Ecology

• An individual is part of a species, but lives in its habitat within a population
• Many different populations interact in the same habitat, creating a community
• Populations are often dependent on each other
• An ecosystem is the interaction of a community with non-living (abiotic) parts of the environment
• Organisms are adapted to live in the conditions of their environment
• Competition can occur within a species or between different species
• Plants may compete for light, space, water and mineral ions
• Animals may compete for space, food, water and mating partners
• Interdependence describes how organisms in a community depend on other organisms for vital services
• Organisms depend on each other for food, shelter, and reproduction (pollination, seed dispersal)
• The removal or addition of a species to the community can greatly affect the populations of others
• A stable community is one where all biotic and abiotic factors are in balance
• Light intensity affects photosynthesis and plant growth
• Abiotic factors are non-living factors that can affect a community
• Temperature affects the rate of photosynthesis
• Moisture levels are essential for both plants and animals
• Soil pH and mineral content affect decay and nutrient availability
• Wind intensity and direction affect transpiration in plants
• Carbon dioxide levels affect photosynthesis and organism distribution
• Oxygen levels in water are crucial for aquatic animals
• Biotic factors are living factors that can affect a community
• Food availability affects breeding success and population numbers
• New predators and pathogens can impact populations
• Competition can lead to the outcompeting of less adapted species
• Organisms have adaptations that allow them to survive in their environment
• Structural adaptations include shape or color of body parts
• Behavioural adaptations involve how an organism behaves
• Functional adaptations are involved in processes like reproduction and metabolism
• Extremophiles live in environments with extreme conditions
• Examples of adaptations for different scenarios include adaptations for cold and dry climates, and plant adaptations
• Feeding relationships in ecosystems are shown by food chains
• Producers are photosynthetic organisms that make glucose
• Energy is transferred through organisms in an ecosystem via consumption
• Tools like transects and quadrats are used to study distribution and abundance of species
• The carbon and water cycles are vital for life on Earth
• Factors affecting the rate of decomposition include temperature, water availability, and oxygen levels
• Decomposition produces compost and methane gas
• Biogas generators are used to produce methane
• Environmental changes affect the distribution of species in an ecosystem
• Temperature changes can lead to species migration