Unit A Lesson 1: Ecosystems and Species
Completion requirements
Unit A Lesson 1: Ecosystems and Species |
Learning Targets |
Inquiry Question: Why do butterflies come in all sizes and colours?
Butterflies, like many living things, can be found in many different places and in a variety of colours, shapes, and sizes.
Butterflies, like many living things, can be found in many different places and in a variety of colours, shapes, and sizes.
At the end of this inquiry, you should be able to answer the following questions:
- What is an ecosystem?
- What is a species?
- What is a community?
- What is a population?
- What is biodiversity?
- What is speciation?
Pages 8 to 15 in your textbook will help you answer these questions about ecosystems and species.
Our world is filled with millions of species. The variety and number of species on earth is
referred to as earth’s biodiversity.
Watch
The video “Why is Biodiversity so Important?” will help you to understand better the incredible variety and number of species on earth.
Ecosystems are very diverse – from the boreal forest to the savannah desert, to the rainforest shown here.
Various ecosystems allow many species to survive in different habitats. They all include
abiotic
and
biotic
factors.
The biodiversity in an ecosystem contains groupings of similar species called populations. The species within the populations can interbreed and have viable offspring. When an ecosystem has various populations of different species, the result is a community.
An ecosystem fulfills the needs of its species.
A marsh wetland might be home to frogs, mosquitoes, and mallard ducks whereas a boreal forest might be home to caribou and grizzlies. The biotic components of an ecosystem are all the plants, animals, and other living things found in that area. Remember that there are abiotic components as well. Abiotic factors in an ecosystem include things such as water, rocks, minerals, and air.
The biodiversity in an ecosystem contains groupings of similar species called populations. The species within the populations can interbreed and have viable offspring. When an ecosystem has various populations of different species, the result is a community.
An ecosystem fulfills the needs of its species.
A marsh wetland might be home to frogs, mosquitoes, and mallard ducks whereas a boreal forest might be home to caribou and grizzlies. The biotic components of an ecosystem are all the plants, animals, and other living things found in that area. Remember that there are abiotic components as well. Abiotic factors in an ecosystem include things such as water, rocks, minerals, and air.
Interactive
Ecosystems
Click here to re-watch the BrainPOP video “Ecosystems".
Click here to re-watch the BrainPOP video “Ecosystems".
You will need a username and password to access the video.
- Username: 0099
- Password: students
This time note the definitions and examples for ecosystem, community, population and habitat.
Ecosystem: living and nonliving things that interact with each other – ex. desert
Community: a group of organisms living together comprised of different species – in the desert, cacti, kangaroo rats, owls
Population: one type of organism - scorpion
Habitat: home – scorpion habitat is the sand
Community: a group of organisms living together comprised of different species – in the desert, cacti, kangaroo rats, owls
Population: one type of organism - scorpion
Habitat: home – scorpion habitat is the sand
Watch
"Understanding Ecosystems" describes the various ecosystems that earth has.
Now that you know about the diversity of ecosystems, examine more closely the diversity of
species
within these ecosystems.
Ecosystems are home to many populations that look distinctively different. A tiger is clearly different from a lizard; however, not all species are that different.
Look at the two finches in Figure 1. What differences can you identify? Can you find any similarities?
Did these birds change over time? Or, were they always different? To find the answer requires awareness of speciation.
The natural world is constantly undergoing change; volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, shifting tectonic plates, and fires all cause natural changes in our world. When these natural events are catastrophic, sometimes species become isolated from their original group and habitat. If this isolation is permanent, it often results in new adaptations, both physical and behavioural, to allow the species to survive in its new environment. Over time, this evolution (slow change) results in a new species. This process is called speciation. Many species we know today actually originated from common ancestors.
Speciation allows species to evolve structural adaptations to allow them to survive in their new environment. As well, species often develop behavioural adaptations to help them survive in their new environment.
Ecosystems are home to many populations that look distinctively different. A tiger is clearly different from a lizard; however, not all species are that different.
Look at the two finches in Figure 1. What differences can you identify? Can you find any similarities?
Did these birds change over time? Or, were they always different? To find the answer requires awareness of speciation.
The natural world is constantly undergoing change; volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, shifting tectonic plates, and fires all cause natural changes in our world. When these natural events are catastrophic, sometimes species become isolated from their original group and habitat. If this isolation is permanent, it often results in new adaptations, both physical and behavioural, to allow the species to survive in its new environment. Over time, this evolution (slow change) results in a new species. This process is called speciation. Many species we know today actually originated from common ancestors.
Speciation allows species to evolve structural adaptations to allow them to survive in their new environment. As well, species often develop behavioural adaptations to help them survive in their new environment.
Figure 1 – Two different species of finches.
Watch
What is a species ? How does a new species evolve? The video
"Speciation: An Illustrated Introduction" gives a great overview of the process of speciation.
Watch the video "Speciation" to see how salamanders in California are becoming so different that new species are being formed.
Connections
Connections: Nature and Medicine
>> The Pacific Yew Tree
The Pacific Yew Tree contains a chemical called Taxol in its bark that is used to fight cancer in humans. The unknown health cures that possibly exist in our forests may be astonishing. What if we deforest an area containing a species of plant that contains the cure for cancer or some other disease?
>> The Pacific Yew Tree
The Pacific Yew Tree contains a chemical called Taxol in its bark that is used to fight cancer in humans. The unknown health cures that possibly exist in our forests may be astonishing. What if we deforest an area containing a species of plant that contains the cure for cancer or some other disease?
Watch
Watch the video "Plants for Medicine" for several examples of natural sources of medicine.
The video "Medicine Walk with Elder Walter Lavallee" is a fascinating exploration of Alberta's First Nations natural sources of medicine.