The Characteristics of an Ecosystem

Pages C6-7

1. What is an environment?

An environment is the surroundings in which an organism lives. It provides it with the specific things it needs.

2. What is abiotic?

Abiotic are nonliving parts of the environment. It includes the following:

1. Land

2. Water

3. Air

4. Minerals in the soil

5. Temperature

6. Rainfall

7. Sunlight

8. Humidity

3. What does biotic mean?

Biotic includes every living organism.

4. What is a habitat?

A habitat is the part of the huger environment where the organism lives, finds food, and shelter.

5. Is every habitat the same size?

Not at all, lions need large areas to roam, but a bug may only require a leaf to survive.

6. What is a population?

A population includes all of the organisms of the same species living in one place at the same time.

7. What is a community?

A community is all the different populations living and interacting with each other.

8. What is an ecosystem?

An ecosystem is a community of all the different living species and all the abiotic parts interacting together.

Page C8-9

9. What is the most important factor that determines a region’s ecosystems?

Climate

10. Where do scientists think there are the most populations?

The rainforest

11. What is a niche?

A niche is the role of an organism in its ecosystem. It includes everything the organism needs and everything it does.

12. What happens when two populations of organisms have the same niche in the same ecosystem?

They compete for thee same limited resources; one population may be pushed out.

Page C10-11

What kind of plants are the first to grow after a natural disaster?

Small, weedy, fast growing plants that release their seeds in one season.