Download Ecosystem structure

Ecosystem Structure & Function
•
•
•
•
•
•
An ECOSYSTEM is the basic unit of sustainable life on the Earth.
2 components:
– Biotic (living things). Plants, animals, fungi, protozoans,
bacteria
– Abiotic (Non-living characteristics) Water, temperature,
sunlight, sunlight, space, salinity, etc
Habitat & Niche
– Habitat - where an organism lives (forest, ocean, pond, etc.)
– Niche - how an organism lives within its habitat. Feeding,
nesting, etc .
– Both hab & niche can be specialized or generalized
Landscape – a group of interacting ecosystems
Ecotone - transitional area between 2 ecosystems
Biome – a major regional ecosystem (Amazon rainforest, Sahara desert)
Biome Transition with Temperature
Biome Transition with Temperature & Precipitation
Biotic Structure:
• organism - a living thing
• species – group of organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring
• population – all members of a species in a specific place
• community - a group of interacting populations
• Landscape -group of interacting ecosystems (e.g., barrier island)
•
•
habitat - where an organism lives (forest, ocean, etc).
niche - an organism’s way of life within its habitat
• Both hab & niche can be specialized or generalized