In this Grade 7 Life Science lesson from Chapter 14, students learn how ecosystems support life by exploring the key concepts of ecology, biotic factors, and abiotic factors. Students examine how living things interact with both the living and nonliving parts of their environment, using examples like pond ecosystems to distinguish between biotic elements such as plants and animals and abiotic elements such as water, sunlight, and temperature. The lesson also introduces how specific abiotic factors like temperature influence which organisms can survive in a given ecosystem.
Section 1
Ecosystems Balance Living and Nonliving Factors
Ecosystems contain biotic factors (plants, animals, microorganisms) and abiotic factors (temperature, light, water, soil). These components interact constantly, creating environments that support specific types of life.
Section 2
Plants Transform Sunlight Into Food Energy
Plants capture sunlight to produce food through photosynthesis. This energy supports nearly all life on Earth, while plants also affect temperature, soil erosion, and atmospheric composition by taking in carbon dioxide.
Section 3
Temperature Determines Where Organisms Thrive
Temperature affects which plants and animals can survive in an ecosystem. Tropical rainforests support diverse species with warm temperatures, while Arctic regions host animals with adaptations like thick fur.
Section 4
Water Shapes Ecosystem Diversity
All living things require water for survival. Ecosystems with abundant water, like tropical rainforests, support greater biodiversity than dry ecosystems like deserts, which have fewer plant and animal species.
Section 5
Soil Composition Influences Plant Growth
Different soil types affect how water moves through the ground. Sandy soils drain quickly, clay soils retain water, and loam offers balance. The soil's mineral content and organic matter determine which plants can grow.
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Section 1
Ecosystems Balance Living and Nonliving Factors
Ecosystems contain biotic factors (plants, animals, microorganisms) and abiotic factors (temperature, light, water, soil). These components interact constantly, creating environments that support specific types of life.
Section 2
Plants Transform Sunlight Into Food Energy
Plants capture sunlight to produce food through photosynthesis. This energy supports nearly all life on Earth, while plants also affect temperature, soil erosion, and atmospheric composition by taking in carbon dioxide.
Section 3
Temperature Determines Where Organisms Thrive
Temperature affects which plants and animals can survive in an ecosystem. Tropical rainforests support diverse species with warm temperatures, while Arctic regions host animals with adaptations like thick fur.
Section 4
Water Shapes Ecosystem Diversity
All living things require water for survival. Ecosystems with abundant water, like tropical rainforests, support greater biodiversity than dry ecosystems like deserts, which have fewer plant and animal species.
Section 5
Soil Composition Influences Plant Growth
Different soil types affect how water moves through the ground. Sandy soils drain quickly, clay soils retain water, and loam offers balance. The soil's mineral content and organic matter determine which plants can grow.
Book overview
Jump across lessons in the current chapter without opening the full course modal.
Continue this chapter