Ecology

• Ecology is the study of the interaction between organisms and their environment
• The definition of species is : Organisms with similar characteristics, which can breed together to produce fertile offspring
• The definition of biodiversity is: The range of different plants and animals living in a particular ecosystem
• The definition of population is: The number of organisms of the same species, in the same place at the same time.
• The definition of a community is: The different population and their biotic interactions in an environment.
• The definition of habitat is: The place where an organism lives
• The definition of environment is: The surroundings or conditions in which an organism lives or operates
• The definition of ecosystem is: A community of organisms and how they are affected by and affect their abiotic environment
• The definition of biotic is: The living organisms of an ecosystem and how they interact with each other, e.g. competition, predation, grazing, etc.
• The definition of abiotic is: Physical (non-living) components of an ecosystem, e.g. wind speed, light intensity, and temperature
• Apparatus for measuring abiotic factors:

  Wind speed - use an Anemometer

  Light intensity - use a Light meter

  Temperature - use a thermometer, or a temperature probe

  pH - use a pH meter
• High wind speeds can affect the numbers and distribution of plants and animals in exposed habitats such as sand dunes.
• Light is needed for photosynthesis. Some plants need high light levels; others can survive in low light levels
• Temperature can affect the rate of water loss of an organism; also enzymes are affected by temperature
• Some plants prefer acidic conditions e.g. heathers. Some prefer alakline, some prefer neutral.
• A sample is a small representative area of a habitat. Samples are taken because it is not practical to count all the organisms and investigate every square metre of a habitat
• A quadrat is a square frame used to sample, the sides are usually 1m(1m^2) or 0.5m (0.25m^2). It is suitable for plants and slow-moving animals