place and interact with each other.

Only consists of biotic components

Ex: all the trees, moss, caribou, moose, bobcats, beaver, owls, rabbits in this area of the Taiga (Boreal forest)

What are the levels of life that are studied by ecologists? Ecosystem

Interactions between all biotic AND abiotic components.

Ex: The interaction between the stream, oxygen levels in the stream, fish, grizzly bears, plants, moose, eagles, atmosphere, soil

What are the levels of life that are studied by ecologists? Biome

Collection of similar ecosystems.

All areas that have low precipitation, low temperatures, dominated by evergreen trees and acidic soil are characterized as Taiga/Boreal forest.