Download Introduction to Ecosystems

Introduction to Ecosystems
El Paso Independent School District
6th Grade Science
Objectives
• In this presentation we will:
– Name and describe some of the biotic and abiotic
factors in an ecosystem.
– Understand some of the interactions within an
ecosystem.
– Visualize the levels of organization in an
ecosystem.
What is an ecosystem?
• An ecosystem is a place or area where living
and non-living factors interact in complex
ways.
• The living parts of an ecosystem are called
BIOTIC FACTORS.
• The non-living parts of an ecosystem are
called ABIOTIC FACTORS.
• Examples of ecosystems include: forest, lake,
desert, stream, etc.
Ecosystem Factors
Biotic Factors (living)
Abiotic Factors (non-living)
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Animals
– Vertebrates
– invertebrates
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Plants
– Flowering
– Non-flowering
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Fungi
– Mushrooms
– mold
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Protists
– Animal-like
– Plant-like
– Fungus-like
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Bacteria
– Helpful
– Harmful
Sun
Heat
Light
Temperature
Rocks
Soil
Water
Air
Clouds
Wind
Precipitation
Mountains
How do you know if something is
living?
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It is made of cells.
It can grow and develop.
It can reproduce and repair.
It can respond to surroundings.
It uses energy and chemicals.
Look at the picture below. Make a list in your journal/notebook of all the
biotic and abiotic factors that you see (answers on next slide.)
Answers
Biotic Factors
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Trees
Grass
Insects
Algae
Protozoans
Bacteria
Plankton
Rotting log
Fungi
Kangaroo
Termites
Snail
Frog
Bird
Fish
Snake
Lilly
Bushes
Cattail plants
Abiotic factors
• Sunlight
• Heat
• Clouds
• Dirt/soil
• Water
• Termite mound (the mound
is not alive)
• Rocks
• Air
Make the graphic organizer below in
your interactive notebook
On the inside of the flaps add
these titles
Determine if the following factors are
abiotic or biotic and list them on the
inside flaps of your graphic organizer.
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Sun
Deer
Grass
Rock
Mouse
Snake
Dirt
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Water
Hawk
Temperature
Cactus
Oxygen
Carbon
Coyote
Your teacher will have your share your lists with your shoulder partner
once the class is done.
Check your answers and complete the
center of your graphic organizer.
1. Why do the majority of desert animals
come out at night?
2. Is the answer to question #1 an abiotic
or biotic factor?
3. Do biotic factors need abiotic factors or
do abiotic factors need biotic factors?
Explain your choice.
4. Give 3 examples from your desert
ecosystem of how abiotic and biotic
factors interact.
Make the graphic organizer below to
take notes and add pictures on the
levels of organization in an ecosystem
Levels of Organization in an Ecosystem.
• The smallest unit of an ecosystem is an
organism.
• An organism is an individual living thing that
belongs to a certain species.
• Two or more organisms of the same species
living in an area make up a population.
organism
population
Organism to Population
Organism
Population
All the redeared
sliders in a
pond.
All the
bald
eagles in a
mountain
range.
All the pine
trees in a
forest.
Communities
• A community is two or more organisms
belonging to different species living in an area.
What does this picture best represent?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Species
Organism
Population
Community
Click for answer
Answer
• It represents a community because there is a
population of deer, a small population of
geese, and a large tree in the background.
Since there are many different species of
organisms, the picture best represents a
community.
An Ecosystem
• Once the abiotic factors are
added to the community, you
have an ECOSYSTEM!
Ecosystem Summary
• Ecosystems are areas where complex interactions
between biotic and abiotic factors occur.
– Biotic factors are living; abiotic factors are non-living.
• All living things:
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Are made of cells
Can grow and develop
Reproduce, repair, and respond to surroundings
Uses energy and chemicals
• The levels of organization in an ecosystem are:
organism  population  community  ecosystem