Connections in nature

This year we have spent time identifying

connections we have with others:

and other LOCAL communities

But we all belong to a MUCH larger

community…one that stretches far beyond

the boundaries and comforts of home,

school, our suburb or even our city.

Humans share with many other

species of plants and animals.

These two pictures showed an ecosystem.

Ecosystems can be MASSIVE like an entire

desert or SMALL like a rock pool.

When you take a close look at an ecosystem

you notice LOTS of species of plants, animals

and smaller organisms.

Do you think these organisms

have any relationships or links to

each other?

They are NOT just a RANDOM gathering of

organisms.

They are a COMMUNITY and they INTERACT

with each other.

They are also LINKED with the non-living

elements such as sunlight, water, soil and air.

Each organism has a role and each one

depends on other things in the ecosystem.

Organisms in an ecosystem WORK TOGETHER

like people do in social communities.

All parts work together to make a balanced

system.

All living things are connected to others.

Every plant and animal species, no matter how

big or small, depends on another plant or

animal species for its survival.

They are all important parts of a ecosystems.

Organisms in an ecosystem can be divided

into three categories:

PRODUCERS

Green plants that make their own food using

the sun’s energy during PHOTOSYNTHESIS.

CONSUMERS

Animals that get their energy by eating

producers (plants) or other animals.

DECOMPOSERS

Organisms such as bacteria and fungi that

break down dead plants and animals,

turning them into materials that go into the

soil for plants to use.

And the whole process is back to the beginning again…

http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/explorer/ecosystems/be_an_explorer/map/foodweb_play.htm

The links between producers, consumers

and decomposers can be represented by

FOOD CHAINS.

Ecosystems are in a delicate balance.

If one organism’s source of food disappears

many other organisms in the food web are

affected.

Populations may dwindle to extinction while

others may explode and over populate.

Humans have affected ecosystems in almost

every way imaginable.

We need to take responsibility for the

consequences of our actions.

http://www.flickclip.com/flicks/beemovie.html

Nearly one-third of the world’s crops

are dependent on honeybees for

pollination!

Without bees a HUGE PERCENTAGE of

the FOOD we eat would be

UNAVAILABLE.

A world without honeybees would

mean a world without fruits,

vegetables, nuts, and seeds.

http://vimeo.com/45684169/

Throughout the history of the Earth, the

balance found in ecosystems has been

disrupted by NATURAL DISASTERS such as

FIRES, FLOODS, STORMS, and VOLCANIC

ERUPTIONS.

In recent years, however, MANKIND has

increasingly been affecting the many

ecosystems around the world.

As the years pass, the degree of our

impact is getting worse and worse.

http://marinesciencetoday.com/2013/07/04/film-what-happens-if-overfishing-continues/

http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/interactive/2013/may/21/ocean-before-and-after-overfishing

http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/interactive/2013/may/21/ocean-before-and-after-overfishing

Overfishing and hunting

Deforestation

Oil spills

Polluting air and water

Using Pesticides

Introducing animals species

Emitting ozone depleting gases

Contributing to global warming

Wasting energy