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Ecosystems
Before You Read
Ecosystems are related to biomes because an ecosystem has abiotic components such as
water, oxygen, nutrients, light, and soil that interact with the biotic components such as plants,
animals, micro-organisms. Every biome has many ecosystems, large and small, and there are many
different kinds of ecosystems in every biome, so the environment in biomes can differ in different
places.
Parts of an Ecosystem
1.
The difference between an ecosystem and a habitat is that an ecosystem contains abiotic
components (water, oxygen, soil, nutrients, light etc.) that interact with biotic components. A
habitat is in an ecosystem. It is the place where the organisms interacting with the abiotic
components of an ecosystem live. The ecosystem is what supports the habitat with abiotic
components.
2. Three main abiotic components of ecosystems are water, oxygen and light.
3.
The difference between a population and community is that a population refers to all the
members of a particular species within an ecosystem, while a community is all the populations
of different species that interact in a specific area of ecosystem.
4.
Symbiosis is the interaction between members of two different species that live together in
close association.
5.
Commensalism is a symbiotic relationship in which one species benefits and the other species
is neither helped nor harmed. Often the host species provides shelter or transportation for
the other species.
6.
Mutualism differs from parasitism by how mutualism is a symbiotic relationship in which both
organisms benefit. Parasitism is different because it a symbiotic relationship between two
organisms where only one benefits. The parasite benefits at the expensive of the host
organism.
7.
Predation is the term used to describe the predatory-prey interactions in which one organism
(usually the predator) eats all or part of another organism (the prey). The result is that one
organism benefits while the other is harmed.
Biotic interactions in ecosystems
1.
I) Organism
II) Ecosystem
III) Population
IV) Community
V) Biosphere
2.
3.
Largest – Biosphere
Ecosystem
Population
Community
Smallest - Organism
Three populations that interact in my community:
a. Humans and wildlife
b. Teachers and students
c. Businesses and customers
Symbiotic Relationships
1.
An ant lives in the thorns of the bullhorn acacia bush. The ant sips the nectar of the acacia’s
leaflets. The ants protect the plant by fighting off other insects.
Term: Mutualism
Explanation: Both organisms benefit because the ant gets food from the plant and the pant
gets protection from the ant.
2.
Spotted knapweed releases chemicals into the soil. These chemicals prevent the growth of
other plants and allow the plant to spread quickly.
Term: Parasitism
Explanation: the spotted knapweed is benefitted but at the same time it is being benefitted
at the cost of other organisms.
3.
Lynx hind snowshoe hares. When the lynx population increases the snowshoe hare population
decreases.
Term: Predation
Explanation: the lynxes are preying on the snowshoe hares, and eating them, so when there
are more lynxes, the more snowshoe hares they hunt. The hare is preyed on while the lynx is
the predator.
4.
Spanish moss lives on trees in rainforests and has no roots. The feathery structure of the
Spanish moss captures nutrients and moisture from the air.
Term: commensalism
Explanation: the Spanish moss is getting what it needs to survive by living on trees, but the
trees are not being helped or harmed by the moss.
5.
The mountain pine beetle is killing British Columbia’s lodge pole and white pine forests.
Term: Parasitism
Explanation: the beetle is getting what it needs to survive, but at the expense of thousands
of trees.
Ecosystems
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
D
E
B
F
A
C
G
8.
B
9.
A
10. C