Life Sciences - Term 2 - Week 6

An ecosystem is a community of living organisms interacting with their physical environment. It includes both biotic factors, such as plants, animals, and microorganisms, and abiotic factors, such as water, soil, and climate. Ecosystems can vary in size and complexity, from a small pond to a vast forest. The interactions within an ecosystem are crucial for maintaining balance and supporting life.

Biodiversity refers to the variety of life forms within a given ecosystem, region, or on the entire planet. It encompasses the diversity of species, genetic variations, and the ecosystems themselves. High biodiversity contributes to ecosystem resilience, allowing it to withstand environmental changes and disturbances. It also provides essential services, such as pollination, nutrient cycling, and climate regulation.

Consider a forest ecosystem. It includes various components: trees (producers), herbivores like deer (primary consumers), carnivores like wolves (secondary consumers), and decomposers like fungi and bacteria. Each component plays a vital role in nutrient cycling and energy flow. For instance, trees produce oxygen and food through photosynthesis, while decomposers break down dead organic matter, returning nutrients to the soil.

In pairs, students will choose a local ecosystem (e.g., a park, river, or garden) and list its components. They should identify at least three producers, three consumers, and two decomposers. Afterward, each pair will present their findings to the class, discussing the roles of each component in maintaining the ecosystem's health.

Students will select an endangered species and research its role within its ecosystem. They should focus on how the loss of this species could impact biodiversity and ecosystem stability. Each student will prepare a short report and a presentation to share their findings with the class, highlighting the importance of conservation efforts.

• A group of similar species
• A community of living organisms and their environment
• Only the plants in an area
• A type of climate

Answer: A community of living organisms and their environment

An ecosystem includes both biotic and abiotic components interacting in a specific environment.

• Species diversity
• Genetic diversity
• Ecosystem diversity
• Climate diversity

Answer: Climate diversity

Biodiversity refers to the variety of life forms, not to variations in climate.

Answer: Biodiversity is important because it enhances ecosystem resilience, supports food webs, and provides essential services like pollination and nutrient cycling.

High biodiversity allows ecosystems to adapt to changes and maintain balance.

• Deer
• Fungi
• Grass
• Wolf

Answer: Grass

Producers, like grass, create their own food through photosynthesis.

• They produce energy.
• They consume plants.
• They break down dead matter.
• They compete with producers.

Answer: They break down dead matter.

Decomposers recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem by breaking down dead organisms.

Answer: Habitat destruction and pollution.

These factors can lead to species extinction and loss of ecosystem functions.

• A diagram showing energy flow in an ecosystem
• A list of all species in an ecosystem