SCI 10: Sustainability of Ecosystems
Name: _______________________________ Section: ______
Components of Ecosystems
Curriculum Outcomes Addressed
• Classify organisms as producer, consumer, autotroph, heterotroph, decomposer, herbivore, carnivore, omnivore, saprobe
• Distinguish between biotic and abiotic factors, determining the impact on the consumers at all trophic levels due to
bioaccumulation, variability, and diversity (318-2, 318-5)
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Use the information sheets provided to answer the questions below.
1. Explain the differences between biotic and abiotic factors by completing the table below.
Biotic Factors
Abiotic Factors
Definition
Climatic:
Examples
Edaphic:
Inorganic:
2. Explain the difference between producers and consumers by completing the table below.
Definition
Examples
Producer or
Autotroph
Consumer or
Heterotroph
Saprobe or
Decomposer
Kluge 2011
SCI 10: Sustainability of Ecosystems
Name: _______________________________ Section: ______
3. Explain the difference between herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores, by completing the table below.
Definition
Examples
Herbivore
Carnivore
Omnivore
3. a) Provide a definition for…
• Bioaccumulation:
• Biomagnification:
b) In your own words, explain how the mechanisms of bioaccumulation and biomagnification impact
consumers at all trophic levels. Use the DDT example discussed in your information package to explain
these effects, and explain why/how this has a negative impact on our ecosystem.
Kluge 2011