4.5 : Ecosystems. K. Beasley, updated 4/2014!! 31

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1 4.5 : Ecosystems Science Vocabulary Adaptation: any physical or behavioral trait of an organism that helps it survive Populations: groups of like species that live in the same place at the same time Community: groups of populations that live together in the same place at the same time Ecosystem: all populations and communities in a given area Habitat: the natural environment of an organism Niche: an organisms role in its ecosystem Producer: an organism that creates its own food Consumer: an organism that must eat to get its energy Decomposer: an organism that breaks down dead matter to get its energy Herbivore: an organism that eats only plants Carnivore: an organism that eats only meat Omnivore: an organism that eats both meat and plants There are two kinds of adaptations, structural and behavioral. Structural, or physical, adaptations have to do with the physical appearance or qualities of an animal. For example, birds are able to fly, this is because they have hollow bones. Their hollow bones are a structural adaptation. Some well known structural adaptations have to do with animals body coverings. is when an animal s coloring helps to conceal it from predators. A polar bear is a good example of an animal that uses camouflage, with its white fur it easily blends into its snowy habitat. is similar to camouflage, however, it is a close resemblance to another creature to avoid predators. A good example of mimicry is the Hawk Moth caterpillar. This caterpillar has an interesting face, it looks like a snake K. Beasley, updated 4/

2 There are many behavioral adaptations that are important to an animal s survival. Some behaviors are as natural as breathing, they are. You do them without thinking. Your heart beating and breathing are instincts. Two major instincts that some animals have are migration and hibernation. entails an animal going into a deep sleep during the winter months. involves an animal traveling to a specific location. Other behaviors are learned behaviors, which means they must be taught. Much like you had to learn to read, an animal must learn to hunt. Identify as a structural or behavioral adaptation. Human hunting: Bear asleep for winter: Birds flying south for the winter: Child tying shoes: K. Beasley, updated 4/

3 All the organisms of the same species that live in the same space at the same time make up a. Populations of species that live in the same place at the same time make up a. All the populations and other nonliving parts (water, sunlight, soil, etc.) in an environment and how the interact form an. The organization of a community is based on how it uses energy from the within its ecosystem. The greatest amount of energy in a community always is found in the producers. Within a community, organisms depend on each other for survival. Energy is passed from one organism to another. In a food web, energy is passed from the sun to producers, then to consumers, and finally to decomposers. PLANTS Use the food web to answer the questions. 1. Where does the producer get its energy from? 2. What is the producer in this food web? _ 3. Which animals are carnivores? 4. Which animals are herbivores? 5. Which animals are predators? 6. Which animals are prey? 7. Which animals are predators and prey? K. Beasley, updated 4/

4 A is the place where an animal or a plant naturally lives. An organism s habitat provides,,,and. The size of an organism s habitat depends on its needs. The biggest way humans effect habitats is, unfortunately, by destroying them. Humans are often careless with their use of pollutants. Smoke, trash, and chemicals often pollute our habitats. Luckily, laws have been passed and humans are becoming more mindful of problems in habitats, and some are trying to change and make the environment better for animals and people as well. A is an organism s function, or role, in an ecosystem. The niches, when they are organized together, make up the community. Throughout the organism s life cycle, its niche may change. Label the life cycle of the frog (froglet, egg, tadpole, adult frog) K. Beasley, updated 4/

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