Download Chapter 2: Living things in ecosystems Section 2.1 – Ecosystems

Chapter 2: Living things
in ecosystems
Section 2.1 – Ecosystems:
Everything is connected
An ecosystem includes all the different
organisms living in a certain area,
along with their physical environment.
Lagoon Ecosystem
Tundra Ecosystem
Grassland Ecosystem
For convenience ecologists often regard an
ecosystem as an isolated unit, but ecosystems
usually do not have clear boundaries.
Ecosystems are
composed of two
factors:
•1. Biotic Factors
Biotic factors are the living parts of the
ecosystem – the animals, plants, and
microorganisms.
Ecosystems are
composed of two
factors:
•1. Biotic Factors
•2. Abiotic Factors
Abiotic/Biotic Factors
Abiotic Factors are the
nonliving parts of the ecosystem –
rocks, sun, water, weather,
temperature, and soil type.
There are three levels to
ecosystem:
• 1. Organisms and species
An organism is one individual
living thing.
A species is a group of organisms
that are able to produce fertile
offspring, and that share common
genes and therefore resemble each
other.
There are three levels to an
ecosystem:
• 1. Organisms and species
• 2. populations
A population is a group of
individuals of the same
species living in a
particular place.
There are three levels to an
ecosystem:
• 1. Organisms and species
• 2. Populations
• 3. Communities
Every population is part of a
community, a group of interacting
populations of different species.
Within the community, all
organisms have two unique
characteristics.
All organisms have a niche –
which is their lifestyle.
Also, all organisms have a
particular habitat – the actual
place they live.