ECOSYSTEM

What is an ecosystem?
▰ All the living (biotic) and nonliving (abiotic) parts of an
environment as well as the interactions among them
▰ Ecosystems may be aquatic (water) or terrestrial (land).
▰ Interactions may include:
- producers (obtain energy by making their own food; plants -
photosynthesis)
- consumers (obtain energy by consuming their food)
- decomposers ( get energy by breaking down dead
organisms and the wastes of living things); bacteria,
fungi (mold, mushrooms,etc) , some worms, termites,
some beetles, etc.
 Abiotic & Biotic Factors
Abiotic Factors Biotic Factors
(nonliving)
(living)
water - shelter
Food
sunlight - soil • - grass
rocks - nutrients • - trees
• - animals, insects,
oxygen/air, nitrogen • - plants

temperature/climate
bacteria, fungi

space, salinity, pH http://www.arkive.org/fungi//

 Worms, termites,
fungi (mold, mushrooms, etc.)

In the diagram,
• What are the decomposers? Producers? Consumers?
• What organisms are competing for the same abiotic resources?
• What is the source of energy that drives or sustains the ecosystem?
Arrows are pointing in the direction of what is being consumed.
FOOD WEB
If removed from the food web, which organism (s) would have the greatest impact on the overall food web? Explain.
 Can you think of a situation where an
organism could be both a primary and
secondary consumer? (not shown on
this food web)

What are the producers? primary

consumers? secondary consumers?
tertiary consumer?

What organisms are competing for the

same abiotic and biotic resources?

If removed from the food web, which

organism would have the greatest impact
on the overall food web? Explain.
 Food Web Analysis
Use the diagram to respond to each of the following.

1. Identify the decomposer. What are the benefits of decomposers?

2. What other decomposers may be in every ecosystem but are not

shown on this diagram?

3. Identify the primary consumers. Show what is being consumed.

4. Identify the tertiary consumer for each food chain. What does this
consumer eat?

5. Is this a terrestrial or aquatic food web? Explain.

6. What happens when two or more organisms coexist in the same

niche?

7. Draw an overlapping terrestrial/aquatic food chain using at least one

Some worms are primary of the organisms shown on the diagram. Add an organism not on this
consumers and others (in soil)
are decomposers.)
food web.
From Atoms to Biosphere
Ecosystem Organization