Ecosystems

Students should be able to: • explain the concepts of ecosystem, population, community, habitat, and niche • outline the living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) elements of an ecosystem, including: biotic factors such as producers, primary, secondary, and tertiary consumers, and decomposers; abiotic factors such as temperature, humidity, water, oxygen, salinity, light, and pH • discuss interactions among living organisms, including competition, predation, and pollination • explain the process of photosynthesis and the role of chlorophyll, including the relevant word equation • illustrate energy transfer through food chains, food webs, and trophic levels • describe and interpret ecological pyramids in terms of numbers and energy • explain the process of respiration and its word equation • outline the carbon cycle.