Ecosystem Introductory Presentation
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Transcript of Ecosystem Introductory Presentation
Introduction to Ecosystems
What is a SYSTEM?
• A system is a set of parts which link together to make the system work.
• There are inputs and outputs to the system.
• A car's engine is an example of a system. An input to a car is petrol and an output is exhaust gases.
What is an ECOSYSTEM?
• An ecosystem is a group of living things plus the non-living things they need.
• The parts of an ecosystem are linked together.
• For example: in a woodland ecosystem, rain is an input which makes the trees grow. Evaporation is an output.
• Copy the diagram and add examples to each box.
Examples of inputs/outputs/processes
• Inputs:The inputs into an ecosystem may be water, CO2 (carbon dioxide), O2 (oxygen), matter, nutrients.
• Processes:Processes can be transpiration, growing, eating, absorption, respiration, photosynthesis, etc.
• Outputs:
Outputs are waste or unwanted products such as O2 (oxygen), water, dead matter, CO2 (carbon dioxide).
At what SCALE do ecosystems operate?
• There are many different ecosystems in the world.
• Some are small-scale, such as a pond.
• Others are large-scale and cover vast areas, such as a rainforest.
STORES and FLOWS
• An ecosystem has a series of stores and flows.
• In the woodland ecosystem, energy and matter is stored in the wood and the leaves.
• There is a flow of nutrients from the soil to the leaves.
• These are part of cycles such as the nutrient cycle and the water cycle.
FOOD CHAINS
• Living things in the ecosystem are linked together by the flows of energy and matter as things eat each other.
• These links can be shown as food chains
FOOD CHAINS
This shows a food chain in the sea. Removing one animal from this would seriously harm the system.
HOW?
FOOD WEBS
This shows a food web in a woodland area.
What would happen if the RABBITS were removed from the ecosystem?