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Introduction to Ecosystems
Learning OBJECTIVES: • To understand the nature
and scale of ecosystems• To learn about different
ecosystems processes Learning OUTCOMES:All will be able to identify an
ecosystemMost will be able to know the
differences between ecosystems
Some will be able to give named examples of ecosystems
Define: say what something means.Give examples: use real life
examples.State: provide an answer from
recall.Explain: give reasons why/how something has changed or is
changing.
Big Questions: What is an ecosystem?
EcosystemsAn ecosystem is a
natural system made up of plants, animals and the environment
Big Question: What is an ecosystem?
The components of an ecosystem are categorised as either biotic or abiotic.
Biotic = livingAbiotic = non-living
Ecosystems can be as huge as a rainforest.
Or as small as a puddle.
Ecosystems can vary hugely in size and scale…
Big Question: What is an ecosystem?
Ecosystems- the way that all the living and non-living parts of an environment interact.
Ecosystems can be from the very small to the very large!! Some examples of ecosystems are below:
A garden pond
A pool of water caught in the leaves of a plant. The Amazon
Rainforest
A small lake
A large UK woodland
Antarctica
A small flowering plant
Big Question: What is an ecosystem?
Ecosystem Sizes
What is a Food chain?
= shows which animals eat other plants/animals
Big Question: What is an ecosystem?
What is a Food Web?Big Question: What is an ecosystem?
= shows lots of food chains and how they overlap= shows how energy and nutrients move around an
ecosystem
Nutrient Cycling
➢ Dead material decomposes➢ Nutrients are released➢ Nutrients are taken up by plants➢ Plants eaten by consumers➢ Consumers die and decompose➢ Cycle repeats…
Big Question: What is an ecosystem?
Gersmehl Diagrams
Different sized circles = stores of nutrients within biomass, litter and soil.
Arrows of varying thickness = nutrient transfers, inputs and outputs
Big Question: What is an ecosystem?
Gersmehl Diagrams
StoresB = biomass (living stuff!)S = soilL = litter (dead leaves)
InputsW = weatheringP = precipitation
OutputsL = leaching (loss of nutrients) R = runoff
Temperate deciduous forest
Coniferous forest (taiga)
Tropical rainforest
Big Question: What is an ecosystem?
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