Ecosystems-Cont.
Think Aloud
Ecosystems are made up of
• Individual Organisms (living things)
Population ( a bunch of the same species)
Community-Animals and plants of different species live together
Individuals, Populations and Communities make up Ecosystems
Energy Transfers Through Ecosystems
• The number one source of All energy is the SUN
Producers start each ecosystem
• Producers are also called AUTOTROPHS- (Can make their own food).
Consumers (Heterotrophs) can not make their own food
Decomposers –Break down dead plants and animals
• http://www.vtaide.com/png/foodchains.htm
A food chain shows how each living thing gets its food. Some animals eat plants and some animals eat other animals
• http://www.ecokids.ca/pub/eco_info/topics/frogs/chain_reaction/play_chainreaction.cfm
• http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/kidscorner/games/foodchaingame.htm
Food Pyramid
3 levels of Consumers
• Herbivore-Only eat plants
Omnivore-eats plants and animals
Carnivore-only eat meat
In every ecosystem, every organism has ROLE (Job)
• This is called a NICHE
The place where an organism(living thing) lives is called its HABITAT Habitat_and_Niche.asf
Habitat_and_Niche.asf
Habitat_and_Niche.asf
Limited Factors in Ecosystems
• Environmental Factors that limit population sizes. These may be:
Water
Predators
Extinction
• Lack of resources• Over hunting• Predator• Habitat destruction• Natural disaster• Deforestation
Organisms are Interdependent upon each other
• What do you think this means?
• Organisms living in a habitat depend on each other.
• If one part of a food chain dies out or is greatly reduced, the consumers have to find alternative food, move away, or starve.
• This then affects more consumers in the same way.