An ecosystem is a large system with many different interacting parts, including living and nonliving elements. Ecologists study the interactions between living things and their environment within ecosystems. The living parts of an ecosystem are called biotic factors and include organisms that interact, while the nonliving parts are called abiotic factors such as temperature, soil, sunlight and water. Ecosystems can be found in forests, grasslands, marine environments like coral reefs and estuaries, and freshwater environments like lakes and ponds.

1. Ecosystems11/19/09 EQ: What is an ecosystem?

2. Getting the idea: Living things or organisms interact with each other and their environment. Ecology: The study of these interactions

3. Getting the idea: Ecologist: Scientists who study ecology Ecosystems: groups of living things and their nonliving environment.

4. Getting the idea:

5. Ecosystems 1: Defined: Large system with many different parts

6. Ecosystems 1: 2 main parts? Living and nonliving parts Ex: Sahara Desert

7. Ecosystems 2: Biotic? living parts of the ecosystem

8. Ecosystems 2: Includes all the living parts that interact Examples?

9. Ecosystems 2:

10. Ecosystems 3: Abiotic? nonliving parts of an ecosystem. Examples?

11. Ecosystems 3:

12. Forests 1: Found where? Mild temperatures & lots of rain

13. Forests 1: 3 major types? Temperate deciduous Coniferous Tropical rainforests

14. Forests 2: Temperate deciduous What trees? Ones that lose leafs.

15. Forests 2: Temperate deciduous What animals? Bears, rabbits, deer, snakes, owls

16. Forests 2: Temperate deciduous What plants? Ferns & mosses

17. Fern

18. Mosses

19. Temperate deciduous

20. Temperate deciduous

21. Forests 3: Coniferous Where? Colder temps

22. Forests 3: Coniferous What trees? Pine trees (cones & needles)

23. Forests 3: Coniferous What animals? Finches, jays, elk, moose, beavers, wolves

24. Forests 3:

25. Coniferous

26. Coniferous

27. Forests 4: Tropical rainforests Where? Warm places with lots of rain

28. Forests 4: Tropical rainforests What animals? Monkeys, reptiles, parrots, toucans

29. Animals:

30. Forests 4: Home to 1000s of organisms Some have not been discovered

31. Tropical Rainforest:

32. Tropical Rainforest:

33. Tropical vs Temperate

34. Grasslands: Where found? Warm, temperate with some rainfall

35. Grasslands: What do they look like? Flat or gentle hills

36. Grasslands: Also called? Prairies, savannahs, plains, pampas

37. Grasslands: Plants? Grasses, woody shrubs

38. Grasslands: Animals (America)? Prairie dogs, mice, bison

39. Animals:

40. Grasslands:

41. Grasslands: Animals (Africa)? Elephants, giraffes, zebras

42. Grasslands:

43. Marine ecosystems: How are these grouped? Water temp, sunlight, water depth

44. Marine ecosystems:

45. Coral Reefs: Where? Shallow parts of ocean

46. Coral Reefs: What is environment like? Warm, shallow, sunny

47. Coral Reefs: What is environment like? Warm, shallow, sunny

48. Coral Reefs: What are corals? Small animals Live in groups Leave shells behind

49. Coral Reefs: What causes reef? Shells left behind build up

50. Coral Reefs: What animals live in coral reef? Fish, sponges, sea stars, seaweed, algae.

51. Coral Reefs:

52. Coral Reefs:

53. Estuaries: What is it? Freshwater (streams, rivers) meets salt water (oceans).

54. Estuaries: Soil? Nutrient rich

55. Estuaries: Animals? able to tolerate salt. Shrimp, crabs, clams, turtles

56. Animals:

57. Estuaries: plants? Reeds, grasses

58. Estuaries:

59. Estuaries:

60. Lakes & Ponds: Water? fresh

61. Lakes & Ponds: Found near shore? Algae, cattails, water lilies, snails, insects, frogs, turtles, fish

62. Lakes & Ponds: Found in deeper waters? Catfish, carp, bass, trout

63. Lakes & Ponds:

64. Lakes & Ponds:

65. Review: What scientists study the interaction of living things? Ecologists

66. Review: What is a freshwater ecosystem? A lake or a pond

67. Review: How are estuaries different from lakes, rivers or oceans? Contain fresh & salt water.

68. EQ: What is an ecosystem? Write one thing in your notebooks you learned.