6.12EF: Organization and Interactions in an Ecosystem
Organisms and Environments
Part I: Leveling an Ecosystem
Fundamental Question: What are the levels of organization within an ecosystem?
1. 
2. 
3. 
An organism is any living thing that can grow,
develop, and reproduce. Think of one living
organism. Your organism can be an animal or a
plant. It’s up to you! Draw a picture of your
organism into Box 1 of your Student Journal. Next to
Box 1, describe your organism’s niche. A niche is
the role or behavior your organism displays within
their environment. For example, a lion’s niche is a
predator or a carnivore.
A population consists of all the same type of
organisms that live in the same environment. For
example, a population of lions would consist of all the
lions – not just a single pride, or family group, but the
multiple prides that live in a geographic area. Think
of your organism interacting with others of its same
kind. Draw a picture of a population of your
organism into Box 2 of your Student Journal. Next to
Box 2, describe what characteristics your population
shares with each other.
A community is a group of different organisms
sharing an environment. For example, the
community of a lion population includes zebras,
elephants, giraffes, grass, trees, etc. Think of your
population interacting with other types of organisms.
Draw a picture of a community that exists within your
population’s environment into Box 3 of your Student
Journal. Next to Box 3, list the organisms found
within your community.
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Organism
Lion Example
Organism
Population
Community
6.12EF: Organization and Interactions in an Ecosystem
Organisms and Environments
Part I: Leveling an Ecosystem, continued
3. 
An ecosystem consists of all the living organisms
(biotic factors) that interact with the non-living
things (abiotic factors) within their environment.
Abiotic factors include air, soil, water, and
sunlight. For example, the ecosystem of a lion
would include zebras, cheetahs, giraffes, grass,
trees, air, soil, water, sunlight, etc. Draw a picture
of your community’s ecosystem in Box 4 of your
Student Journal. Next to Box 4, list some of your
ecosystem’s biotic and abiotic parts.
Lion Example,
continued
Ecosystem
Part II: Ecosystem Pyramid
Fundamental Question: What are the levels of organization within an ecosystem?
Refer to your completed boxes from Part I to put it all together in the Ecosystem Pyramid. Start
by drawing your single organism at the top and work your way down
to the “big picture” - the Ecosystem.
Make sure to include both biotic and abiotic parts in the Ecosystem level of your pyramid.
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