Intro to Ecosystems

Biotic vs. Abiotic Factors

• Key Question: What do you think an ecosystem is?

• Initial Thoughts

Is it Living? 9/15/15

Biodiversity

• The variety of organisms in a specific environment or on earth.

What factors both living and non living will affect my life?

3 minutes ToTHINK PAIR SHARE

Factors affecting mouse

• Predators

• Food

• Shelter

• Temperature

• Weather

• Competitors

• Pathogens

• Parasites

• Clean Water

Would the same factors affect this flower?

Factors Affecting Plant

• Predators

• Food

• Shelter

• Temperature

• Weather

• Competitors

• Pollinators

• Soil

• Nutrients

• Wind

• Daylight

Definitions

• Ecosystem: A community interacting with the non-living parts of its environment.

• Eco- means environment

• -system interacting parts

Definitions• Biotic: Living organisms in the environment, such as

plants or animals.

• Bio- life

• tic- pertaining to/ of

• Abiotic: Non-living physical features of the environment, such as soil and water.

• A- not

• Bio- life

• tic- pertaining to / of

Evidence 1: Card Sort

Sort the cards into 3 columns. Record your answers in a table like below:

Biotic Abiotic Unsure (or both/can’t

agree)

Evidence: Sort contd…

• Look at those that are in the unsure column. Why were those confusing?

• Write down the rule that you used to decide if something is biotic or abiotic.

Let’s Practice!

• For each picture (ecosystem), name as many biotic and abiotic factors as you can.

• Where do you think the ecosystem boundaries are? (Where do they begin and end?)

What are the Biotic and Abiotic Factors in the Image?

Check Yourself

Biotic

Trees, cactus, shell, scorpion, grass/seaweed

Abiotic

Sun, clouds, sand, water, ice, snow

Group Practice

In your lab group, you will create

a list of abiotic and biotic factors

for each ecosystem.

River Ecosystem

Abiotic Biotic

River EcosystemBiotic Abiotic

River/water

Rocks

Oxygen

Sand

Dirt

Sun

Clouds

Air/atmosphere

Glacier?

Ocean Ecosystem

OceanBiotic Abiotic

Sand

Water

Boat

Oxygen

CO2

Sunlight

Rock

Metal

Minerals

Evidence 2: Courtyard Ecosystem• Your group will be assigned an area in the

courtyard.

• List as many biotic and abiotic factors as you can.

• Write down the boundaries of your assigned ecosystem.

• What are the Inputs? The Outputs?

Analysis Questions

1. You’re on the beach and find a piece of driftwood. Is it biotic or abiotic? Why?

2. Is a patch of lawn an ecosystem? Explain.

3. What are some biotic & abiotic factors that would affect a plant but not a rabbit?

Summary

What did you think about ecosystems before this lesson?

What did you learn about ecosystems from this lesson? (Minimum of 3 sentences!!!)

What are some further thoughts or questions you have about ecosystems?

Reflection

Big Idea

• Biodiversity is important for ecosystems to support life.

• Abiotic and biotic factors work together to support life.

Prairie (entry task)

All of one species ex. Dog fish

All the biotic factors in a given area ex. Dog Fish, squid, crabs

All the abiotic and biotic factors in a given area ex. Dog fish, squid, crabs, rocks, water

Same climate features over large areas with Similar plant features ex. Artic

All the ecosystems in a given area. ex. Earth

Ex. One dog fish