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An ecosystem is an area where plants, animals and other organisms, together with the weather and landscape, work together. It has biotic (living) factors such as plants and animals, and abiotic (non-living) factors such as rocks, temperature and humidity.

The Sun is the first source of energy for almost every ecosystem. Producers, mostly plants on land and phytoplankton in the ocean, make their own food from sunlight. Consumers cannot make their own food and must eat other organisms.

Decomposers break down waste and dead matter. Every part of an ecosystem depends on every other part, directly or indirectly.

Experiment: A sealed bottle ecosystem

1. Put a layer of washed gravel in the bottom of the jar for drainage.
2. Add potting compost on top, deep enough for the plant roots.
3. Plant the small plants and moss and press the compost down gently.
4. Spray a little water, then close the lid.
5. Place the jar in bright light but not in direct sunshine or near a radiator.
6. Look twice a week for 4 weeks: is there condensation on the glass? Are the plants growing? Record what you see.
7. Decide which parts of your bottle ecosystem are biotic and which are abiotic.

Day	Condensation? (none / light / heavy)	Plants: what I notice
Day 1
Day 4
Day 8
Day 11
Day 15
Day 22
Day 29

Questions

1. List two biotic and two abiotic factors in your bottle ecosystem.

2. Explain why the bottle ecosystem must be kept in a bright place.

3. Draw a food chain with a producer and two consumers. Label each one.

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4. Describe how wolves returning to Yellowstone changed the plants there.

Sources for every fact on this sheet: echoesof.science/school/ecosystems/sources/

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