• 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.

Species

Population

Community

Ecosystem

Ecosystem stability

Trophic levels

Producer

Autotroph

Heterotroph

Herbivore

Carnivore

Scavenger

Decomposer

Energy

• 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

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

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

(taxonomists are scientist that identify and name organisms)

Commensalism

Parasitism

Mutualism

Amensalism

-energy is lost as heat at every trophic level

• 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.

Abiotic

Interaction

Phylum (Philip)

Class (came)

Order (over)

Family (for)

Genus (gooseberry)

Species (smoothie)

Taxonomy

Taxonomist

Binomial Nomenclature

Genus

Species

Dichotomous Key

Flow chart

•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.

photosynthesis (atmosphere to plant)

respiration (animal to atmosphere)

food chain transferral (eating)

decomposition (living matter into soil)

combustion (to atmosphere)

absorption (atmosphere to ocean)

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

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

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.

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.

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

Food chains

Decomposition of animal and plant wastes

Uptake by plants from soil and algae from water

Erosion

Added fertilizer

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.

a) and list 3 abiotic factor interaction with each organism

b) and 3 biotic factors interaction

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.

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

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

microplastics

deforestation

overfishing

burning fossil fuels

rising sea temperature on coral reefs

Abiotic  

Minimisation strategies

Heat is lost through this process

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.

2.Describe the issue

3.Impact on the environment

4.Minimisation strategies

5.Predictions of Future Change

1.Describe the issue

2.Impact on the environment

3.Minimisation strategies

4.Predictions of Future Change

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.

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