Unit 1: Interactions within
Ecosystems pg. 2
Chapters 1, 2, 3
Getting Started pg. 4

Ecology
◦ “eco” means “home” in Greek
◦ “ology” means “the study of”
◦ Is the study of our home  Earth which
includes living things and how they interact
with their surroundings.
What is an Ecosystem?
Local Area : Pond, Meadow, Wetland, River, Forest,
Coastline
Living Things
Local Conditions
Chapter 1: Ecosystems pg. 6

Ecosystem
◦ Is a place that includes all the living and
nonliving things
◦ Living things are called “biotic factors”
◦ Nonliving things or conditions are called
“abiotic factors”
◦ Interaction exists between biotic and abiotic
factors
◦ Ex: coastlines, oceans, rivers, lakes , ponds,
arctic, forests
1.1: Types of Ecosystems pg. 8
Organisms:
- are examples of living things
- are found in all ecosystems
- have adaptations which are inherited
characteristics that help an organism
survive and reproduce
- have specific habitats
ex. Bacteria, salmon, duck, arctic hare, fox
Ex. Arctic Hare
 Adaptations:
◦ Are inherited characteristics that help
an organism survive and reproduce.
◦ Ex. Big ears, big front teeth, strong hind
legs, coat color
Habitat

Is the particular place
where an organism lives
◦ Ex. Arctic hare live in arctic,
barrens and forests
Organism
Moose
Whale
Fox
Frog
Balsam Fir tree
Blueberry Bush
Butterfly
Adaptation
Habitat
Abiotic Factors
Sunlight
Rain
Soil
Abiotic Factors

Are nonliving parts of an ecosystem
Biotic Factors
Are the living parts of an ecosystem
 Include all the organisms present and
their “niche”(role an organism plays in its
ecosystem).

Organisms
Predation
Competition
Competition
Symbiosis : Commensalism
Symbiosis: Parasitism
Symbiosis: Mutualism
1.1: Ecosystems in Atlantic Canada
pg. 8
1.
2.
Coastlines and Oceans
Freshwater
• rivers
• lakes
• ponds
3.
4.
Arctic
Forest
Ecosystems in Atlantic Canada pg.
10
1. Coastlines and Oceans
Where the Atlantic Ocean meets the land
 Biotic factors:

◦ Organisms : seaweed, barnacles, mussels,
starfish, rock crabs, fish, seals whales, jellyfish,
plankton, tuckamore
◦ Niche : where does each organism live? How
does it get its food? How does it affect the
environment?
Burnt Island
Cape St. Mary’s
Middle Cove Beach
Touch Tank : Logy Bay
Tuckamore
Biotic Factors of Deep Ocean
Abiotic Factors of Coastlines and Oceans

1. Light and light intensity
◦ Penetrates to 200m

2. Temperature
◦ From -1C to 10 C

3. Soil
◦ Mostly rocky, some sandy beaches

4. Air and wind
◦ Air is humid, strong sea breezes, lots of fog

5. Water
◦ Lots of waves, salty, tides, currents
2. Freshwater Ecosystems
Rivers,
 lakes
 ponds

Rennies Mill River, Windsor Lake,
Hughs Pond
Abiotic Factors
Biotic Factors
3. Arctic
Forests
Mainly coniferous
trees which keep
their leaves all year
long
 Grow well in acidic
soil
 can survive long cold
winters

Biotic Factors









Coniferous trees
Deciduous trees
Moose
Caribou
Fox
Hare
Black bears
Lynx
Pine marten
Abiotic Factors
Peat
 Blanket bogs
 Cool summers
 Wet winters

1.2 Abiotic Parts of Ecosystem pg. 16
Range of Tolerance
- range of conditions within which an
organism can survive.
Precipitation and Living Organisms
Water Temperature and
Turbidity
Ph of Water
Air Temperature and Plants
Temperature and Tree Growth
Wind and Tree Growth
Light and Light Intensity
Soil ph and Plants
Interactions Between Abiotic and Biotic
factors:
a. Abiotic – Abiotic
Ex. Sunlight evaporates water
b. Biotic – Abiotic
Ex. Worms aerate soil
c. Biotic – Biotic
Ex. Insects eat plants
Biotic Parts of an Ecosystem pg. 24
Species :
– refers to a group of organisms that can
reproduce among themselves to produce
offspring of the same type that can also
reproduce successfully.
ex. Moose, caribou, trout, salmon, fox, pine
marten
Levels of Organization
a.
Individuals – one member of a specific species
ex. goose
b.
Population – includes all the members of the
same species that live together in one
ecosystem at the same time.
ex. Flock of geese
c. Community
Includes all the populations that live
together and interact with each other in
the same ecosystem
Ex. Geese, ducks, rabbits, moose, frogs all
living next to a pond.

Niche

Includes the role of a species plays in an
ecosystem which includes:
◦
◦
◦
◦
Where it lives
How it gets food
How it affects the environment
How it interacts with other organisms
What is the role of the
mushrooms?
What is the role of the eagle?
What is the role of each plant?