Interactions Within
Ecosystems
Living things within
an ecosystem interact
with each other and
the environment.
Key Concepts
SECTION
1
Groups of living
things interact
within ecosystems.
Learn about how different
organisms share living areas,
interact in larger communities,
and show different patterns
within those communities.
SECTION
2
Organisms can interact
in different ways.
Learn about the different types
of interactions in an ecosystem,
including competition, cooperation, and symbiosis.
SECTION
3
Ecosystems are always
changing.
Learn about the limits and
boundaries of organisms
within an ecosystem and
how ecosystems may change
over time.
Prepare and practice for
the FCAT
• Section Reviews, pp. 537, 547,
554
• Chapter Review, pp. 556–558
• FCAT Practice, p. 559
CLASSZONE.COM
• Florida Review: Content
Review and FCAT Practice
528 Unit 4: Ecology
How do living things
interact?
How Do Living Things Interact
Where You Live?
Take your notebook outside.
Observe how different living
things interact. Record your
observations.
Observe and Think Do the interactions you see benefit both living
things or just one? Do they involve
just animals or plants and animals?
How Many Roles Can a Living
Thing Have in an Ecosystem?
While you are outside, choose an organism
within your view and think about how it fits
into the ecosystem.
Observe and Think In
what way does the
organism fit into
feeding relationships in the ecosystem? What are
some other roles the
organism plays?
Internet Activity:
Carrying Capacity
Go to ClassZone.com to simulate the carrying
capacity of an area for a population of deer.
Observe and Think What factors other than
available food might affect the carrying capacity
for a popuation of deer?
NSTA
scilinks.org
Populations and Communities Code: MDL002
Chapter 15: Interactions Within Ecosystems 529
CHAPTER 15
CONCEPT REVIEW
VOCABULARY REVIEW
• Ecosystems support life.
producer p. 509
• Different ecosystems make
up a biome.
consumer p. 510
food chain p. 512
food web p. 512
interaction See Glossary.
FLORIDA REVIEW
CLASSZONE.COM
Content Review and FCAT Practice
TAKING NOTES
OUTLINE
As you read, copy the
headings on your paper in
the form of an outline.
Then add notes in your
own words that summarize
what you read.
I. Groups of living things interact within ecosystems.
A. Organisms occupy specific living areas.
1. populations: same species in one area
2. habitat and niche: place where organisms
live; role of organisms
3. community: several populations living
together
VOCABULARY
STRATEGY
Write each new vocabulary
term in the center of a
four square diagram.
Write notes in the squares
around each term. Include
definition, some characteristics, and some examples
of the term. If possible,
write some things that are
not examples of the terms.
530 Unit 4: Ecology
Definition
where something
lives
Characteristics
supplies shelter
and food
HABITAT
Examples
Nonexamples
a tree is a habitat
(you won’t always
for a bird
use this square)