Ecosystems: Lessons 1 and 2

Organization of Groupings in Environments

100

All living and nonliving things in an environment

Ecosystem

200

All members of ONE SPECIES in an ecosystem. (Example: All bottle-nosed dolphin in the Caribbean)

Population

300

All the living things in an ecosystem

Community

400

An organism that hunts other organisms for food

Predator

500

An organism that is eaten by other organisms

Prey

How Organisms Eat

100

The path of energy and nutrients in an ecosystem

Food Chain

200

A group of different paths of energy and nutrients that are connected

Food Web

300

Organisms that eats producers

Herbivores

400

Organisms that eat other animals

Carnivores

500

Organisms that break down wastes, plants, and animals. (Example: Fungi)

Decomposers

Competition

100

The largest population an area can support

Carrying capacity

200

Part 1: Any resource that limits a population's growth is called

Part 2: Give 2 examples of these in ecosystems 

Part 1: Limiting Factor

Part 2: Amount of Rainfall and Space

300

Explain how biotic factors can limit growth

Answers will vary.

Example: A prairie ecosystem  has more producers than a desert ecosystem. The prairie can support more herbivores. This also means that it can support more carnivores. On the other hand, a desert ecoystem   has fewer producers. This means it also has fewer herbivores and carnivores.

400

Describe a situation in which a shortage of resources in an environment will impact the survival of some individuals in a population.

Answers will vary, but should include abiotic and/or biotic limiting factors.

500

How can overcrowding limit growth of a species?

Example: Algae in nutrient-rich ponds can grow too thick. They will use up the oxygen in the pond. Without enough oxygen, the algae and other organisms begin  to die off.

Types of Relationships Among Organisms

100

This is the type of relationship that helps one organism  but harms the other

parasitism

200

This is the type of relationship between 2 organisms that helps one organism without harming the other.

Commensalism

300

This is the type of relationship between 2 organisms that helps both organisms

Mutualism

400

Describe an example of Mutualism

Ants defend the acacia tree from pests.

The acacia tree provides food and a home for the ants.

500

Describe an example of Parisitism.

Ticks are parisites. Their hosts are humans. The tick attaches itself to the host. It feeds on the host's blood. The host is harmed by this relationship.