Name: ______________________________________
Date: ______________
Bell: _______________
Populations and Ecosystems Notes KEY
Organism
Any living thing
Individual
One single organism
Population
All of the individuals of one kind in a specified area at one time
Community All the interacting populations in a specified area
Ecosystem
A system of interacting organisms and nonliving factors in a
specified area
Biotic
Living organisms and products of organisms
Abiotic
Nonliving parts of an ecosystem
Life in a Community Reading Questions
1. What is an ecosystem that interests you?
2. What are 5 animals that can be found in this ecosystem?
3. What are 2 plants that can be found in this ecosystem?
4. What are 3 abiotic factors that can be found in this ecosystem?
Relationships in Ecosystems Worksheet
Use one of the terms in the word bank below to label each example described. Choose the BEST
word that fits. WORDS WILL BE USED MORE THAN ONCE! Some are words we’ve talked about
today; others are ones you have heard before!
COMMUNITY
FOOD WEB
ABIOTIC
POPULATION
PREDATOR-PREY
DECOMPOSER
INDIVIDUAL
ECOSYSTEM
1. Camels, cacti, sagebrush, lizards, snakes, and insects all live together in a section of the
desert. COMMUNITY
2. Mice feed on acorns. Owls feed on mice. FOOD WEB
3. Mule deer live in the forest behind my house. POPULATION
4. A mountain lion stalks a young deer. PREDATOR-PREY
5. A fungus grows on a rotting log. DECOMPOSER
6. A spider traps a fly in her web. PREDATOR-PREY
7. Bacteria break down a deer carcass on the side of the road. DECOMPOSER
8. A coral reef including the fish, plants, AND water and sand. ECOSYSTEM
9. The sand, water, air, and temperature at the ocean. ABIOTIC
10. A turtle lays on a rock in the sun. INDIVIDUAL
11. A flock of geese flies overhead. POPULATION
12. Deer nibble on trees which are homes to squirrels and provide shade for grass.
COMMUNITY
13. A coyote eats rattlesnakes, roadrunners, and kangaroo rats. The kangaroo rat eats a cactus.
FOOD WEB
14. Tiger sharks and gray whales swim near each other in the ocean. COMMUNITY
15. Sea lions swim after and eat squid. PREDATOR-PREY
16. Grass is eaten by rabbits and black bears. Rabbits are eaten by owls. FOOD WEB
17. The sun warms the air in the forest. ABIOTIC
18. Squirrels are living in the forest. POPULATION
19. Seaweed grows on the ocean floor. POPULATION
20. Black bears snack on blackberries. COMMUNITY