Learning Intentions:

We are learning about Biomes and Ecosystems

So that we can understand the difference between an Ecosystem and a Biome

You will be able to watch the video clip and complete the worksheet looking at Ecosystems and Biomes.

WHAT IS A BIOME?

• A biome describes the world’s major communities of living things.

• Biomes are classified according to the predominant plants that are found there. The animals that live in the biome are uniquely adapted to live in that particular environment. This is because temperature, the type of soil, and the amount of light and water all affect the types of plants and animals that live within a biome.

• The five major biomes are aquatic, desert, forest, grasslands, and tundra (or polar).

WHAT IS AN ECOSYSTEM?

• An ecosystem is an environment where plants and animals interact with each other.

• Within biomes, there can be several types of particular environments with different climates. Each of these is known as a different ecosystem. The specific plants and animals may vary, but the general types will be the same.

• For example, within the larger forest biome, you have the taiga forest ecosystems, the temperate forest ecosystems, and the tropical forest ecosystems.

WHAT IS A HABITAT?

• A habitat is a natural environment of a plant or an animal or a place that is normal for the life and growth of an animal or a plant.

• This habitat is the place that the plant or animal calls home.

• A habitat could be as small as a backyard tree or as big as the whole forest. Either way, this habitat provides shelter, water, and food.

Biomes and Ecosystems:

Watch the video below and  complete the sheet below.

Pondwater Ecosystem

Use microscopes to complete the experiment by looking at pond water from the link below. The two websites below show some pond water organisms that may be viewed under the microscope.