Ecology

• Describe the carbon cycle

  • carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere by photosynthesis
  • this makes glucose for the plants
  • animals eat the plant but they also respire which releases CO2
  • plants respire aswell to realease CO2
  • the combustion of fossil fuels and deforestation releases CO2
• Individual organism

  • a single member of a species
• population

  •  a number of individuals of the same species living in the same area at the same time
• Community

  • multiple populations living and interacting in the same area
• Ecosystem

  • the interaction between a community and non living parts of the environment
• ecosystem

  •  the interaction of a community of living organisms (biotic) with the non-living (abiotic) parts of their environment
• what do plants compete for?

  • light & water- for photosynthesis
  • space- plants require space above soil for maximum sunlight
  • mineral ions- require mineral ions such as magnesium ions to make chlorophyll
• what do animals compete for?

  • food - provides energy for the animals required for growth and reproduction
  • mates - they require mates to produce offspring
  • territory - an area that provides food and shelter
• interdependence

  • everything is dependant on something
• if the population of earthworms decreased what would happen?

  • The population of grass plants would increase as there are now fewer species feeding off them
  • The populations of frogs and mice would decrease significantly as earthworms are their only food source
  • The population of sparrows would decrease slightly as they eat earthworms but also have another food source to rely on
• abiotic

  • non living
• what are abiotic factors?

  • light intensity
  • temp
  • moisture levels
  • soil ph
  • wind intensity
  • co2
  • oxygen levels
• biotic

  • living factors
• what are biotic living factors?

  • food availability
  • new predators
  • new pathogens
  • competition