ecology

• factors that affect the rate of composition:

  • temperature (if too hot enzymes can denature)
  • water (needed for respiration and easier digestion)
  • availability of oxygen (most decomposed respire aerobically)
• what factors affect the rate of decomposition?

  1. temperature
  2. water
  3. oxygen supply
• ecosystem organisation:

  individuals: individual organisms are the smallest part of an ecosystem

  populations: populations of individual organisms make up a single species

  communities: made up of populations of different species
• what do plants compete for?

  water, mineral ions (from soil), light and space
• what do animals compete for?

  food, mates and territory
• species interdependance:

  • seed dispersal
  • shelter
  • pollination
  • food
• what is a stable community?

  when all species and environment factors are balanced, population sizes stay constant