Environmental Systems

Define the following terms in your journal

• Abiotic factors -• Biodiversity -• Biome -• Biotic factors -• Ecosystem -• Microhabitat -• Niche -• Succession -• Sustainability -

Vocabulary Terms• Abiotic factors: Non-living factors in an ecosystem• Biodiversity: The differences in living organisms

within an ecosystem• Biome: Large geographic areas with similar

climates and ecosystems• Biotic factors: All living organisms in an ecosystem• Ecosystem: All living organisms that live in an area

and the nonliving features of their environment.

• Microhabitat: Small habitats• Niche: An organisms role in it’s habitat• Succession: Natural gradual changes in the types of

organisms that live in an area. Can be primary or secondary.

• Sustainability: Organisms ability to survive

Key Questions

• How does a microhabitat such as a tree provide resources to a variety of organisms?

• How is a microhabitat similar to a biome?

• How does biodiversity contribute to the sustainability of an ecosystem?

• How does an ecosystem change over time?

Engage – Microhabitat Comparison

• Examine the picture of the schoolyard and list the biotic and abiotic factors of each microhabitat in your journal– Make a table like the one below

Microhabitat Tree Pond

Biotic factors

Abiotic factors

Microhabitat Comparison

Microhabitats Tree Pond

Biotic Factors Ants, trees, squirrels, birds, spiders, snails, etc.

Frogs, plants, birds, insects, turtles, fish, etc.

Abiotic Factors Temperature, humidity, location of the tree, sunlight, air, ect.

Temperature, chemicals in the water, dissolved oxygen, amount of light, rocks, etc.

Explanation

• Write a brief explanation about how the microhabitats support different varieties of organisms.

• Different microhabitats are characterized by specific abiotic factors that determine the types of organisms living there. The range of temperature, available water and amount of light relates to tolerance levels of organisms that live there.

Reflection Questions

• What type of organisms live in the tree?• How does the tree support the organisms that live

there?• What types of organisms live in or around the pond?• How does the pond support the organisms that live

there?• Why aren’t the organisms that live in the tree moving

to the pond?• What is a microhabitat?

Reflection Questions

• How do drastic changes in abiotic factors affect biodiversity in a biome or ecosystem?

• How do changes in biotic factors affect biodiversity in a biome or ecosystem?

• What is the relation between biodiversity and how an ecosystem or biome is sustained?

Reflection Questions

• How has construction of our school building changed the original habitat of the property?

• Since the school was constructed, how have humans impacted the microhabitats that are present?

• If an ecosystem or habitat is destroyed, how does it recover?