Ecosystems and Biomes
Biotic and Abiotic components
Level of organization of matter
• atom: the smallest particle of an element that can exist as that element.
(There are more than 100 fundamental substances called elements. They
make up all matter.) Atoms are made up of still smaller parts—protons,
neutrons and electrons.
• molecule: the smallest particle of a substance that can exist as that
substance. Molecules are combinations of like or differing atoms.
• protoplasm: the substance making up living parts of a cell.
• cell: a group of atoms and molecules interacting in an organized way to
exhibit life.
Level of organization of matter
• tissue: a group of similar cells performing a similar function;
example—muscle tissue, blood tissue.
• organ: a group of tissues performing a specific function; example—
the heart, the lungs, the kidneys.
• organ system: a group of organs performing a similar function;
example—the digestive system.
• organism: any living thing.
• species: a group of closely related organisms that can interbreed.
Level of organization of matter
• population: a group of the same type of organisms living in a certain
area.
• community: a group of populations living in a given area.
• ecosystem: any area of nature that includes living organisms and
nonliving substances interacting by transforming energy to produce
an exchange of materials between the living (biotic) and nonliving
(abiotic) parts. The boundaries of an ecosystem are not distinct.
Major ecosystems are often called biomes.
• ecosphere or biosphere: the global ecosystem; the sum total of all
the various ecosystems on Earth.
• Earth: a grand oasis in space.
Case study
• Forest responding to global warming – B4warmed experiment
• Chapter 5, page 96 –Principles of Environmental Science By
Cunningham
Biomes Video
• Biomes of our Earth : Major life zones
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7cZ3b6PH2s
Questions
1. What type of trees lose their leaves in autumn/fall so as to prevent water loss during frozen winter ____________
2. Name the biome that has nutrient rich soil and is most often used for agriculture _____________________________
3. Name the biome in which the Big horn sheep is found______________________________
4. Name the biome in which the giraffe is found______________________________________
5. Why are there no trees in the tundra biome_________________________________________________________
6. Which biome has short woody plants with thick waxy leaves _____________________________________________
7. Name two of the 5 types of ocean biomes presented in the video (a) _______________ (b) ____________________
8. Which biome in the video represents the boreal forest biome ___________________________
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7cZ3b6PH2s
Ecosystem Experts
• 1. Watch the video on Ecosystems/biomes Choose an ecosystem
• 2. Learn as much as you can about that ecosystem. You should be
able to identify the following features as a minimum:
• the climate
• four consumers
• four producers
• two decomposers
• the geography
Ecosystem Experts
• 3. Identify two reasons you think your ecosystem would be an
interesting place to visit.
• 4. Design a power point presentation for a short commercial that
describes the features of your ecosystem.
• (Your commercial must include all of the information from
• step 2 and the reasons from step 3.)
• 5. Give a presentation
• 6. How might your ecosystem change if biodiversity was reduced?
JUDGING SHEET
Decide how well the presenter met the criteria. A “5” indicates that the presenter met the
criteria very well; a “1” means that the presenter did not address that criterion at all.
Judging sheet –
Ecosystem experts
Name_______________________________________
Score
Criteria
1
2
3
4
5
Identified and described the climate
Identified and describe at least 4 producers
Identified and described at least 4 consumers
Identified and described at least 2 decomposers
Identified and described the geography/location
Made presentation short, interesting, creative, and colorful
Total Score
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