Classification of Organisms
Weekly OverviewThis week we will be discussing the classification of organisms. This includes discussion on the differences between biotic and abiotic, organisms as producers, consumers, and decomposers, and finally an overview of the five kingdoms of life and taxonomy.
Scroll down to begin learning about the differences between biotic and abiotic, our first section this week. Don't forget to take our Weekly Quiz!! |
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Biotic vs. Abiotic
What does it mean to be Biotic or Abiotic?
Biotic refers to anything that is living, while abiotic refers to everything else in an environment. Take a moment to think of some things that are both living and non-living. How do you know that something is alive? Living things can be identified using the Seven Essential Characteristics of Living Things.
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Vocabulary Section 1
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Take a look at the photos above , think about the characteristics of life we discussed and how each of the objects in the slide show fit. |
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To be living, or biotic, it must exhibit ALL seven of these characteristics. However, there are also non-living or abiotic things that have a few of the characteristics of living things. Lets look at this video of ice. In the video, it appears that the ice is growing and responding to its environment. Does this make ice biotic? Although the ice is growing and responding to its environment, it is still abiotic. Ice cannot use energy, reproduce, and is not composed of cells. Thus, it is not a living ,biotic thing. |
How do Abiotic and Biotic factors effect each other?
We will learn all about the ways in which biotic and abiotic factors influence each other in the ecosystem section.
Click [HERE] to read all about these factors and their influence on an ecosystem.
Scroll Down to Move onto Section 2 ; Producers, Consumers and Decomposers.
Click [HERE] to read all about these factors and their influence on an ecosystem.
Scroll Down to Move onto Section 2 ; Producers, Consumers and Decomposers.
Producers, Consumers, and Decomposers
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Plant are producers because they produce, or make, their own food. Animals are called consumers. This is because they cannot make their own food and must consume, or eat to get energy.
Bacteria and fungi are decomposers. They eat decaying matter, dead plants and animals, and in the process they break them down and decompose them.
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Vocabulary Section 2
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Three types of Consumers
CarnivoreThese are animals that eat mainly meat, including insects and all animals.
Examples of Carnivores include:
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HerbivoreThese are animals that eat mainly plants. This includes leaves, grass, flowers, seeds, roots, fruits etc.
Examples of Herbivores include:
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OmnivoreThese are animals that are able to eat both plants and animals.
Examples of Omnivores include:
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Taxonomy
Taxonomy is the science of the classification of living things. Taxonomists group animals according to their similarities. This grouping of organisms by their similarities show how all different kinds of organisms are related.
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Vocabulary Section 3
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The Eight Ranks in Taxonomy
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This video briefly explains the eight ranks in taxonomy and how an organism is classified. We will talk extensively in class about each of the ranks and how to classify different organisms. Remember the trick for remembering the order of the ranks! Dead ------ Domain
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Week 1 Assignments
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Hey! Remember me? I found some great activities for us to do! Games all about living, non-living, biotic, and abiotic!
Click HERE and we can play. |