Living World

• What is an ecosystem?

  An ecosystem is all of the living organisms that share a region and interact with each other and their non-living environment.
• What are the components of an ecosystem?

  • Organic components (Biotic factors): living or once living organisms
  • Nonorganic components (Abiotic factors): non-living elements like wind, rocks, etc.
• In a park, which of the following would be considered a biotic factor: dirt, algae, or wind?

  Algae
• What is a population in an ecosystem?

  A population is all of the individuals of a single species in a particular area.
• How is a community defined in an ecosystem?

  A community is formed by individuals from all of the populations in an ecosystem.
• What does the term ecosystem encompass?

  An ecosystem encompasses the community and its interactions with the abiotic environment.
• What features can describe ecosystems?

  • Specific set of biotic features (organisms)
  • Specific set of abiotic features (temperature range, precipitation)
• What is sustainability in the context of ecosystems?

  Sustainability is the ability to maintain an ecological balance.
• What does it mean when an ecosystem is described as sustainable?

  It means that the ecosystem maintains a relatively constant set of characteristics over a long period of time.
• How can human actions disrupt the sustainability of ecosystems?

  Human actions can disrupt the biotic and abiotic factors of an ecosystem.
• What are some examples of human actions that disrupt ecosystems?

  Pollution, cutting down trees, and building cities.
• What can happen to a previously sustainable ecosystem due to human actions?

  Human actions can make a previously sustainable ecosystem unsustainable.
• What is an example of a disruption to an ecosystem?

  Oil spills greatly disrupt the previously stable ecosystem.
• How are most ecosystems created?

  Most ecosystems are naturally created without human help.
• What types of ecosystems are created and maintained by humans?

  Parks and farms are examples of ecosystems created and maintained by humans.
• Why are human-maintained ecosystems usually not sustainable?


  They require constant management to maintain their characteristics.
• What might happen to a farm if it is left unattended for three years?

  It would likely look very different due to natural processes and lack of management.
• What are some questions to consider about ecosystems?

  • Define the terms: Ecosystem, Community, Population, Sustainability.
  • Use each term in a sentence, incorporating more than one term.
  • Name 5 biotic and 5 abiotic factors in a rainforest ecosystem.
  • Discuss the impact of cutting down trees in the Amazon rainforest on sustainability.
  • Explain how human activities disrupt coral reef ecosystems.
  • Describe competition among different plant species.
  • Analyze the population changes of hares and lynxes.
  • Define symbiotic relationships and provide examples.
• What is an ecosystem?

  An ecosystem is all of the living organisms that share a region and interact with each other and their non-living environment.
• What are the components of an ecosystem?

  • Living organisms (biotic factors)
  • Non-living components (abiotic factors)
• What are biotic factors?

  Biotic factors are the organic components of an ecosystem, which include living or once-living things.
• What are abiotic factors?

  Abiotic factors are the nonorganic, non-living components of an ecosystem, such as wind and rocks.
• List five biotic and five abiotic factors you would find in a park.

  Biotic Factors:

  • Trees
  • Grass
  • Birds
  • Bugs
  • Flowers

  
  

  Abiotic Factors:

  • Dirt
  • Water
  • Sunlight
  • Wind
  • Rocks
• How do individual organisms from many species interact in an ecosystem?

  They share the ecosystem and interact with each other and their environment.
• What is a population in ecological terms?


  A population is all of the individuals of a single species in a particular area.
• What is a community in ecological terms?

  A community is formed by individuals from all of the populations in an ecosystem.
• How is an ecosystem defined in relation to communities and abiotic environments?


  An ecosystem is the community and its interactions with the abiotic environment.
• What features can describe ecosystems?

  • Specific set of biotic features (organisms)
  • Specific set of abiotic features (temperature range, precipitation)
• What does sustainability refer to in an ecological context?

  Sustainability refers to the ability to maintain an ecological balance.
• What does it mean when an ecosystem is described as sustainable?

  It means that the ecosystem maintains a relatively constant set of characteristics over a long period of time.
• How can human actions disrupt the sustainability of ecosystems?

  Human actions can disrupt biotic and abiotic factors, leading to unsustainable conditions.
• What are some examples of human actions that disrupt ecosystems?

  Pollution, cutting down trees, and building cities.
• How can human activities make a previously sustainable ecosystem unsustainable?

  Actions like oil spills can greatly disrupt the previously stable ecosystem.
• What is the difference between naturally created ecosystems and those created by humans?

  Naturally created ecosystems develop without human help, while human-created ecosystems require constant management.
• What happens to a farm ecosystem if it is left unmanaged for three years?

  • It may become overgrown with weeds
  • The balance of species may change
  • It may no longer produce crops
• What are some terms that need to be defined in the context of ecosystems?


  Terms include ecosystem, community, population, and sustainability.
• How would you use the terms ecosystem, community, and population in a sentence?

  An ecosystem consists of various communities, each made up of different populations of species.
• Name five biotic and five abiotic factors that could be found in a rainforest ecosystem.

  Biotic Factors:

  • Trees
  • Animals (e.g., monkeys, birds)
  • Insects
  • Fungi
  • Plants

  
  

  Abiotic Factors:

  • Rainfall
  • Humidity
  • Temperature
  • Soil type
  • Sunlight
• How would cutting down trees in the Amazon rainforest impact the sustainability of the ecosystem?

  It would disrupt the balance of biotic and abiotic factors, leading to unsustainability.
• How have human activities disrupted coral reef ecosystems?

  Human activities such as pollution and overfishing have harmed coral reef ecosystems.