Part 2: Find the Biotic Factors
The first part of your investigation is the biotic factors in the ecosystem you are visiting. Remember, biotic factors are LIVING things in an ecosystem. A list of required elements are below.
You must include:
1. Five producers (these are plants that produce food from the sun’s radiation through photosynthesis). You MAY NOT simply state general terms like “tree” or “grass” you must list specific species (oak, dandelion, etc.) Producers are the foundation on which all ecosystems are built, so general terms are not descriptive enough.
2. At least five primary consumers. These are animals that eat plants (herbivores and/or omnivores).
3. At least three to five secondary consumers (These are the carnivores that eat the primary consumers: herbivores). You must pick secondary consumers that actually eat the primary consumers you chose. If you don’t, then it will be impossible to create a foodweb of your ecosystem.
4. Two to three Tertiary consumers (the carnivores that eat the secondary consumers). Again, be sure that the tertiary consumers eat the secondary consumers you chose.
5. One decomposer, and as in all cases, you must find the species name of the bacteria or fungus that decomposes in the ecosystem.
You must include:
1. Five producers (these are plants that produce food from the sun’s radiation through photosynthesis). You MAY NOT simply state general terms like “tree” or “grass” you must list specific species (oak, dandelion, etc.) Producers are the foundation on which all ecosystems are built, so general terms are not descriptive enough.
2. At least five primary consumers. These are animals that eat plants (herbivores and/or omnivores).
3. At least three to five secondary consumers (These are the carnivores that eat the primary consumers: herbivores). You must pick secondary consumers that actually eat the primary consumers you chose. If you don’t, then it will be impossible to create a foodweb of your ecosystem.
4. Two to three Tertiary consumers (the carnivores that eat the secondary consumers). Again, be sure that the tertiary consumers eat the secondary consumers you chose.
5. One decomposer, and as in all cases, you must find the species name of the bacteria or fungus that decomposes in the ecosystem.