This document defines key terms related to ecosystems, including systems, open and closed systems, stability, populations, communities, habitats, niches, producers, consumers, and decomposers. It explains that an ecosystem is a group of living things and their environment that interact, and discusses the roles of different organisms within food chains and ecosystems.
2. A system is a group of parts that
work together as a unit.
OPEN SYSTEMS CLOSED SYSTEMS
Most systems are Very few systems are
open systems. They truly closed. Most
take in things from systems receive
outside the system. inputs and give off
For example, a outputs.
terrarium takes in A diver in a
energy from the sun. submarine is in an
Why do plants need almost completely
the sun’s energy? closed system.
3. Explain if these systems
are open or closed.
An aquarium
a forest
a sports team
your family
an astronaunt on the Space Shuttle
an automobile
4. Stability
Stability comes from the word stable. The suffix
“ity” forms nouns from adjectives and means
“the condition or quality of”.
Stability in systems means that over time the
changes in a system cancel each other out. For
example if something is added, it is later taken
out.
The system must remain in balance.
How does the grass in your yard remain stable?
5. Predict how this tool would help
keep your yard stable.
What are the inputs
in a yard system?
What are the outputs
in a yard system?
A system that is in
balance is said to
have what?
6. Ecosystems
Groups of living things
and the environment they
live in make up an
ecosystem.
Some ecosystems include
forests, ponds, and
streams.
Explain how some
organisms can live in
different ecosystems.
7. TYPES OF ECOSYSTEMS
POPULATIONS COMMUNITIES
A group of the same A community of an
species living in the ecosystem is made up
same place at the of all the populations
same time is a that live in the same
population. area.
Populations live in The plants and
environments to animals that live
which they are together depend on
adapted. each other to survive.
8. ACTIVITY
Organize charts that
compare how your
needs are met in your
community to how
plants’ and animals’
needs are met in their
community.
9. ANALYZE THIS!
Sometimes plants and animals are
introduced into ecosystems that are not
native to the ecosystem.
Can you name a plant or animal that lives
in an ecosystem that you are familiar with
and is not native to that ecosystem?
Predict what might happen if an animal
from the jungle were introduced into a
forest ecosystem.
10. NONLIVING PARTS OF AN
ECOSYSTEM
SUNLIGHT
AIR
TEMPERATURE
SOIL
WATER
11. LIVING THINGS IN
ECOSYSTEMS
HABITATS NICHES
The environment that A niche is an
meets the needs of organism’s role or job
an organism is called in the environment.
a habitat. Name an organism
Read the book “A from the forest
House is a House for environment and
Me” and discuss the describe its niche in
different habitats that environment.
listed.
12. LIVING THINGS
Food Chain
Niches
or
Roles
Producers Consumers Decomposers
Green plants and eat other living feed on wastes of
some protists things plants and animals or
produce their own food. for energy. on their remains after they die.
13. SUMMARY
An environment that meets the needs of
an organism is called a habitat.
An organism’s niche is its role within that
habitat.
As organisms carry out their roles, they
can affect both living and nonliving parts
of that ecosystem.
