Download What is an ecosystem?

What is an ecosystem?
An ecosystem consists of the plants and
animals of an area, and all the things which
make up their surroundings – like soil, water
and air. It can be a small area such as a
pond; a medium sized area such as a wood;
or a large area such as the earth itself.
An ecological system (Ecosystem) is a
natural system which involves the
interaction of living things with their
environment.
Vegetation
Animals
Soils
People
Climate
Soils
People
Plants
Animals
Climate/Atmosphere
Ecosystems Concept Map
Soils
People
Plants
Animals
Climate/Atmosphere
Ecosystems Concept Map
Soils
People
Plants
Animals
Climate/Atmosphere
Components of an ecosystem
• Abiotic – the non living
factors of an ecosystem –
geology, water and soils
• Producers or Autotrophs –
organisms which
manufacture their own food
eg green plants make their
own food using the sun’s
energy
• Consumers or Heterotrophs
- organisms that cannot
make their own food – they
must obtain energy from
other animals and organisms
• Decomposers – organisms
that break down other
organisms (eg Bacteria)
Being a Consumer/Heterotroph!
• Herbivore – Eats only plants (Primary)
• Detrivore – Eats dead plants and animals
• Carnivore – Eats other animals
(Secondary)
• Omnivore – Eats both plants and animals
Food Chains!
Oak Leaf
Caterpillar
Thrush
Hawk
Producer
Herbivore
Carnivore
Carnivore
Food Webs
Links in Ecosystems
LINK 1 – Food Chains and Webs
This
shows
a
food web in a
woodland area.
What
would
happen if the
RABBITS
were
removed
from
the ecosystem?
The Nutrient Cycle
Trees and Organisms die.
Leaves Fall
BIOMASS
Weight of living
material (plants and
organisms)
LITTER
Surface layer of
vegetation
SOIL
Nutrients
Taken up by
Plants
Nutrients released
As plants and leaves
Decompose
Some additional nutrients
Added by weathering of parent rock
Some nutrients lost
due to leaching