Grade 8 Science Notes: Ecosystems An ecosystem is a community of living organisms interacting with each other and their nonliving environment. --Key Components: 1. Biotic Factors: - Living components like plants, animals, and microorganisms. - Examples: Trees, insects, bacteria. 2. Abiotic Factors: - Non-living components such as sunlight, water, temperature, and soil. - Examples: Rocks, air, minerals. --Food Chains and Webs: 1. Food Chain: - A linear sequence showing energy flow. - Example: Grass -> Grasshopper -> Frog -> Snake. 2. Food Web: - A network of interconnected food chains representing ecosystem complexity. --Energy Flow in Ecosystems: - Sunlight is the primary energy source. - Energy flows from producers to consumers and finally to decomposers. --Types of Ecosystems: 1. Terrestrial Ecosystems: - Forests, grasslands, deserts. 2. Aquatic Ecosystems: - Freshwater (rivers, lakes) and marine (oceans, seas). --- Ecosystem Services: - Provide resources like food and water. - Regulate climate and air quality. - Support biodiversity and nutrient cycling. --Importance of Ecosystems: - Maintain environmental balance. - Provide habitat and resources for organisms.
