Ecosystems

Standard 9 Describe the relationship of populations within a habitat to various communities and ecosystems.

• Describing the relationship between food chains and food webs • Describing symbiotic relationships

decomposers - a living thing that feeds on and breaks down dead things or waste for food. omnivore - an animal that eats both plants and animals herbivores - animals that only eat plants carnivore - animals that only eat meat

Ecosystem - These are smaller than biomes. They are a community of plants and animals that live in an environment.

abiotic - the non-living parts of an ecosystem (soil, water, temperature, sunlight)
 * This means non-living or never has lived!

biotic - the living parts of an ecosystem
 * This means living or has lived!

symbiosis - a long term relationship between different species
 * 1) commensalism - a relationship between two organisms of different species, in which one benefits and the other is not effected.
 * 2) mutualism - a relationship between two organisms of different species, in which both benefit.
 * 3) parasitism - a relationship between two organisms of different species, in which one benefits and the other is harmed.