What is an Ecosystem?

Components of an Ecosystem

• Abiotic factors: Non-living components such as soil, water, sunlight, and temperature.
• Biotic factors: Living organisms including plants, animals, and microorganisms.

Types of Ecosystems

• Terrestrial ecosystems: Land-based ecosystems such as forests, grasslands, and deserts.
• Aquatic ecosystems: Water-based ecosystems including freshwater (lakes, rivers) and marine (oceans, coral reefs) ecosystems.

Interactions in Ecosystems

• Competition: Organisms compete for resources such as food, water, and space.
• Predation: Predators hunt and consume prey for food.
• Symbiosis: Close and long-term interactions between different species such as mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism.
• Decomposition: Breakdown of dead organisms and waste materials by decomposers such as bacteria and fungi.

Energy Flow in Ecosystems

• Producers: Organisms such as plants and algae that produce their own food through photosynthesis.
• Consumers: Organisms that obtain energy by consuming other organisms.
• Decomposers: Organisms that break down organic matter and recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem.

Human Impact on Ecosystems

• Deforestation
• Pollution
• Overfishing
• Habitat destruction

[Ecosystem] Related Worksheets and Study Guides:

• What are Ecosystems?Science • Third Grade
• Energy and ecosystemsScience • Fifth Grade