Download SCIENCE NOTES - ECOSYSTEMS LESSON 1 What is an

SCIENCE NOTES - ECOSYSTEMS
LESSON 1
What is an Ecosystem?
- An ecosystem is all the living and nonliving things in an area. Some
ecosystems are small and some are large.
- All living things need nonliving things (called abiotic factors) to
survive. Some examples of this are water, soil, sunlight, and air.
- The living things in an ecosystem are biotic factors.
- Producers make oxygen and food that animals need. (plants)
- Consumers eat plants or animals. (animals)
- Decomposers break down dead plants and animals into useful things
like minerals. (fungi and bacteria)
What is a Prairie Ecosystem Like?
- The Blackland Prairie is the largest remaining prairie in America. The
name comes from the rich black soil found by the settlers.
- Cattle and crops that provide much of our food live on the prairie
today.
- Humus is partly decayed plant matter found in the soil. This makes
the soil rich in nutrients.
- The rich soil near the surface makes it a great place to grow crops
with shallow roots (corn, wheat, cotton)
What Animals Live on the Blackland Prairie?
- About 500 different species still live on the prairie.
What are Populations and Communities?
- All the organisms of a species living in the same area make up a
population.
- All the different populations living in an area make up a community.
- Ecology is the study of how different things in the ecosystem interact.
What are Niches and Habitats?
- The place where an organism lives is called its habitat.
- Each species in an ecosystem has a role or place in the activities of
its community. The role is called its niche.
- No two populations can have the same niche. If they did, they would
have to eat the same foods, live in the same place, and grow the
same way. They would have to be identical!
How do Organisms Change Their Environment?
- Living organisms sometimes changes their environment. These
changes can be good or bad for the ecosystem.
- An example of this is a beaver building a dam to create a beaver
pond.
How to Organisms Survive in Variable Environment?
- Organisms must either adapt to changes or move to a new
environment.
- An example of this is the eastern spadefoot toad. This animal has
adapted to dig into the soil when little water can be found.
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