EcosystemsA look inside an animal’s neighborhood

Ecosystems

• An ecosystem is an interactionbetween plants, animals, microorganisms, and theirenvironment.

• All things in anecosystem, livingand nonliving, worktogether to beone functional unit.

Where are ecosystems?

• Ecosystems are everywhere!

• They can be as BIG as the Savanna in Africa!

Lions, gazelles, bonsai trees, and shrubs all play a part in

the savanna ecosystem.

Where are ecosystems?

• Ecosystems can even be as small as a garden in your back yard!

Write down what kinds of living and

nonliving things you think make up an ecosystem in a

garden.

Grab a pen and paper!

Ecosystems• All living organisms in an

ecosystem depend on each other for survival.

• This means these organisms are interdependent.

• Think of what wouldhappen to the birdsthat live in the treesin your yard if allthe worms in youryard disappeared?

Everything is connected in

an ecosystem. To find out more Click

HERE!

Ecosystem Facts• Each component of an

ecosystem is a source of food for another.

• For example- In an arctic oceanic ecosystem, seaweed depends on the sunlight so it can produce its own food. Seals depend on the seaweed for food, and orcas depend on the seals for food.

What is a healthy ecosystem?

To find out more about healthy ecosystems, click HERE!

• Scientists will call a healthyecosystem a sustainable ecosystem.

• This means there is a balancebetween each of the componentsin an ecosystem.

• This picture traces the balancebetween the living things in awoodland ecosystem.

Disruptions in Ecosystems• Disruptions in ecosystems can be

disastrous.

• Natural disasters like fires, tornados, and hurricanes can ruin a whole ecosystem.

Think of what your family would have to do if a fire burned down your house. Plants and animals also have to find and build new homes too!

Foreign Invaders

• A foreign invader is a new species introduced into an ecosystem.

• Foreign plants and animals can disrupt an ecosystem also. The cane toad is a

famous foreign invader of Australia.

Foreign Invaders Cont’d

• If a new species is introduced into an ecosystem, they can upset the healthy balance that ecosystem once had.

What if a new species of jungle cat was introduced into the rainforest? There would be more competition for the black panther

to find food. This may result in the extinction of the black panther.

Ecosystems

All living and nonliving things are involved in

one ecosystem or another. All

organisms are responsible for

their role in their ecosystem. Our

ecosystem lesson will move us into our biome lesson

next week!

GLCE’s Used

• Ecosystems

• K-7 Standard L.EC: Develop an understanding of the interdependence of the variety of populations, communities and ecosystems, including those in the Great Lakes region. Develop an understanding of different types of interdependence and that biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) factors affect the balance of an ecosystem. Understand that all organisms cause changes, some detrimental and others beneficial, in the environment where they live.

• L.EC.E.1 Interactions- Organisms interact in various ways including providing food and shelter to one another. Some interactions are helpful; others are harmful to the organism and other organisms.

Works Cited

• "Fourth Grade Science Grade Level Content Expectations V.1.09." Michigan Department of Education, 2009. Web. 14 Mar. 2010.

Pictures CitedFROG-http://bealbio.wikispaces.com/file/view/frog-on-plant-fingers-bulging-eyes-swiss-photographer-thomas-marent-rainforest-foundation-amazon-animals-taking-pictures-book-photo.jpg/95251746/frog-on-plant-fingers-bulging-eyes-swiss-photographer-thomas-marent-rainforest-foundation-amazon-animals-taking-pictures-book-photo.jpg

DIAGRAM-http://www.fws.gov/invasives/volunteersTrainingModule/images/invasives/ecosystem.jpg

BIRD AND WORM-http://api.ning.com/files/3r7tiGWsPn-gVbKOiB*Ya63x84hwvi8iSWOdsxXP1Cg_/bird_and_worm.jpg

ORCA- http://www.statesymbolsusa.org/IMAGES/Washington/orca_seaworld-380.jpg

LION-http://onlynatural.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/800px-male_lion_on_savanna.jpg

GARDEN-http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e209/ilovebugs123/25e41f81.jpg

DIAGRAM 2-http://susty.com/image/ecosystem-diagram-wedged-tailed-eagle-kookaburra-bird-rabbit-mouse-grass-snake-grasshopper-food-web-illustration-arrows-image.gif

FIRE-http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://gardenrain.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/forest_fire.png&imgrefurl=http://gardenrain.wordpress.com/2009/06/18/&usg=__fZQDReVqahE-HS4BqnoVrpNjaSs=&h=305&w=448&sz=68&hl=en&start=1&itbs=1&tbnid=yYdoO-YwGSZfqM:&tbnh=86&tbnw=127&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dforest%2Bfire%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1

CANE TOAD-http://coolthingsinrandomplaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/cane-toad-4.jpg

PANTHER-http://c2.api.ning.com/files/QymItXEcIJWAwR6Z1g1VsvE13R6*-sp7HsZG6Ee2JYTd6a0SeEftra3Q1ktHpKeg4ofdzmcyW9sMxGqwq10ySqPLNinJ5IO-/A_Dark_Mood_Black_Panther.jpg

PANDA-http://inlinethumb40.webshots.com/3047/2757611580046091027S425x425Q85.jpg