Habitats and biodiversity

• Ecology


  The study of how all living things interact with each other and their environment
• Ecosystem


  All the animals/plants in an area interacting with each other/their environment
• Habitat


  The place where an animal/plant population lives
• Population


  Members of the same species
• Community


  All the animals/plants living in the same habitat
• Abiotic factors


  • Temperature
  • Soil type
  • Light
  • Rainfall
• Biotic factors


  Living factors that affect living things, e.g. competition, predation, interdependence
• Competition


  The interaction between organisms for resources that are in short supply
• Interdependence


  The way in which animals/plants depend on each other for survival
• Predator


  Any organism that hunts/consumes another living thing (prey)
• Prey


  Organisms that are hunted/consumed by predators
• Adaptation


  When an organism has developed characteristics that make it well suited to its environment
• Feeding relationships


  • Producer
  • Primary consumer
  • Secondary consumer
  • Tertiary consumer
• Producer


  Can make its own food, e.g. plants - Photosynthesis
• Consumer


  Eats other living things
• Decomposer


  Breaks down dead plants and animals to release nutrients back into the soil
• Habitat study


  1. Draw a map

  2. Factors in soil, weather, biotic, physical

  3. Collect/identify organisms

  4. Use a pooter, beating tray, pitfall trap, sweeping net

  5. Throw quadrants at random and record frequency

  6. Use a line transect

  7. Write a report
• Causes of biodiversity loss

  • Deforestation
  • Pesticides
  • Global warming
  • Overhunting
  • Overfishing
  • Habitat harvesting
• Conservation


  The protection of ecosystems from damage caused by humans