Ecosystems+

Ecosystems Overview

Definition: Ecosystems consist of all organisms in a specific area along with their physical environment.

Standards:

• B-LS-2-1: Explain biotic/abiotic factors affecting ecosystem carrying capacity.

• B-LS-2-5: Model the role of photosynthesis and cellular respiration in carbon cycling.

• B-LS-2-7: Develop solutions to reduce human impacts on biodiversity.

Biotic and Abiotic Factors:

• Biotic Factors: Living components (e.g., animals, plants, microorganisms).

• Abiotic Factors: Nonliving components (e.g., sunlight, temperature, soil).

Cycles of Matter: Essential nutrients like oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are recycled through ecosystems.

The Carbon Cycle: Carbon is integral to organic compounds and is recycled through processes involving photosynthesis, respiration, and decomposition.

Population: A population consists of individuals of the same species in a given area, characterized by growth rates, density, and age structure.

Population Growth: Influenced by birth and death rates, immigration, and emigration, with two types: exponential (ideal conditions) and logistic (limited resources leading to stabilization).

Carrying Capacity: The maximum population size an environment can support, affected by factors like food availability and living space.

Limiting Factors: These factors control population growth and can be density-dependent (affected by population size) or density-independent (affect all populations regardless of size).