5.2Unit 4: Ecosystems
Different ecosystems — Cambridge Checkpoint Biology 0893 Revision Notes & Topical Questions
5 min read 9 parts Lesson 2 of 4 2 quizzes
Lesson summary
5.2 Different ecosystems — CHECKPOINT BIOLOGY 0893 notes: Describe examples of different ecosystems and their habitats, and explain how to investigate a local ecosystem.An ecosystem is more than a place, because it includes the organisms, the non-living environment and how they i…
- Care for animals
- Biotic factor
- An ecosystem is more than a place, because it includes the organisms, the non-living environment and how they interact
- Ecosystems on Earth are many and different
- Not all ecosystems are natural, because some are farmed by people
- Young fish live among the mangrove roots, safe from larger fish
Part 1 of 7What an ecosystem is
What an ecosystem is
An ecosystem is more than a place, because it includes the organisms, the non-living environment and how they interact.
Ecosystems on Earth are many and different.
Not all ecosystems are natural, because some are farmed by people.
Part 2 of 7Mangrove forest
1
Mangroves are trees that grow with their roots in sea water.
- They form forests along the coasts of many tropical countries.
2
Young fish live among the mangrove roots, safe from larger fish.
3
Mud skippers climb out onto the mud when the tide is out and feed there.
4
Mangrove leaves that fall on the mud are decomposed by bacteria.
- Prawns and crabs eat the partly decomposed leaves.
5
Crab-eating macaques climb through the trees and catch crabs on the roots and mud.
Part 3 of 7Sea ice in the Arctic Ocean
1
In winter, so much of the sea water freezes that it forms sea ice.
2
Seals hunt fish in the water but must come to the surface to breathe air.
3
Polar bears patrol the ice looking for seals to kill and eat, and they are good swimmers.
4
Arctic foxes look for food on the ice.
5
Enough light passes through the ice for tiny algae (single-celled plants) to grow under the ice floes.
- Tiny shrimp-like organisms eat the algae, and fish eat the shrimps.
Part 4 of 7Rice paddy
1
A rice paddy is an ecosystem farmed by people, as in Malaysia.
2
At some times of the year the fields are flooded.
- Algae grow in the shallow water and on the mud at the sides.
- Fish swim in from the irrigation canals, and frogs and dragonflies breed in the water.
3
Shallow water heats up quickly in the day and cools down quickly at night.
4
Farmers add fertiliser, which makes the rice and the algae grow faster and gives more food for animals.
5
Many birds feed in and around the paddy fields.
Part 5 of 7Habitats in an ecosystem
Habitats in an ecosystem
Each ecosystem has several habitats, each with its own organisms.
- A garden has habitats under stones, in the soil, on the soil surface, on leaves, in flowers, on tree trunks and in the air.
- A mangrove forest has habitats among the roots, on the mud and in the trees.
Two factors that distinguish ecosystems are the organisms in them and their non-living conditions.
Part 6 of 7Investigating a local ecosystem
Investigating a local ecosystem
Examples of local ecosystems are a garden area, a group of trees, part of a playing field or a pond.
Safety
- Safety stay in the same area as the class and always stay with a partner.
Care for animals
- Care for animals take great care of any animals that are caught, and release them exactly where they were found.
Method:
1
Look all around the area and describe it, including its size, the kinds of plants, the light and whether it is damp or dry.
2
Find the different habitats in the ecosystem.
3
Look for organisms in each habitat and list them, taking a picture or drawing any whose names are not known.
4
Visit at different times of day, or at night if possible, to see how it changes.
5
Draw a diagram of the interactions between the organisms and between organisms and the non-living environment.
- Interactions to look for include insects visiting flowers, animals eating, animals hiding from predators or the sun, burrows in soil and decomposers.
Part 7 of 7Biotic and abiotic factors
Biotic and abiotic factors
Biotic factors are the living influences, such as food, predators, competition and disease.
Abiotic factors are the non-living influences, such as temperature, light, water, soil and oxygen.
Organisms are adapted to the ecosystem in which they live.
Key terms
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ecosystem | All the organisms in an area, the non-living environment and their interactions. |
| Habitat | The place where an organism lives within an ecosystem. |
| Mangrove | A tree that grows with its roots in sea water and forms coastal forests. |
| Biotic factor | A living influence on an organism, such as food or predators. |
| Abiotic factor | A non-living influence on an organism, such as temperature or light. |
| Algae | Single-celled plant-like organisms that make their own food using light. |
Avoid these mistakes
1
Saying an ecosystem is only a natural place — farmed areas such as rice paddies are also ecosystems.
2
Taking animals away from their habitat — release them exactly where they were found.
3
Working alone outside — always stay with a partner and within the area set by the teacher.
4
Listing only living things when describing an ecosystem — include the non-living environment.
5
Counting only animals as organisms — plants, fungi and algae are organisms too.
Marked practiceQuizzes for this lesson
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