Unit: Ecology
Chapter 11: Ecosystems and Biomes
Chapter 12: Interactions Within Ecosystems
11.1:Ecosystems support life
11.2: Matter cycles through ecosystems
11.3: Energy flows through ecosystems
11.4: Biomes contain many ecosystems
Concept Overview
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Temperature can vary from place to place
1. It surrounds all living things
2. All living organisms need it
3. It gives Earth most of its energy
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A. organism
B. energy
C. the ocean
D. environment
E. the sun
1. d, 2. b, 3. e
Living things depend on the
environment
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Ecology: the scientific study of how organisms
interact with their environment and all the other
organisms that live in that environment
Ecosystem: describes a particular environment and
all the living things that are supported by it
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Ex: pond, desert
Important: how the living parts of the ecosystem relate to
the nonliving parts
Living things depend on
the environment
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Pond:
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Biotic factors: living parts
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water, fish, plants in and around, animals feed on the
plants, fish feed on microorganisms in the water
Abiotic factors: nonliving parts
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Air (carbon dioxide and oxygen), soil (nutrients), water,
sunlight
Biotic factors interact with an
ecosystem
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Living things depend upon an ecosystem, and also have an impact on
the ecosystem in which they live
Plants (biotic) affect biotic and abiotic parts of ecosystems
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Biotic:
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Abiotic:
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affect temperature by blocking sunlight
Roots hold soil in place
Photosynthesis - Carbon dioxide and oxygen
Animals (biotic) affect ecosystems
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An important source of food – help determine types of animals that can live there
Ex: beaver builds a dam which changes the flow of a river and affects the
surrounding landscape
Ex: herds of cattle can overgraze a grassland – causing soil erosion, and
climate impacts
Ex: corals form giant reefs that provide food and shelter for marine
organisms
Other examples?
Many abiotic factors affect ecosystems
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Physical parts:
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Chemical parts:
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You can see or feel: temperature, rainfall, water
level, sunlight, etc.
Minerals and compounds in the soil and water
Fresh/salty water
Abiotic factors determine what organisms the
ecosystem will support
Abiotic Factor: Temperature
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Affects types of plants that will do will in an
ecosystem, which determines the types of
animals that can live there
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Ex: Rainforest: temperatures affect the plants that
can grow and support a variety of monkeys, birds,
and others
Ex: musk oxen have at hick coat of fur for survival
in very cold environments (-40F), water buffalo
has a light coat better for warmer temperatures
Abiotic: Light
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Sunlight and temperature are related
Sunlight is also used for energy: photosynthesis
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The food from plants supports almost all other living things on Earth
Strength and amount of sunlight are important
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Desert: cacti can survive where sunlight is strong
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Forest: mosses and ferns do well with less light
Ocean Ecosystems: deeper water, less light
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Photosynthesis only performed to the first hundred meters below the
surface
Euphotic (or photic) zone
- the depth of the water in a lake or ocean, that is exposed to
sufficient sunlight for photosynthesis to occur.
Abiotic: Soil
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Soil: mixture of small rock and
minerals
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Organisms in the soil can break
down the remains of dead plants
and animals
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Soil types vary and affect plant
growth
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This decay provides important raw
materials to living plants and animals
Lots of decaying, or organic, matter:
holds water well and allows air to
reach plant roots
Sandy soil holds water poorly
Clay soil: small packed particles,
does not aerate well
Minerals
Abiotic: Water
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“All living things need water to carry out life processes”
Plants need water for photosynthesis
Animals need water to digest food and release energy stored in
the food
Desert Oasis: forms when underground water comes to the
surface
Ecosystesm with lots of water can support a large number of
different types of plants, which in turn support a variety of types
of animals
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Rainforest vs desert
* “the types and number of living things in a land ecosystem will
always be related to the amount of fresh water available for its
inhabitants”
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