OVERVIEW
Four domains of the earth are:
As you can see the biosphere includes all other levels of ecological organisation.
Let’s take a deeper dive at the ecosystem level.
- Biosphere (all living things)
- Atmosphere (air)
- lithosphere (land)
- Hydrosphere (water)
As you can see the biosphere includes all other levels of ecological organisation.
Let’s take a deeper dive at the ecosystem level.
I CAN DEFINE THE TERM ECOSYSTEM
ECOSYSTEMS
- A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.
I CAN IDENTIFY THE BIOTIC AND ABIOTIC FACTORS IN AN ECOSYSTEM
ABIOTIC AND BIOTIC FACTORS
- Ecosystems are made up of living and non-living things.
- Biotic factors are living things within an ecosystem; such as plants, animals, and bacteria, while abiotic are non-living components; such as water, air, soil and sunlight.
- Ecosystems are made up of living and non-living things.
- Biotic factors are living things within an ecosystem; such as plants, animals, and bacteria, while abiotic are non-living components; such as water, air, soil and sunlight.
Biotic factors are the living components of an ecosystem and are sorted into three groups:
Producers or autotrophs - are organisms that make their own food by absorbing sunlight and using this energy to thrive. Usually a green plant that produces its own food by photosynthesis. Producers (e.g. algae, plants etc) you would expect to be the most abundant in their environment.
Consumers or heterotrophs - are animals that eat living things as a means of gaining energy.
Decomposers or detritivores - Decomposers break down dead plants and animals for example bacteria and fungi that breaks down dead organisms and their wastes.
Producers or autotrophs - are organisms that make their own food by absorbing sunlight and using this energy to thrive. Usually a green plant that produces its own food by photosynthesis. Producers (e.g. algae, plants etc) you would expect to be the most abundant in their environment.
Consumers or heterotrophs - are animals that eat living things as a means of gaining energy.
Decomposers or detritivores - Decomposers break down dead plants and animals for example bacteria and fungi that breaks down dead organisms and their wastes.
I CAN DEFINE TROPHIC LEVEL AND IDENTIFY WHICH ORGANISM IS LIKELY TO OCCUPY THE HIGHEST TROPHIC LEVEL
Trophic level
is defined as the position of an organism in the food chain.
The picture below depicts the following trophic levels:
Grass as producers (autotrophs).
Mouse, deer, and owl as consumers (heterotrophs).
And earthworms as decomposers (detritivores
In the forest ecosystem below an owl will occupy the highest trophic level of this forest ecosystem depicted.
is defined as the position of an organism in the food chain.
The picture below depicts the following trophic levels:
Grass as producers (autotrophs).
Mouse, deer, and owl as consumers (heterotrophs).
And earthworms as decomposers (detritivores
In the forest ecosystem below an owl will occupy the highest trophic level of this forest ecosystem depicted.