Download 1.11 Sustainability

Chapter 2: Nutrient Cycles and
Energy Flow
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What is an ecosystem?
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All the interacting parts of a biological
community and its environment
System:
A group of separate but related items that
work together as a whole
Eco:
Concerned with living things in relation to
their environment
The study of how organisms interact with
 Ecology: each other and their environment

In this context, sustainable means
To endure
 To support
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What does that mean?
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In this context, sustainable means
To endure: to continue in the same state
 To support: to support a wide variety of
organisms
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All organisms require sustainable
ecosystems for survival
What about Easter Island?

Easter Island is in the
South Pacific Ocean,
about 1/3 of the way
from South America to
New Zealand.
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Some organisms require more
than one ecosystem for survival
Can you think of an example?
 Canada
geese

Some are enormous

Boreal forest in Ontario
 Large land mass

Some are small
Rotting log
 Pond
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Every ecosystem has biotic and
abiotic parts

Biotic: living parts of an ecosystem
 Ex: plants, animals, fungi, micro-organisms
(protists, bacteria)

Abiotic: non-living parts of an
ecosystem
 Ex: water, oxygen, light, nutrients and soil

Includes all living things in the
ecosystem and their interactions
1.
2.
3.
Symbiosis
Predation
Competition

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Def: the interaction between members of 2
different species that live together in close
association
Examples?

Amazing
Cooperation!

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Def: when one organism consumes
another for food
The relationship between predator
and prey can influence the population
of both and can affect the entire
ecosystem

What happens when there are more
predators?

Excellent senses to find their prey and
special abilities to capture the prey
Sight and hearing – Predatory birds
 Smell – Mammals


Many predators are very fast, and use
their speed to help capture their prey.
Cheetahs
 Falcons
 Dolphins and barracudas


Most species are potential prey


Even lions and wolves can fall victim when
they are very young.
Most species possess several lines of
defense against predators
Avoid detection - minimize noise and visual
cues
 Camouflage coloration - difficult for visual
predators
 Remain as still as possible


Def: when 2 or more organisms
compete for the same resource, such
as food, in the same location at the
same time

Dandelions amid grass
 Block out light
 Soak up water, nutrients from soil

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Competition can influence the
population size and success of a
group
Sometimes, one group will outcompete another group of the same
organism
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What are they?
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Water:
Oxygen:
Light:
Nutrients:
Soil:
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Why are they important?
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Water: survival, body temp regulation,
excretion
Oxygen: crucial for life processes
Light: photosynthesis, crucial for producers
Nutrients: individual organism’s growth
Soil: nutrients for plants, habitat for microorganisms
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Head outside to investigate abiotic and biotic
features:
You will work in groups of 3-4(max)
You will need:
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Lab sheet
Pencil
I’ll provide the rest!