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a keystone species is a plant or animal that plays a large role in the way an ecosystem functions.

keystone species are often (but not always) a predator. the keystone predator controls the distribution and abundance of prey species, influencing their niche.

the keystone species disappearance could affect other species in the ecosystem.

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Unit 9: Human impacts on ecosystems Important terms

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Unit 9: Human impacts on ecosystems Important terms

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Biotic

Abiotic

Minimisation strategies

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Classification

Taxonomy

Taxonomist

Binomial Nomenclature

Genus

Species

Dichotomous Key

Flow chart

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Biodiversity is the variety of living things found in a geographic location and is measured in terms of species diversity, genetic diversity and ecosystem diversity.

species: are a group of organism that interbreed and produce a fertile offspring under natural conditions

populations: a group of organisms of the same species living in a given area at the same time and interbreeding

community: all organisms which are found living together in a particular place.

Ecosystems: is any environment containing living organisms interacting with each other and with the non living or a biotic parts of that environment.

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Distinguish between a species, population, community, and an ecosystem:

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Distinguish between a species, population, community, and an ecosystem:

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Biodiversity

Species

Population

Community

Ecosystem

Ecosystem stability

Trophic levels

Producer

Autotroph

Heterotroph

Herbivore

Carnivore

Scavenger

Decomposer

Energy

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genetics

- variation in genetic material within a species or population

species

- richness: number of different species that occupy a location

-abundance: the number of individuals within each species

ecological

- variation in the ecosystems found in a region

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A species interaction is the effect that a pair of organisms living together in a community have on each other. Interactions range from mutualism, which benefits both species involved, to competition, which harms both species involved

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definition of Biotic and Abiotic factors

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definition of Biotic and Abiotic factors

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biotic factors: are all living organisms including microorganisms, plants and animals, and the interactions such as competition and predation.

Abiotic factors: are the non-living components. examples of abiotic factors are in the table

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Adaptation in biology is a feature that an organism has that aids survival in a particular habitat. Beneficial genetic changes and mutations. Mutation is changing of the structure of the genes resulting in a variant form transmitted to other generations

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classification is the organization of living things into groups based on their similarities so that it is easier to study them

Taxonomy: is the scientific study of how living things are classified called taxonomy

(taxonomists are scientist that identify and name organisms)

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Competition and Predation

Commensalism

Parasitism

Mutualism

Amensalism

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-energy moves through trophic levels as animals eat plants, and decompose.

-energy is lost as heat at every trophic level

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Define fundamental and realised ecological niches. 

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Define fundamental and realised ecological niches. 

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The fundamental niche of an organism comprises all conditions where it can theoretically exists and reproduce. The realised ecological niche is the place where the organism actually lives and reproduces and interacts with other organisms.

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Unit 2: Biotic and abiotic features of ecosystems Important terms 

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Unit 2: Biotic and abiotic features of ecosystems Important terms 

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Biotic

Abiotic

Interaction

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Graphically represent the niche of different organisms to discover the extent of niche overlap. 

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Graphically represent the niche of different organisms to discover the extent of niche overlap. 

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Kingdom (king)

Phylum (Philip)

Class (came)

Order (over)

Family (for)

Genus (gooseberry)

Species (smoothie)

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Two types of competition: intraspecific competition and interspecific competition.

1. Intraspecific competition is when members of the same species compete for recourses. This competition caused the realised niched to increase in size as weaker individuals are pushed out to the edge of the suitable habitat.

2. Interspecific competition occurs when members of different species compete for recourses. This competition causes the realised niche to decrease in size. Two species cannot co-exist if they occupy the same niche (competing for identical recourses.

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Two species live together and both benefit, resulting in the survival of both species in an environment where at least one, if not both would not survive

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Physiological Adaptations:

•Ways that an organism’s body functions on a biochemical level to help it to survive in its environment e.g. body temperature, water balance, heart rate and blood pressure.

e.g. snakes produce venom to kill or harm their prey

Structural Adaptations:

Are the way an organisms body aids in survival. For example a possum has a tail to aid it in climbing to find food or escape predators.

Behavioural Adaptations:

The way an organism or group behaves to survive. For example penguins huddle to keep warm.

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Sunlight

Air

Precipitation

Soil

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a way that taxonomist use to differentiate between different species is using Binomial nomenclature: which are 2 word name (Genus and species

they are usually in italicised (or underlined when hand written)

capitalize Genus but not the species .e.g. Homo sapiens

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Main processes include:

photosynthesis (atmosphere to plant)

respiration (animal to atmosphere)

food chain transferral (eating)

decomposition (living matter into soil)

combustion (to atmosphere)

absorption (atmosphere to ocean)

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Different species live in close association, where one usually benefits while the other is unaffected.

The organisms are not dependent on this type of relationship and could survive without each other

Examples:

Orchids Growing On Branches.

Sharks And Remora Fish.

Whales And Barnacles.

Tree frog on plants.

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Describe a niche in terms of key indicators within the ecosystem in terms of habitat, feeding relationships and interactions with other species. 

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Describe a niche in terms of key indicators within the ecosystem in terms of habitat, feeding relationships and interactions with other species. 

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Each species in a community occupies its own ecological niche which is defined by its habitat which is the area of the ecosystem used by a species to find food, shelter, and to reproduce, as well as its interactions with the biotic and abiotic components of the ecosystem.

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The production of a plant of specific chemicals that can be beneficial or detrimental to another organism.

Examples:

Black walnut tree: has chemicals in its roots, nut hulls, and buds.

Maple tree: chemicals are excreted from all parts of the tree.

Pine tree: chemicals are excreted from the pine needles.

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dichotomous key is a series of paired statements that describe the physical characteristics of different organisms and is a method for determining the identity of something. and could be described in a flow chart.

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plants

animals

bacteria

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The parasite lives on or in an organism called its host. The organism gets food, a place to live and reproduce from the host (e.g tape worm in a human gut).

The host is harmed but not killed as the parasite would be without food source

Examples:

Tape worm in a human gut

leeches

bot flies

tics

lice

flees

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The main processes of carbon recycling includes:

Food chains

Decomposition of animal and plant wastes

Uptake by plants from soil and algae from water

Erosion

Added fertilizer

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Ecological niche = the habitat of a species used by the species to find food, shelter and to reproduce. Also includes interactions with the biotic and abiotic components of the ecosystem.

Fundamental ecological niche = all conditions where it can theoretically exist and reproduce.

Realised ecological niche = the place where the organism actually lives, reproduces and interacts with other organisms and the environment.

Competitive exclusion principle = two species cannot coexist if occupying same niche (as they would competing for identical resources).

Keystone species = a plant or animal that plays a unique and crucial role in the way an ecosystem functions.

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Relationship between biodiversity and stability of an ecosystem

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Relationship between biodiversity and stability of an ecosystem

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Biodiversity has a large impact on the on ecosystem stability. Areas with high levels of species and genetic diversity are likely to have a more complex ecosystem, with a variety of food webs and biotic interactions. This allows the ecosystem to return to a stable state after a disturbance as it has more ways to respond to problems.

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1. list 4 organisms 2 plants and 2 animals:

a) and list 3 abiotic factor interaction with each organism

b) and 3 biotic factors interaction

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Relate the concept of a keystone species to the large impact that would be experienced by an ecosystem if numbers of the keystone species were to decline substantially.

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Relate the concept of a keystone species to the large impact that would be experienced by an ecosystem if numbers of the keystone species were to decline substantially.

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A keystone species is often, but not always, a predator. The keystone predator controls the distribution and abundance of prey species influencing their niche. The keystone species' disappearance could affect other species that rely on it for survival.

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Processes include:

food chains (feeding)

nitrogen fixing by nitrogen fixing bacteria (fix atmospheric n2 into ammonia)

lightning

decomposition/excretion (living organism to soil)

combustion of fossil fuels (into atmosphere)

denitrification (no3 to n2 by denitrifying bacteria)

ammonification (into nh4 or nh3)

something about runoff

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1. define classification:

2. complete the classification groups

Kingdom

Phylum

..............

Order

Family

...........

Species

3. state how does the taxonomists classify different species

4. write this as how a taxonomist would write it

genus: Bos species: taurus

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Process typically follows:

1. Nutrients such as phosphates (from fertilisers in farming) leach into the water body.

2. Increased nutrients cause plants to flourish

3. Algae blooms

4. Algae blooms block sunlight

5. Mass flora/fauna death (increased competition, decreased available food sources, and just naturally more death due to increased animals)

6. Increased decomposition depletes oxygen

7. ecosystem death

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Question: How does the interaction between species affect the ecosystem?

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Question: How does the interaction between species affect the ecosystem?

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Question: How does Reproductive Isolation lead to a new species?

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Question: How does Reproductive Isolation lead to a new species?

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Hunting

microplastics

deforestation

overfishing

burning fossil fuels

rising sea temperature on coral reefs

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important question while deconstructing each impact

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important question while deconstructing each impact

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1.Identify the human impact

2.Describe the issue

3.Impact on the environment

4.Minimisation strategies

5.Predictions of Future Change

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Zonation - arrangement of living things that are influenced to the changes in abiotic factors that vary with parameters such as altitude (O₂ concentration), depth (light intensity), and latitude (temperature)

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warbler birds competition and niche example

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warbler birds competition and niche example

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Each of these warbler species have a different niche in in the spruce tree habitat. by occupying different areas of the tree, the birds avoid competition.

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Question: How do Adaptations help organisms to survive?

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Question: How do Adaptations help organisms to survive?

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Energy starts at the sun and is used by producers/autotrophs to photosynthesise which produces glucose that contains chemical energy. Consumers/heterotrophs eat plants and other animals to obtain chemical energy. Decomposers then feed on other organisms and recycle matter/nutrients back into the environment.

Heat is lost through this process

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The importance of a keystone species - concept video

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The importance of a keystone species - concept video

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What does it mean that beavers are a keystone species?

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example if we to research into hunting of wolves

the issue:

large scale hunting of wolves severely reduced populations

Protections that had been put in place that saw numbers rise have now been removed

impact on the environment (abiotic impacts)

Reduced nutrient levels from minimal decomposition of plant material

Riverbanks collapsed and resulted in redirection of waterways

impact on the environment (biotic impacts)

they are considered as Keystone species

Deer, elk and bison populations increase, contributing to overgrazing of vegetation

Aspen trees, willows and cottonwoods can no longer provide structure to the environment and riverbanks therefore contributing to soil degradation

Minimisation strategies

flags around cattle pens to encourage co existence and scare wolves away from livestock

stop the authorisation of some methods of hunting e.g. neck snares, trapping using baits and night hunting.

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Interactions between species (easy to interpret)

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Interactions between species (easy to interpret)

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1. describe an ecological niche

2. describe intraspecific competition and its effects on a species niche

3. what is the difference between a species fundamental and realised niche

4. explain how interspecific competition could impact a species niche

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Stratification - layers of vegetation of the plants in the height that they grow into. Each layer is owned and inhabited by different animals and plant communities referred to as stratozones.

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deconstruct the human impacts of deforestation (using research) and answer these 4 questions

1.Describe the issue

2.Impact on the environment

3.Minimisation strategies

4.Predictions of Future Change

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Distribution: is where the organism is found.

Abundance: the number of organisms or species that live in a particular area or ecosystem.

Measuring abundance

The abundance of organisms could be measured using 2 main sampling methods:

Quadrat Sampling: A small, representative area called a quadrat is used to estimate the total abundance of organisms. Used to measure numerous, small and slow-moving organisms that are scattered over a large area.

Capture and Recapture: This technique allows the capture, and tag of a sample of the same species then releasing them, allowing them to mix with others in the area. Then a larger sample is recaptured and the number of tagged organisms are counted to estimate the total population of animals. This technique is used to study species of animals that a constantly on the move.

Measuring Distribution

When studying organisms in the field, it is usual to describe their distribution on a sketch of the surveyed area.

If the area is too large and cannot be drawn entirely, then a narrow section of it, called a transect, is used to measure the distribution.

Transect Sampling: Is done by using a line placed across a community of organisms such as terrestrial or aquatic environments. It can consist of either a line transect (tape or rope) or a belt transect which can either point, interrupted or continuous sampling. This method provides information on the vertical as well as horizontal distribution of species.

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What are adaptations? Adaptations in Biology Examples

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Pre-zygotic isolation mechanisms are barriers that stop from reproduction from taking place between closely related species.

Types of Pre-zygotic isolation include:

Different mating calls and rituals

Reproductive organs shaped differently

The use of species-specific chemicals to attract members of the opposite sex.

Different seasons or times of reproduction

Inability of sperm to survive in the reproductive tract

Pollen tubes are unable to grow towards the ovules

Post-zygotic isolation mechanisms stop the development of fertile adult offspring.

These mechanisms include:

The zygotes failing to develop

Young failing to reach sexual maturity

Offspring are infertile

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what is the zonation of the ecosystem?

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1. If you were to take a count of the diversity of species in your town, what would you be measuring?

1. a. Genetic diversity
b. Habitat diversity
c. Biodiversity
d. Species richness