Unit 1: Interactions within Unit 1: Interactions within Ecosystems pg. 2Ecosystems pg. 2

Chapters 1, 2, 3

Getting Started pg. 4Getting Started pg. 4Ecology

◦“eco” means “home” in Greek◦“ology” means “the study of”◦Is the study of our home Earth

which includes living things and how they interact with their surroundings.

What is an Ecosystem?What is an Ecosystem?

Local Area : Pond, Meadow, Wetland, River, Forest, Coastline

Living Things Local Conditions

Chapter 1: Ecosystems Chapter 1: Ecosystems pg. 6pg. 6Ecosystem

◦Is a place that includes all the living and nonliving things

◦Living things are called “biotic factors”◦Nonliving things or conditions are

called “abiotic factors”◦Interaction exists between biotic and

abiotic factors◦Ex: coastlines, oceans, rivers, lakes ,

ponds, arctic, forests

1.1: Types of Ecosystems 1.1: Types of Ecosystems pg. 8pg. 8Organisms:

- are examples of living things- are found in all ecosystems- have adaptations which are inherited characteristics that help an organism survive and reproduce- have specific habitats

ex. Bacteria, salmon, duck, arctic hare, fox

Ex. Arctic HareEx. Arctic HareAdaptations:

◦Are inherited characteristics that help an organism survive and reproduce.

◦Ex. Big ears, big front teeth, strong hind legs, coat color

HabitatIs the particular

place where an organism lives◦ Ex. Arctic hare live in

arctic, barrens and forests

Organism Adaptation Habitat

Moose

Whale

Fox

Frog

Balsam Fir tree

Blueberry Bush

Butterfly

Abiotic Factors Abiotic Factors

SunlightSunlight

RainRain

SoilSoil

Abiotic FactorsAbiotic FactorsAre nonliving parts of an

ecosystem

Biotic FactorsBiotic FactorsAre the living parts of an

ecosystemInclude all the organisms present

and their “niche”(role an organism plays in its ecosystem).

OrganismsOrganisms

PredationPredation

CompetitionCompetition

CompetitionCompetition

Symbiosis : Symbiosis : CommensalismCommensalism

Symbiosis: Parasitism

Symbiosis: Mutualism

1.1: Ecosystems in Atlantic 1.1: Ecosystems in Atlantic Canada Canada pg. 8pg. 8

1. Coastlines and Oceans2. Freshwater

• rivers• lakes• ponds

3. Arctic4. Forest

Ecosystems in Atlantic Ecosystems in Atlantic Canada pg. 10Canada pg. 10

1. Coastlines and Oceans1. Coastlines and OceansWhere the Atlantic Ocean meets

the landBiotic factors:

◦Organisms : seaweed, barnacles, mussels, starfish, rock crabs, fish, seals whales, jellyfish, plankton, tuckamore

◦Niche : where does each organism live? How does it get its food? How does it affect the environment?

Burnt IslandBurnt Island

Cape St. Mary’sCape St. Mary’s

Middle Cove BeachMiddle Cove Beach

Touch Tank : Logy BayTouch Tank : Logy Bay

TuckamoreTuckamore

Biotic Factors of Deep Biotic Factors of Deep OceanOcean

Abiotic Factors of Coastlines and Abiotic Factors of Coastlines and OceansOceans

1. Light and light intensity ◦Penetrates to 200m

2. Temperature◦From -1C to 10 C

3. Soil◦Mostly rocky, some sandy beaches

4. Air and wind◦Air is humid, strong sea breezes, lots

of fog5. Water

◦Lots of waves, salty, tides, currents

2. Freshwater Ecosystems2. Freshwater EcosystemsRivers, lakes ponds

Rennies Mill River, Windsor Lake, Hughs Pond

Abiotic FactorsAbiotic Factors

Biotic Factors

3. Arctic

ForestsMainly coniferous

trees which keep their leaves all year long

Grow well in acidic soil

can survive long cold winters

Biotic Factors Abiotic FactorsConiferous treesDeciduous treesMooseCaribouFoxHareBlack bearsLynxPine marten

PeatBlanket bogsCool summersWet winters

1.2 Abiotic Parts of Ecosystem pg. 16Range of Tolerance- range of conditions within which

an organism can survive.

Precipitation and Living Organisms

Water Temperature and Turbidity

Ph of Water

Air Temperature and Plants

Temperature and Tree Growth

Wind and Tree Growth

Light and Light Intensity

Soil ph and Plants

Interactions Between Abiotic and Biotic factors:

a. Abiotic – Abiotic Ex. Sunlight evaporates water

b. Biotic – AbioticEx. Worms aerate soil

c. Biotic – BioticEx. Insects eat plants

Biotic Parts of an Ecosystem pg. 24 Species :

– refers to a group of organisms that can reproduce among themselves to produce offspring of the same type that can also reproduce successfully.

ex. Moose, caribou, trout, salmon, fox, pine marten

Levels of Organization

a. Individuals – one member of a specific species

ex. goose

b. Population – includes all the members of the same species that live together in one ecosystem at the same time.

ex. Flock of geese

c. CommunityIncludes all the populations that

live together and interact with each other in the same ecosystem

Ex. Geese, ducks, rabbits, moose, frogs all living next to a pond.

Niche Includes the role of a species

plays in an ecosystem which includes:◦Where it lives◦How it gets food◦How it affects the environment◦How it interacts with other

organisms

What is the role of the mushrooms?

What is the role of the eagle?

What is the role of each plant?