Unit 3 - Life on Earth

Biodiversity and Investigating Ecosystems

BiomesBiome: are the various regions of ourplanet as distinguished by their similarclimate, fauna and flora.

Global distribution of biomes can beinfluenced by temperature and rainfall.

Can you think of any examples of biomes?

Name the biomes...A B

C D

EcosystemsAll living organisms interact with other livingthings and their non-living surroundings.

We call this interaction an ecosystem.

livingorganisms

+ non-living = surroundings

ecosystem

Soil Ecosystem

What’s living?What’s non-living?

Fresh Water Ecosystem

What’s living?What’s non-living?

BiodiversityBiodiversity: the variety of species in

anecosystem.

Watch Natures Microworlds and see the

amazing diversity of life on Earth!

An ecosystem is made up from different parts:

• Community

• Habitat• Population

Components of an Ecosystem

HabitatA habitat is the place where an organism lives.

What habitats are in this ecosystem?

PopulationIn an ecosystem, a group of organisms made of one species is called a population.

How many can you get right?

A population of dolphins

...a school of dolphins

A population of sheep

...a flock of sheep

A population of crows

...a murder of crows

A population of lions

...a pride of lions

A population of geese

...a gaggle of geese

A population of ants

...an army of ants

(My fave) A population of hodgehegs

...a prickle of hodgehegs

CommunityA community is all the living organismstogether in an ecosystem.

This means that:

Community+ Habitat = Ecosystem

Find a habitat, a community and a population in this ecosystem

Find a habitat, a community and a population in this ecosystem

Components of an Ecosystem

Word Meaning ExampleHabitat

PopulationCommunityEcosystem

H______ + C_________ = ______________

Identifying Ecosystem Components

Pond Ecosystem

Glue In:

Identifying Ecosystem Components

Think What are three habitats in this ecosystem?

How do the communities in these habitats differ?

Why are organisms restricted to their habitats?

Biotic and Abiotic FactorsMany factors can have an effect on ecosystems.

Biotic factors – factors relating to living things, e.g. predation, competition.Abiotic factors – non-living factors which affect an ecosystem, e.g. temperature, pH

Biotic or Abiotic?

Light intensity

Temperature

pH

Moisture Predation

GrazingDisease

Food availability

Biotic or Abiotic?Biotic Abiotic

Research an Ecosystem• You will be allocated an ecosystem

card.

• Your role is to find out the answers to the questions on the card.

• Prepare to produce a team poster about your ecosystem.

One stay, two strayWhen listening to the presentations, find out;

• The temperature and rainfall expected in this ecosystem.

• An example of a plant and animal found there.

• A human influence affecting that ecosystem.

Why can these birds all live happily on the Galapagos?

Ecological Niche• A niche is the role an organism plays in

its ecosystem.

• This includes where it lives and breeds, what it feeds on, and what feeds on it

Did these animals come from one species or two?

What is the best definition of a species?

1. A group of animals that can interbreed

2. A group of organisms that can have offspring of their own

3. A group of organisms that can interbreed to produce fertile offspring

4. A group of organisms that have characteristics in common

Now try…

• Wordbank• WYSK

Bingo!

Ecosystem

Biome

Habitat

Community

Population Biotic

Biodiversity

Abiotic

Species

Ecological Niche