Ecology

• Ecosytem

  The interaction of a community with the abiotic parts of the environment
• decay

  when microorganisms break down plant and animal material and waste to get energy
• decay can produce compost which is used as a natural fertiliser
• the more microorganisms there are, the faster decomposition happens
• factors that effect rate of decay

  water availability

  oxygen availability

  temperature

  number of decay organisms
• water availability affecting rate of decay

  decay takes place faster in a moist environment

  organisms involved need water to carry out biological processes
• oxygen availability in rate of decay

  many organisms need oxygen to respire

  less oxygen slows down rate of decay as organisms die

  organisms involved in anaerobic decay don't need oxygen
• temperature in rate of decay

  warmer temperature increases the rate of decay

  increases the rate that enzymes work at

  too hot and decay slows down as enzymes have denatured and organisms die