Ecosystems
An ecosystem is a community of living organisms interacting with each other and with their non-living environment, working together as a system.
What You Need to Know
Key Concept Diagram
Ecosystems include both biotic (living) components such as plants and animals, and abiotic (non-living) components such as water, sunlight, and soil
Producers (plants) use sunlight to make food; consumers eat plants or other animals; decomposers break down dead matter
Food webs show the complex feeding relationships within an ecosystem; removing one species can affect many others
Ecosystems can be disrupted by natural events (bushfires, floods) or human activities (pollution, land clearing)
Key Vocabulary
Ecosystem
A community of living organisms and their physical environment, functioning as a system
Biotic
The living components of an ecosystem (plants, animals, fungi, bacteria)
Abiotic
The non-living components of an ecosystem (water, sunlight, temperature, soil)
Food web
A diagram showing the complex network of feeding relationships in an ecosystem
Knowledge Check
Select the correct answer for each question. Click "Check Answer" to see if you are right.
Question 1
In an ecosystem, which organism is classified as a producer?
Question 2
If all the rabbits in an ecosystem were removed, which group would most immediately be affected?
Question 3
Which of the following is an abiotic component of a forest ecosystem?
Key Concepts Summary
- ●Ecosystems include both biotic (living) components such as plants and animals, and abiotic (non-living) components such as water, sunlight, and soil
- ●Producers (plants) use sunlight to make food; consumers eat plants or other animals; decomposers break down dead matter
- ●Food webs show the complex feeding relationships within an ecosystem; removing one species can affect many others
- ●Ecosystems can be disrupted by natural events (bushfires, floods) or human activities (pollution, land clearing)