Ecosystems For Grades 4-6

1. Ecosystems What is an ecosystem? An ecosystem is a place where animals, plants, and non-living materials exist together. A Joe Fasen Enhanced Power Point Presentation

2. Ecosystems If you could choose an ecosystem in which to live which one would you choose? Why? Let’s take a look at some ecosystems to help you decide….

3. Mountain

4. Tundra

5. Temperate Forest

6. Marine/Island

7. Desert

8. Tropical Dry Forest

9. Cold Climate Forest

10. Grassland

11. Savannah

12. Tropical Rainforest

13. Ecosystems What interactions take place in an ecosystem? What goes on in an ecosystem?

14. Predation When one organism hunts and eats another. The fox is the predator and the rabbit is the prey .

15. Scavengers Animals that feed on decaying or dead plants or animals.

16. Producers Green plants that use energy from the sun to produce food through process of photosynthesis .

17. Consumers Organisms that do not make their own food but eat other organisms.

18. Carnivores Animals that eat only MEAT.

19. Herbivores Animals that only eat PLANTS.

20. Omnivores Eat both plants and meat

21. Decomposers Consume wastes and dead organisms. Examples: fungi, bacteria, earthworms

22. Symbiosis Specific interaction between two species over a long period of time “living together” Both species benefit One species benefits, the other is neither helped nor harmed. One species benefits, the other is harmed

23. Succession The gradual change of one community to another over time. Succession happens in all communities.

24. Sometimes forests go through long periods of time without rain. A fire could start during one of these dry spells. What would happen then? (succession)

25. In the forest fire, many trees and animals will die. Many animals will move away from the forest to a new location.

26. After the forest fire, the community will begin to rebuild: Plants begin to grow Animals come back to feed on the new plants.

27. Eventually, new trees will grow. Small trees will grow at first, but after many years, larger trees such as spruce and fir may grow.

28. So, here is our example of succession: Forest fire occurs Trees & animals die or relocate Plants begin to grow; animals return to feed on new plant growth Small trees begin to grow Large trees grow; completing the forest