Ecosystems: Everything Is Connected

What is an ecosystem?An ecosystem is all of the organisms living in an area together with their physical environment*Example: Forest, coral reef, even a vacant lot

What are the components of the ecosystems pictured?

Components of an EcosystemAn ecosystem is made up of both living and nonliving things.Biotic factors are the living and once living things parts of an ecosystem.*Example: plants, animals, leaves, wasteAbiotic factors are the nonliving parts of an ecosystem.*Example: air, water, rocks, sunlight

What are the biotic and abiotic components of the ecosystems pictured?

Organization of EcosystemsAn individual living thing. Ex: a fishA group of organisms that can reproduce fertile offspring. Ex: Bluegill fishMembers of the same species that live in the same area at the same time. Ex: all the Bluegill in a pondDifferent species living in the same place and interacting. Ex: insects, frogs, fish, and plants in a pond.

OrganismSpeciesPopulationCommunity

HabitatA place an organism lives is called a habitat. Every habitat has specific biotic and abiotic factors that organisms living there need to surviveOrganisms tend to well suited to their natural habitat.

What are the biotic and abiotic factors of the habitat that allow zebras to survive?

Everything is ConnectedYou can think of an ecosystem as working like a car engine. The engine of a car is made up of hundreds of parts that all work together.

What might happen to the car if one of these parts breaks?

Everything is ConnectedThe same applies to an ecosystem

So, what might happen to an ecosystem if one part is changed or removed?