Chapter 2 Living Things and Their Environment
Lesson 1 Ecosystem
Main Idea
The living and nonliving things that interact in an environment make
up an ecosystem. Each ecosystem has different living and nonliving
things.
Vocabulary
 Ecosystem (84) – all living and nonliving parts in an environment
that interact with each other.
 Biotic factor (84) – living things that shape an ecosystem
 Abiotic factor (85) – nonliving things that shape an ecosystem
What is an ecosystem?
Main Idea
An ecosystem is all the interacting parts of an environment including
living and nonliving parts.
Supporting Details
A. Living and nonliving things interact every day.
B. An ecosystem is all the interacting parts of an environment.
C. An ecosystem can be large like a redwood forest or small like a
pond.
D. Large and small ecosystems are made up of living and nonliving
things
1. Biotic factors are the living things that shape an ecosystem.
Plants, animals, and microorganisms are part of the biotic factor.
2. Abiotic factors are the nonliving things that shape an ecosystem.
Temperature, rainfall, snow, ice, sunlight, and soil are abiotic
factors.
3. The abiotic and biotic factors of an ecosystem work together.
Plants and animals need a special climate.
What is a desert ecosystem?
Main Idea
There are many desert ecosystems through out the world. Although
all deserts are dry and similar in some ways, each one is different.
Supporting Details
A. There are many desert ecosystems throughout the world.
B. All deserts are dry and share similar characteristics.
C. Each one is different from the others.
1. Some are hot; others are cold
2. Some are home to many living things; others are almost lifeless
D. Abiotic factors, such as water and sunlight, are vital to plants and
animals. They help keep the plants alive so the animals have food.
E. Life in a desert
1. Deserts are home to many birds, snakes, lizards, and other
animals.
2. Many get water from the food they eat.
3. Many small animals live in burrows or holes in the ground during
the hot day and come out at night for food.
What is a rain-forest ecosystem like?
Main Idea
The tall trees of a rainforest give the ecosystems different layers with
different biotic and abiotic factors.
Supporting Details
A. Rainforests play an important role in the survival of the planet.
B. It rains a lot in rainforests, but the soil is very thin and poor in
nutrients.
C. Rainforests have more life than any other place on the planet.
D. Rainforest cover less than 6% of the planet, yet they are home to
50% – 70% of the life on Earth.
E. Rainforests can get up to 457 centimeters (180 inches) of rain each
year
F. Layers of a rainforest
1. Emergence layer – top of the rain forest Layer gets a lot of
sunlight, but can have high temperatures and winds
2. Canopy layer – next layer down, has a lot of sunlight and food,
most rain forest animals live in this layer
3. Understory layer – next layer down, not much sunlight reaches
this layer because the canopy provides so much shade, animals
commonly found are leopards, jaguars, frogs, and many insects
4. Forest floor – darker than the understory, not many plnats grow
here because of very little sunlight, decomposers work quickly in
this layer
5.
What is a coral reef ecosystem?
Main Idea
Coral reefs are formed from organisms no longer living. They are
often found in warm, shallow waters in tropical areas. They provide an
ecosystem for many forms of sea life.
Supporting Details
A. Coral reefs are often found in warm, shallow water.
B. The reefs are often in tropical areas.
C. The water temperature in this ecosystem ranges from 70°F to 85°F
D. Many fish and eel live on or near a coral reef
E. Coral reefs are formed from organisms that are no longer living.
1. Coral polyps are tiny animals that live in large groups.
2. When they die, they leave behind hard skeletons that form coral
reefs.
3. Although coral polyps were once living, coral is abiotic factor of
the reef ecosystem.