10.

1: Ecosystems
EP Science Grade 7
Miss Naomi
Think-Pair-Share
 What kind of ecosystems can you see?
What is an ecosystem?
 All the living and non-living things in a given area form an ecosystem
 Ecosystems that have similar climates and contain similar types of
plants are grouped together into biomes.

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Key Concept

 How can you describe an ecosystem?

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What is an ecosystem?

 Abiotic factors are the non-living parts of an ecosystem. They provide

resources that organisms need to survive and reproduce.
 Can you think of any?

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Abiotic factors

 Sunlight supplies energy for photosynthesis.

 Sunlight also provides warmth.

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Abiotic factors

 The atmosphere includes gases that living things need e.g. nitrogen,
oxygen and carbon dioxide.

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Abiotic factors
 Water is essential for all life processes that take place in cells, such
as photosynthesis, cellular respiration and digestion
 Soil includes a biotic part called humus, which is made up of decayed
remains of plants and animals. Soil that is fertile has a high humus
content.

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Biotic Factors
 Living or once-living things are biotic factors
 Includes dead organisms e.g. decayed plant matter

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Concept Check

 What are the similarities and differences between abiotic and biotic
factors?

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Habitats

 A habitat is the place within an ecosystem that provides food,

water, shelter and other biotic and abiotic factors an organism needs
to survive and reproduce
 Habitats can disappear if there is a significant change in biotic or
abiotic factors in an ecosystem e.g. wildfires, erosion, and flooding

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Populations

 Overcrowding affects the population size because it leads to stress

and disease
 The size of a population compared to the amount of space available is
called the population density. Number of organisms ➗ unit area of
space

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Populations

 If population density is high, organisms may not get all of the

resources they need to survive
 This also allows disease to spread more easily
 Changes in the biotic and abiotic factors in an ecosystem can force
organisms to die out or to move away

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Concept Check:

 In what ways can populations change?

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