Ecology

• Environment

  all the conditions that surround a living organism
• ecosystem

  interaction of a community of living organisms with the non living parts of their environment
• Community

  group of 2 or more population of different species that live in the same area at the same time
• Habitat

  a place where an organism lives
• interdependence

  the network of relationships between different organisms within a community
• population

  total number of one species in an ecosystem
• distribution

  where particular types of an organism are found within an environment
• abiotic factor

  non living parts of the environment eg. temperature, light, water and soil
• biotic factor

  living parts of the environment eg. food, predators, competitors and disease
• food chains

  plant = produce

  worms (insects) =herbivore

  mouse = consumer

  bird = carnivore
• food chains

  • Energy decreases as it goes down the food chain
  • All food chains begin with a producer which synthesizes complex organic molecules from simple inorganic molecules(carbon, glucose, oxygen)
  • Usually the green plant which synthesizes glucose using energy from sunlight in photosynthesis
• Biomass

  • Mass of materials in living organisms
  • measured as the dry mass of biological material in grams
• Energy loss in food chains

  • not every part is eaten
  • eaten but not digested and lost in faeces for example carnivores struggle to break down claws
  • energy lost in excretory materials (Co2 and H2O are waste products in respiration)
  • glucose used for respiration
  • energy transferred to surroundings as heat during respiration
• Biodiversity

  variety of all different species of organisms on earth or within an ecosystem

  • Ensures stability of ecosystems by reducing dependence of one species on another for food,shelter and maintenance of the physical environment
• breeding programmes

  • restore endangered species to a sustainable population
  • takes time and needs to avoid inbreeding
  • breed then sent back into natural habitat
• protection of rare habitats

  • allows them to regenerate
  • Carbon dioxide emissions must be stopper to allow things like coral to regenerate
  • Can remove trees, reverse drainage and let cows and ponies graze
• Reintroduction of field margins and hedgerows

  • Farmers removed hedgerows to produce huge fields in which to grow a single crop
  • this decreased biodiversity and let to soil erosion
  • farmers are replanting
• Reduction of deforestation

  • land used for fuel is being bought back for forests
  • reduce carbon emissions
  • decrease deforestation
• Thermophile bacteria

  Bacteria that can survive in extreme temperatures
• Sharks specific adaptations

  • Highly sensitive sense of smell to detect drops of blood from miles away
  • Silver colouring underneath acts as camouflage
  • lots of very sharp teeth are constantly replaced
• Shark general adaptations

  • Fins provide stability, power and control
  • Streamlined shape to reduce friction when moving through water
  • Gills have large surface area so oxygen can be extracted from surrounding water
• Behavioural adaptations

  Responses made by an organism that help it to survive/reproduce
• Physiological adaptations

  A body process that helps an organism to survive/reproduce
• Structural adaptation

  feature of an organisms body that helps it to survive/reproduce
• Water cycle

  1. Evaporation- sun heats earths surface and water is turned into a water vapour forming warm moist air
  2. Transpiration +respiration -loss water vapour from plants and animals directly to the atmosphere
  3. Condensation- moist air rises cools. Water vapour condenses back into droplets producing clouds
  4. Cooling
  5. Precipitation -droplets in clouds get heavier, they fall as rain, snow and hail
  6. Percolation- water trickles through gaps in soils+ rocks
• Carbon sink

  forest, ocean or other natural environments viewed in terms of ability to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
• Food security

  having enough food to feed the population
• Biological factors

  • Conflicts around the world
  • increased birth rate
  • famine
  • changing diets-more need to transport food
  • new pests + pathogens affecting farming
  • cost of farming techniques
• Biological factor solution

  1. Reduce number of stages in the chain
  2. Limit an animals movement or keep it warm
  3. Feed animals lots of protein to increase growth