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The Environment
Everything in the environment is connected
Today we will study ecosystems, habitats, food chains, conservation and pollution.
Ecosystem Connections
Sunlight, water, plants, animals and people all affect one another.
By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
Ecosystems
- Explain habitat, population and community.
- Describe habitats found in your locality.
- Show producer and consumer relationships in food chains and food webs.
- Predict how environmental change affects populations.
Conservation and pollution
- Describe traditional and modern conservation methods.
- Identify protected plants and animals in Botswana.
- Discuss benefits of conservation and tourism.
- Investigate pollution effects on people and the environment.
Habitat, population and community
Habitat
The place where an organism lives.
Population
All organisms of the same kind living in one area.
Community
Different populations living together in one area.
Quick check
A group of zebras living in the same grassland is a...
Different habitats support different organisms
Grassland
May support grasses, insects, antelope, cattle and birds.
River or pond
May support fish, frogs, reeds, insects and water birds.
Dry shrubland
May support thorn bushes, reptiles, insects and small mammals.
Think about your locality
Energy moves from producers to consumers
Producer
Consumer
Consumer
Consumer
Quick check
In the food chain above, which organism is the producer?
What happens when one factor changes?
Example
If drought reduces grass, grasshoppers may decrease because there is less food. Frogs may also decrease because there are fewer grasshoppers to eat.
Prediction skill
To predict, ask: What changed? Which organisms depend on it? Will the population increase or decrease?
Predict the effect
If many trees are cut down, what may happen to birds that nest in those trees?
Protecting natural flora and fauna
Traditional conservation
- Taboos or customs that discourage over-hunting.
- Respecting breeding seasons.
- Using natural resources carefully.
Modern conservation
- National parks and game reserves.
- Wildlife laws and protected species.
- Anti-poaching patrols and community tourism.
Why conserve?
Which is a benefit of conservation?
Human activities can pollute air, land and water
| Type of pollution | Possible human activity | Possible effect |
|---|---|---|
| Air pollution | Smoke from fires, factories or vehicles | Breathing problems; dirty air |
| Land pollution | Littering, dumping waste | Dirty environment; harm to animals |
| Water pollution | Dumping chemicals or waste into water | Unsafe water; death of aquatic organisms |
Investigation plan
Check your understanding
1. A habitat is...
2. A producer is an organism that...
3. If drought reduces grass, herbivore populations may...
4. Conservation helps Botswana by...
5. Dumping waste into a river causes...
Everything in the environment is connected
Today we will study ecosystems, habitats, food chains, conservation and pollution.
Ecosystem Connections
Sunlight, water, plants, animals and people all affect one another.
By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
Ecosystems
- Explain habitat, population and community.
- Describe habitats found in your locality.
- Show producer and consumer relationships in food chains and food webs.
- Predict how environmental change affects populations.
Conservation and pollution
- Describe traditional and modern conservation methods.
- Identify protected plants and animals in Botswana.
- Discuss benefits of conservation and tourism.
- Investigate pollution effects on people and the environment.
Habitat, population and community
Habitat
The place where an organism lives.
Population
All organisms of the same kind living in one area.
Community
Different populations living together in one area.
Quick check
A group of zebras living in the same grassland is a...
Different habitats support different organisms
Grassland
May support grasses, insects, antelope, cattle and birds.
River or pond
May support fish, frogs, reeds, insects and water birds.
Dry shrubland
May support thorn bushes, reptiles, insects and small mammals.
Think about your locality
Energy moves from producers to consumers
Producer
Consumer
Consumer
Consumer
Quick check
In the food chain above, which organism is the producer?
What happens when one factor changes?
Example
If drought reduces grass, grasshoppers may decrease because there is less food. Frogs may also decrease because there are fewer grasshoppers to eat.
Prediction skill
To predict, ask: What changed? Which organisms depend on it? Will the population increase or decrease?
Predict the effect
If many trees are cut down, what may happen to birds that nest in those trees?
Protecting natural flora and fauna
Traditional conservation
- Taboos or customs that discourage over-hunting.
- Respecting breeding seasons.
- Using natural resources carefully.
Modern conservation
- National parks and game reserves.
- Wildlife laws and protected species.
- Anti-poaching patrols and community tourism.
Why conserve?
Which is a benefit of conservation?
Human activities can pollute air, land and water
| Type of pollution | Possible human activity | Possible effect |
|---|---|---|
| Air pollution | Smoke from fires, factories or vehicles | Breathing problems; dirty air |
| Land pollution | Littering, dumping waste | Dirty environment; harm to animals |
| Water pollution | Dumping chemicals or waste into water | Unsafe water; death of aquatic organisms |
Investigation plan
Check your understanding
1. A habitat is...
2. A producer is an organism that...
3. If drought reduces grass, herbivore populations may...
4. Conservation helps Botswana by...
5. Dumping waste into a river causes...
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