What is an ecosystem?

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What is an ecosystem?
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An ecosystem consists of the plants and animals
of an area, and all the things which make up
their surroundings like soil, water and air.
It can be a small area such as a pond a medium
sized area such as a wood or a large area such
as the earth itself. An ecological system
(Ecosystem) is a natural system which involves
the interaction of living things with their
environment.
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Soils
People
Plants
Animals
Climate/Atmosphere
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Ecosystems Concept Map
Soils
People
Plants
Animals
Climate/Atmosphere
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Ecosystems Concept Map
Soils
People
Plants
Weathering breaks down rocks into soil
Animals
Plants need heat
Climate/Atmosphere
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Components of an ecosystem

• Abiotic the non living factors of an ecosystem
  geology, water and soils
• Producers or Autotrophs organisms which
  manufacture their own food eg green plants make
  their own food using the suns energy
• Consumers or Heterotrophs - organisms that
  cannot make their own food they must obtain
  energy from other animals and organisms
• Decomposers organisms that break down other
  organisms (eg Bacteria)

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Being a Consumer/Heterotroph!

• Herbivore Eats only plants (Primary)
• Detrivore Eats dead plants and animals
• Carnivore Eats other animals (Secondary)
• Omnivore Eats both plants and animals

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Food Chains!
Oak Leaf Producer
Caterpillar Herbivore
Hawk Carnivore
Thrush Carnivore
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Food Webs
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Links in Ecosystems
LINK 1 Food Chains and Webs
This shows a food web in a woodland area. What
would happen if the RABBITS were removed from the
ecosystem?
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The Nutrient Cycle
Trees and Organisms die. Leaves Fall
BIOMASS Weight of living material (plants and
organisms)
LITTER Surface layer of vegetation
Nutrients Taken up by Plants
SOIL
Nutrients released As plants and
leaves Decompose
Some nutrients lost due to leaching
Some additional nutrients Added by weathering of
parent rock