ecology

• Ecosystem


  The community of the plants or animals that live there and they're all dependent upon one another
• Organism needs


  • Food
  • Water
  • Air
  • Mate (sometimes)
• Abiotic factors


  Nonliving factors such as light intensity, temperature, water levels, pH, iron levels, wind, carbon dioxide levels, oxygen levels
• Biotic factors


  Living factors such as food, predators, pathogens
• Changes in abiotic or biotic factors

  Can have a dramatic impact on a community
• Adaptations of cacti


  • Shallow roots
  • Spines to prevent being eaten
  • Ability to store water in leaves
• Adaptations of snow foxes

  • White colour to camouflage
  • Small ears to prevent heat loss
  • Thick coat
• Food chain


  1. Sun provides energy

  2. Plants grow

  3. Plants eaten by other organisms

  4. Top consumers like humans
• Quadrat


  A square frame used to estimate plant population in a field
• Transect


  A line along which measurements are taken at regular intervals
• Organic compounds


  Any compound that has carbon in it
• Carbon cycle


  1. Carbon dioxide in air

  2. Absorbed by plants (photosynthesis)

  3. Incorporated into organic compounds in plants and animals

  4. Returned to air through respiration

  5. Buried to form fossil fuels
• Water cycle


  1. Evaporation from water bodies

  2. Condensation to form clouds

  3. Precipitation as rain

  4. Percolation into soil and groundwater

  5. Runoff into rivers and oceans

  6. Transpiration from plants
• Microorganisms


  Break down organic matter through decay and decomposition
• Temperature, water, oxygen levels


  Affect the rate of decay by microorganisms
• Compost gets hot and smelly as microorganisms break down organic matter
• Biodiversity


  The range of plants and animals that live within a habitat
• Humans have a massive impact on biodiversity through activities like deforestation and pollution
• Peat


  A type of fuel made from decomposed plant matter that takes millions of years to form
• Global warming


  Increase in average global temperatures leading to climate change
• Global warming


  Can lead to changes in habitats and food sources for animals
• Trophic levels


  The different levels in a food chain or food web
• Roughly 10% of energy is transferred between trophic levels
• Food security


  Ensuring a reliable and accessible food supply for a population
• Strategies to improve food security include increasing domestic food production, sustainable fishing practices, and developing new food sources