2. Learning Goals
Understand what an ecosystem is and what it consist of
Understand how energy cycles through an ecosystem
Investigate cultural paradigms (worldviews) of ecosystems and
the environment
3. Ecosystems
Ecosystem: An interaction between
plants, animals, microorganisms, and
their environment.
Eg. Ocean ecosystem, forest, desert
4. Ecosystems are comprised of:
Abiotic: the non-living components in nature; they
determine what types of species can live in the area
Ex. sunlight, temperature, soil, minerals, wind, water, rock,
air
Biotic: the living components in nature; these organisms
interact with each other and the abiotic factors
Ex. bacteria, algae, microorganisms, fungi, plants, animals
5. An Organisms Niche
Habitat: The actual place an organism lives
Niche: Both living and non-living parts of an ecosystem that
determines an organism’s role in the ecosystem
The niche of an organism and it’s interactions is determined by
where it stands in the ecological structure of the ecosystem
Producers
Consumers
Decomposers
Scavengers
7. Consumers
Heterotrophs: Cannot make their own
food. They must ingest (eat) other
organisms
Herbivores: Consume plants
Carnivores: Consume herbivores or other
carnivores
*Secondary
*Tertiary
Omnivores: Consume both producers
and consumers
Scavengers: Feed on dead or decaying
organisms
8. Decomposers
Heterotrophs that recycle small, usually microscopic bits of
dead organic matter into inorganic nutrients available for
plants to take up from the soil
Decomposers = Recyclers !
9. Scavengers
Scavengers: Feed on dead or decaying organisms
Essentially, Scavengers reduce the size of dead organic matter…
Decomposers will finish the job
10. *All living things (whether they are predators, prey, producers or
decomposers) have a valuable position to the sustainability and stability of
an ecosystem.*
11. Energy in Ecosystems
Energy – the capacity of a system to do work; the ability to move or bring
about a change in matter
Energy can’t be created or destroyed, it can only change forms
Light
Heat (thermal)
Mechanical
Kinetic/Potential
Chemical
Electrical
12. Energy Cycle
Energy from the sun enters an
ecosystem and the producers
use the energy to make organic
matter through photosynthesis.
Glucose is the primary energy
source (carbohydrate) produced
by photosynthesis.
Consumers take in this energy
when they eat producers or
other consumers.
This energy can then be used by
the animal
13.
14. The Work of Living Things
“Work”: Energy transformations in plants and animals which
are essential to life
Types:
Synthetic – e.g.
Electrical – e.g. Nerves sending signals to the brain
Mechanical: Ex: movement of muscles.
16. Think, Pair, Share
1. Brainstorm things that we find in nature
2. Organize them into two groups: living things, nonliving things
3. Look at your lists and decide the following:
Do they do “work”? What work do they do?
What kind of energy does each use?
Light
Heat (thermal)
Mechanical
Kinetic/Potential
Chemical
Electrical
17. Relationships with Ecosystems
Paradigms: the set of experiences, beliefs, and values that
constitute a way of viewing reality, such as ecosystems
There is no right or wrong world view, only different
Worldviews affect how we think about our environment
Different cultures and communities view relationships
between people, biotic, and abiotic factors in different
ways
18. Greek Classification of Nature
Greek: Ekos means home, therefore
ecosystem
4 Elements: Wind, Water, Rock, Fire
Historical connection: Greek
Mythology
Today’s connection: global issues over
climate change, water accessibility,
soil use, energy use and fossil fuels
19. Cree – from STF Sci 10 Units
English Cree Scientific
Classification
Cree Classification
Man nāpēw biotic animate
Flower wāpakwaniy biotic inanimate
Mitten astis abiotic animate
Sun pīsim abioitic animate
Hat/Cap astotin abiotic inanimate
Drum tēwēhikan abiotic animate
Rock asiny abiotic animate
Heart mitēh biotic inanimate
Hand micihciy biotic inanimate
Bead mīkis abiotic inanimate
• The Cree language classifies nouns as either animate or inanimate.
• Animate nouns usually refer to living things, however, rocks and celestial
bodies are also in this category.
• The non-living items
that are classified as
animate are often
important to the
cultural beliefs of
the Cree people
Taken from STF Units: http://www.med.uottawa.ca/sim/data/Aboriginal_Medicine_e.htm
20. Chinese Classification of Nature
No legs = fish
1 leg = mushrooms (plants)
2 legs = chicken and other fowl
4 legs = 4 legged animals
21. First Nations Organization of the
Environment
Food, energy, environment,
economy
Wind, water, trees, animals
North, south, east, west
Winged ones, four legged ones,
swimmers, plant world
Taken from STF Units
http://www.med.uottawa.ca/sim/data/Aboriginal_Medicine_e.htm
22. Roles of Humans in Ecosystems
Paradigms or World Views will also influence how you view
your place in an ecosystem
Is our species part of the food chain?
Is our species part of the nutrient cycles? (oxygen, carbon,
nitrogen, phosphorus)
How does our population’s growth impact our ecosystem?
How does our population function?
What is our ecosystem?
What biotic and abiotic factors do we rely on?
23. Paradigms:
Utilitarian
• Environmental resources should be used
by humans
• Humans dominate nature
Preservationist:
• Undisturbed natural areas should be set
aside from harmful human activities
• Humans separate from nature
Conservationist:
• Natural areas and resources should be
used in ways that sustain them for
current and future generations and other
forms of life
• Humans part of nature
24. Portfolio #1 – to be handed in
What paradigm or worldview do you feel you identify the most
with? Why?
Explain what you think your personal role within your
ecosystem is.
What relationships do you think humanity has with our
environment?