Ecosystems

An ecosystem is a community of living organisms (plants, animals, and microorganisms) in conjunction with the nonliving components of their environment (such as air, water, and mineral soil), interacting as a system.

Components of an Ecosystem

1. Abiotic factors: Non-living components such as water, air, temperature, sunlight, and soil.

2. Biotic factors: Living components such as plants, animals, and microorganisms.

Types of Ecosystems

1. Terrestrial Ecosystems: Ecosystems found on land, such as forests, grasslands, deserts, and tundra.

2. Aquatic Ecosystems: Ecosystems found in water, such as oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands.

Food Chains and Food Webs

1. Food Chain: A linear sequence of organisms, each of which serves as a source of food for the next.

2. Food Web: A network of interconnected food chains showing the energy flow through part of an ecosystem.

Ecological Relationships

1. Predator-Prey: Predator organisms hunt and eat prey organisms for food.

2. Parasitism: A relationship between two organisms where one benefits at the expense of the other.

3. Mutualism: A relationship between two organisms where both benefit from each other.

Human Impact on Ecosystems

1. Deforestation: The clearing of forests for agriculture, urban development, or timber.

2. Pollution: The introduction of harmful substances into the environment.

3. Climate Change: The long-term change in Earth's climate, often due to human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation.

Study Guide

1. Define an ecosystem and list its components.
2. Explain the difference between abiotic and biotic factors in an ecosystem.
3. List and describe two types of ecosystems.
4. Draw a food chain and a food web for a specific ecosystem.
5. Explain the ecological relationships of predator-prey, parasitism, and mutualism.
6. Discuss three ways in which humans impact ecosystems and the environment.

[Ecosystems] Related Worksheets and Study Guides:

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