B7-Ecology

• Ecosystem-Interaction of a community of living organisms with the non-living parts of their environment
• Biotic factors-

  Avalibility of food

  new predators

  new pathogens

  competition from other species
• Abiotic Factors-

  Light intensity

  Temperature

  Moisture Levels

  Soil Ph and Mineral content

  Wind intensity

  Carbon dioxide levels

  Oxygen levels
• Interdependance-Species depend on other species for food shelter pollination and seed dispersal.If one species is removed it can affect the whole community
• Consumer-kill and eat other organisms
• Prey-eaten by a consumer
• Photosynthetic organisms-Producers of biomass for life on earth,make glucose through photosyntheis
• Competition-plants

  •Lights

  •Space

  •Water

  •Mineral ions
• Competition-Animals

  •Food

  •Mates

  •Territory
• Adaption-Organisms features which enable them to survive in conditions in which they normally live in
• Structural-Physical feature
• Behavioural-Way an organism behaves and acts
• Functional-An adaption involving how the body operates
• Extremeophile-An organism that lives in extreme Environments
• Abundance-how much of a or % cover a plant species in a given area
• Distrubution-use Line transect to see how species change along the line being sampled
• Polluntion-kills plangs and animals=decrease in biodiversity
• Water=from sewage,toxic chemicals
• Air=from smoke or acidic gases
• Land=from landfill and toxic chemicals
• major greenhouse gases:carbon dioxide,methane,watsd
• Implications:

  •Climate change

  •Extreme weather

  •reduced biodiversity

  •rise in sea level

  •melting of ice caps

  • changes to weather patterns
• Deforestation-why

  -land for farming animals/plants

  -grow crops for biofuel -quarrying

  -space for building

  -materials

  -Fuels
• Deforestation-implications

  -reduces biodiversity

  -destruction of habitats

  -Distribution of food chains

  -Less carbon removed from atmosphere

  -more carbon dioxide in atmosphere when trees are burnt to clear land
• Effects of sulphur dioxide

  -Acid rain

  -Erosion of statues

  -Deconstruction of habitats

  -Reduction of biodiversity

  lichen

  -breathing problems
• Biodiversity=variety of all different species of organisms on earth or within an ecosystem
• Why’s biodiversity important?

  •makes sure ecosystems are important

  •maintains physical enviroments

  •Human species relies on it
• How can we Increase biodiversity?

  •Breeding Programmes for endangered species

  •Protection and regeneration of rare habitats

  •reintroduction of feild margins/hedgerows
• Peat bogs:Land that is acidic And waterlogged,high in biodiversity

  and carbon store