Science 7



Science 7

Unit 1: Interactions within Ecosystems

Chapter 1: An ecosystem is all the living and non-living things in a particular place

Section 1.1

Types of Ecosystems

Ecosystems can be described by the types of organisms and the conditions found there.

4 types of ecosystems in Atlantic Canada are:

1) Oceans & Coastlines

2) Freshwater: Rivers, Lakes, & Ponds

3) Forest

4) Arctic

• Different ecosystems will have different types of organisms, different conditions and vary in size (they can be large or small).

• They include the living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) things.

Section 2.2

Abiotic Parts of an Ecosystem

• The non-living parts of the environment.

• Each type of organism is adapted to a particular set of abiotic conditions.

• Examples of abiotic conditions are: temperature, sunlight, air, wind, water, soil, and climate.

• Organisms can only survive in a certain range of conditions. For example, a salmon can survive in water between 0°C and 20°C.

• The range of conditions within which an organism can survive is called the organism’s range of tolerance.

• Each organism has a different range of tolerance for each abiotic condition.

Section 1.3

Biotic Parts of an Ecosystem

• The living parts, or organisms, in the environment.

• Organisms can be organized in to species, populations, or communities.

• A species is a group of organisms that can reproduce among themselves to produce offspring of the same type (that can also reproduce successfully).

• A population an entire group of individuals of the same species that live together in one ecosystem at the same time.

• A community is formed when populations interact.

• Refer to example in text on page 25.

Organisms may be studied at different levels of organization in an ecosystem:

[pic]

Habitat - the organism’s address; where does it live?

Ex. A moose’s habitat is the boreal forest.

[pic]

Niche - the organism’s job; what role does the organism play in its environment.

- It includes:

← where it lives

← how it obtains food

← how it affects its environment

Ex. A moose lives in the boreal forest, it is a herbivore (plant eater), it provides a home for parasites and it provides food for coyotes.

[pic]

Interactions in the Environment:

Biotic – Abiotic: Interactions between living things and non-living things.

Ex. The polar bear and the water.

[pic]

Abiotic – Abiotic:

Interactions between non-living things and other non-living things.

Ex. The wind and the temperature.

[pic]

Biotic – Biotic:

Interactions between living things and other living things.

Ex. The lion and the elk.

[pic]

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download