Unit 1: Interactions Within Ecosystems

1. Unit 1: Interactions Within Ecosystems Chapter 1: Ecosystems Slide Show #1

2. Getting Started… (p.4) • Close your eyes and imagine that you are standing in a forest. • Now, list at least 5 things that you “see”. • Next, describe the local conditions (eg. land features, temperature, etc.) of your forest setting.

3. Getting Started (con’t) • From your forest list, classify each thing as either living (L) or non-living (NL). Share your results with the class. • How would you define a living thing? • A living thing is something that shows or has shown the signs of life. That is, anything that is either alive or dead is classified as a living thing.

4. Getting Started (con’t) • What is meant by signs of life? • Use a thought web to help organize your ideas. Use categories such as mammals, plants, insects, etc.

5. Getting Started (con’t) • From your thought web, what signs of life do all of the living things have in common? • All living things: • Grow • Reproduce • Move • Take in or produce food • React to things in their environment • Have cells • Have a special chemical make-up

6. Getting Started (con’t) • How would you define a non-living thing? • A non-living thing is something that will never show the signs of life. • Examples: • What is the difference between a rock and a dead rabbit ? • A rock NEVER showed the signs of life and never will. A dead rabbit, however, was once alive and therefore showed the signs of life. • To distinguish between these, scientists classify living things as either dead or alive. So, the dead rabbit is actually a living thing!

7. Getting Started (con’t) • Identify some living and non-living things in the following pictures.

8. Using your forest lists from slide #2, describe how the living things interact with each other, the non-living things, and the local conditions. An example is done for you.

9. Getting Started (con’t) • What we have described is a forest ecosystem. • Using our discussions in this lesson, how would you define an ecosystem? • In your notebooks, describe another ecosystem that you have seen.

10. Internet Connect… • Your textbook offers a website that gives an online copy of your book! • www.discoveringscience.ca • This website also gives a list of links that can give you extra information on the topics we are studying. • On the homepage, click on “Student Center”, “Chapter 1” from the drop list, and “Internet Connect”. • Research Question: From the “Newfoundland Ecosystems Web Page”, list five ecosystems found in NL and identify the dominant animal and plant life found in each.

11. Section 1.1: Types of Ecosystems • Read pages 8-9 in your text. • An organism is… • a living thing. • Example: • Adaptations are… • Inherited characteristics that help organisms survive in their environment. • Example: • An habitat is.. • The particular place that an organism lives. • Example:

12. Types of Ecosystems (con’t)Abiotic and Biotic Parts of the Environment (p.8) • Biotic Factors are… • The livingparts of an organism’s environment. • Example: • Abiotic Factors are… • The non-living parts of an organism’s environment. • Example:

13. Types of Ecosystems (con’t)Abiotic and Biotic Parts of the Environment (p.8) • Identify the biotic and abiotic parts of this pond ecosystem.

14. Types of Ecosystems (con’t)Studying Ecosystems (p.9) • There are a variety of ecosystems on planet Earth! • Large ones – Atlantic ocean • Small ones – rotting log • Dry ones – Sahara desert • Wet ones – bogs • ETC.

15. Section 1.1: Types of Ecosystems • Complete the “Reading Check” on p.9. • In partners, complete Activity 1-1A: “What Do Living Things Need For Survival?” on p.10. • As a class, summarize what you learned from this activity in the space below.

16. Types of Ecosystems (con’t)Ecosystems in Atlantic Canada (p.10-12) • Read pp.10-12 to learn about five common ecosystems found in NL. • Coastlines • The coastlines of NL are very rocky and sometimes become covered with water as the tides wash in and out. • Organisms that call the coastlines their home can attach themselves to the rocks to avoid being washed away. • Examples: Seaweed, barnacles, mussels, starfish, and rock crabs.

17. Types of Ecosystems (con’t)Coastline Ecosystems

18. Types of Ecosystems (con’t)Ecosystems in Atlantic Canada (p.10-12) • Oceans • The Labrador Current flows southward along the east coast of Canada. This current is responsible for our NON-tropical climate! • Our Atlantic ocean is COLD and so the marine life here must be adapted to live in its frigid temperatures. • Examples: Caplin, cod, seals, whales, jellyfish, etc. • Also, don’t forget the gulls! It wouldn’t be fishing in NL if you didn’t have a flock of gulls surrounding your boat!

19. Types of Ecosystems (con’t)Ocean ecosystems

20. Types of Ecosystems (con’t)Ecosystems in Atlantic Canada (p.10-12) • Freshwater: Rivers, Lakes, and Ponds • Can you name some popular rivers and lakes in NL? • NL’s freshwater provides a habitat for many different types of animals. Most common to us are salmon, trout, beavers, ducks, and frogs.

21. Types of Ecosystems (con’t)River Ecosystems

22. Types of Ecosystems (con’t)Ecosystems in Atlantic Canada (p.10-12) • Artic • The northernmost tip of Labrador has an artic ecosystem – it’s COLD! • Since it also has very little precipitation, it has been called a “cold desert”. • A meter below the surface of the ground, the soil is permanently frozen (permafrost). • Plant life: low shrubs, mosses, lichens, small flowering plants. • Animal life: caribou, musk, ox, wolves, artic foxes and hares, and lemmings. • Some birds rear their young here in the spring but must return south in winter due to the cold.

23. Types of Ecosystems (con’t)Artic Ecosystems

24. Types of Ecosystems (con’t)Ecosystems in Atlantic Canada (p.10-12) • Forests • Forest ecosystems cover the majority of NL. • Climate: Summers are cool while winters are wet. • Common trees: Black spruce, balsam fur, white birch, and mountain ash. • Animal Life: moose, caribou, black bear, lynx, red fox, pine marten, and mink. • Where drainage is poor, bogs and marshes often develop. The build-up of decaying material forms peat – a type of soil rich in nutrients.

25. Types of Ecosystems (con’t)Forest Ecosystems

26. Types of Ecosystems (con’t)Ecosystems in Atlantic Canada (p.10-12) • Complete the “Reading Check” on p.12. • Assignment #1A: • Complete the “Check Your Understanding” questions #1, 2, 3, 8, 10 on p.15. • Please complete these questions on loose leaf as it must be passed in. • Due date will be assigned and posted on our science website.