Life Sciences - Term 2 - Week 9

Ecosystems consist of biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components that interact with each other. Biotic components include plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms, while abiotic components encompass sunlight, water, soil, and climate. These elements work together to create a balanced environment where energy flows and nutrients cycle. For instance, plants convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis, which is then transferred to herbivores and subsequently to carnivores, illustrating the flow of energy in an ecosystem.

Consider a simple food chain: grass → rabbit → fox. In this example, grass (producer) is eaten by the rabbit (primary consumer), which is then preyed upon by the fox (secondary consumer). This chain illustrates the direct energy transfer between organisms. In contrast, a food web consists of multiple interconnected food chains, showing the complex feeding relationships in an ecosystem. For example, if the rabbit population decreases, the fox population may also decline due to a lack of food, demonstrating the interconnectedness of species.

In groups, students will select a local ecosystem (e.g., forest, wetland, urban area) and identify its biotic and abiotic components. They will create a chart listing these components and discuss how they interact. For example, in a forest ecosystem, students might list trees, birds, insects, soil, and water, and explain how each component supports the others. This activity encourages collaboration and reinforces the concept of interdependence within ecosystems.

Students will choose an endangered species and research its habitat, role in the ecosystem, and the threats it faces. They will prepare a presentation that includes information on how the loss of this species could impact the ecosystem. This project will help students understand the importance of biodiversity and the consequences of human actions on species survival.

• Biotic and abiotic
• Producers and consumers
• Herbivores and carnivores
• Plants and animals

Answer: Biotic and abiotic

Ecosystems are made up of both living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components.

• Grass
• Rabbit
• Fox
• Eagle

Answer: Rabbit

A primary consumer is an organism that eats producers; in this case, the rabbit eats grass.

Answer: Biodiversity is crucial for ecosystem stability and resilience, as it allows ecosystems to withstand environmental changes and supports a variety of ecosystem services.

Higher biodiversity contributes to ecosystem health and productivity.

• A linear sequence of energy transfer
• A complex network of feeding relationships
• A diagram showing only producers
• A list of all organisms in an ecosystem

Answer: A complex network of feeding relationships

A food web illustrates how various food chains are interconnected within an ecosystem.

Answer: Deforestation

Deforestation leads to habitat loss, which threatens many species and reduces biodiversity.

• Plants
• Animals
• Soil
• Bacteria

Answer: Soil

Soil is a non-living (abiotic) component that supports plant growth and affects the ecosystem.

• They produce energy
• They consume primary producers
• They break down dead organic matter