Ecosystems Ecosystems • Identify and describe parts of an ecosystem • Describe the interaction of biotic and abbot factors within an ecosystem • Identify different types of ecosystems and organisms which inhabit these ecosystems • Recognize the fragility of an ecosystem and the effect of changes of one element within an ecosystem and how it can affect many other elements within the same ecosystem Flow of Energy and Matter through an Ecosystem • Identify and understand the roles of produces, consumers and decomposers in food webs, as well as the energy and biomass pyramids used to represent these relationships and the flow of energy and matter through an ecosystem. Food Chains • Identify the flow of energy in a food chain • Distinguish between a food chain and a food web • Understand the role of organisms within a food chain/web • Understand the importance of maintaining balance within a food chain/web Predators and Prey • Define predator and prey • Match animals to their roles as either predator or prey (or both) • Understand the importance of having predators and prey in balance within an ecosystem How Plants Make Food • Understand that plants make food from air, water, sunlight and nutrients form the soil and that the process is called photosynthesis Living vs. Non-Living • Compare living objects to non living objects • Describe the characteristics of each group and classify objects into either group Biotic and Abiotic Factors • Understand the meaning of biotic and abiotic • Identify and compare biotic and abiotic factors within an ecosystem