Lesson 1.1 - Ecosystems

Ecosystems consist of all living plants or animals in an area along with the physical characteristics of the environment.  The size of an ecosystem depends on the animal we are discussing.  For a bacteria, a dead animal may form the whole ecosystem as far as the bacteria is concerned.  For a grizzly bear, the whole forest may be the ecosystem because the bear interacts with all living things in the forest.  In addition, the bear is influenced  by the density of the trees as well as the temperatures and precipitation of the surroundings.  Biotic factors of an ecosystem are the living factors.  Abiotic factors of an ecosystem are the non-living factors. 

Read Ecosystems on page 274 in your textbook. Then, answer the following questions.

Question 1. Answer Reading Check on page 274 of your textbook.

Question 2. Answer Check Your Understanding questions 1 and 2 from page 275 of your textbook.

Question 3. What are the biotic factors of an ecosystem?

Question 4. What are the abiotic factors of an ecosystem?

 

Check your answers with those that follow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Answers to Questions:

Question 1. Answer Reading Check on page 274 of your textbook.

The biotic factors in an ecosystem are anything that is alive such as plants and animals and bacteria.  The abiotic factors are things that are not alive but which affect the living things.  Abiotic factors include soil, temperature, and precipitation.

Question 2. Answer Check Your Understanding questions 1 and 2 from page 275 of your textbook.

1a.    Sunlight is abiotic because it is not living, but it is essential to provide energy for photosynthesis.
1b.    Mould is biotic.
1c.    The spider is biotic.
1d.    Minerals are abiotic; they provide various nutrients for plants.
1e.    Carbon dioxide is abiotic, and it is an essential nutrient for photosynthesis.
1f.    The green plant is biotic.
2.    Animals depend on plants for food.  Decomposers feed on dead plants and animals.  As a result of the work by the decomposers, the plants are provided with nutrients in a form they can use.

Question 3. What are the biotic factors of an ecosystem?

The biotic factors of an ecosystem are the living components.

Question 4. What are the abiotic factors of an ecosystem?

The abiotic factors of an ecosystem are the non-living components.

 


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