Ecosystems: Biotic & Abiotic • Teacha! - Free Printable

Interactions in Ecosystems – Solved Worksheet

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#### 1. Biotic and Abiotic Components

BIOTIC (living components):
- Trees
- Birds (including the bird on the tree branch)
- Squirrel
- Dog
- Person (human)
- Butterflies
- Flowers (yellow and white)
- Grass
- Insects (e.g., bees or other small insects near flowers)
- Raccoon (under the bench)

ABIOTIC (non-living components):
- Sunlight (implied by bright sky)
- Air
- Water (not directly visible, but implied by green vegetation)
- Soil (underground, supporting plants)
- Rocks
- Road/pavement
- Bench (man-made structure)
- Sign ("No Littering")
- Buildings in the background (urban skyline)
- Clouds

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#### 2. Organism Analysis: The Squirrel

Let’s choose the squirrel as the organism.

This habitat meets the squirrel’s needs in several ways:

- Food: The squirrel can find food from seeds, nuts, and possibly insects in the area. Trees provide acorns or other edible plant parts.
- Shelter: Trees offer protection from predators and harsh weather. The dense foliage gives the squirrel places to hide and nest.
- Water: While not shown directly, water is available nearby (possibly through rain or hidden sources like puddles or a park fountain).
- Space: The open park environment allows the squirrel to move around freely and forage.

The biotic elements such as trees and flowers provide food and shelter, while abiotic elements like sunlight help plants grow and warmth helps maintain body temperature. The presence of humans and pets may pose risks, but the overall park environment supports the squirrel's survival.

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#### 3. Human Impact on Ecosystems

Humans significantly impact ecosystems, both positively and negatively. In this image:

- Positive impacts: The “No Littering” sign shows human efforts to protect the environment. Maintaining clean parks helps preserve habitats for animals like squirrels, birds, and insects. Planting trees and flowers also increases biodiversity.

- Negative impacts: Humans can harm ecosystems by littering (even if not shown here), walking dogs off-leash (which might disturb wildlife), or using roads that fragment natural areas. The urban skyline in the background suggests habitat loss due to city development, which reduces space for wild animals.

In other ecosystems, humans may:
- Cut down forests (deforestation) → destroys homes for many species.
- Pollute rivers with waste → harms fish and aquatic life.
- Introduce invasive species → disrupt native populations.

However, humans can also help by creating protected areas, planting native plants, and promoting conservation education—just like the "No Littering" sign suggests.

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✔ Final Answer Summary:

| Section | Answer |
|--------|--------|
| Biotic | Trees, birds, squirrel, dog, person, butterflies, flowers, grass, insects, raccoon |
| Abiotic | Sunlight, air, soil, rocks, road, bench, sign, buildings, clouds |
| Organism Example (Squirrel) | Needs food (nuts/seeds), shelter (trees), water, and space; supported by biotic (trees, plants) and abiotic (sunlight, soil) factors |
| Human Impact | Can harm via pollution, habitat destruction, or pet interference; can help via conservation signs, clean parks, and reforestation |

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