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Ecology and Habitat Study - Coggle Diagram
Ecology and Habitat Study
Keywords:
Ecosystem
Community
Biotic
Ecology
Habitat
Niche
Competetition
Abiotic
Adaptation
Interdependence
Frequency
What is Ecology?
Ecology is the branch of biology that studies how organisms interact with one another and their physical surroundings (their environment).
Populations, Communities, Habitats and
Ecosystems
A
population
of organisms is made up of members of the same species in an area.
A
community
of organisms is made up of a combination of different populations in an area.
Within a community, organisms all have a unique
niche
or role that they fill to keep the community balanced and stable.
The
ecological niche
of a species is its role in a community, how it fits in and how it interacts with other organisms.
Different species within a community occupy different niches.
A
habitat
is the place where a particular organism lives.
A habitat is a part of an ecosystem.
A habitat is smaller than an ecosystem.
A habitat contains one or a few species.
An
ecosystem
is a community of living organisms that interact with each other in a particular environment.
An ecosystem could contain many habitats.
An ecosystem is larger than a habitat.
An ecosystem contains a large number of species.
Energy Flow in an Ecosystem
The energy for an ecosystem to function comes mostly from sunlight.
Light energy
is trapped in the ecosystem during the process of
photosynthesis
.
Producers
(green plants) use light energy during photosynthesis to create chemical energy (food).
Consumers
eat plants and other animals to get energy.
Herbivores
(Only eats plants)
Carnivores
(Only eats animals)
Omnivores
(Eats both)
Decomposers
make sure that dead matter is broken down and recycled into the feeding chains.
Trophic Levels
A
trophic level
is the position that an organism occupies in a food chain.
Producers
occupy the first trophic level.
Primary consumers
occupy the second trophic level.
Secondary consumers
occupy the third trophic level.
Tertiary consumers
occupy the fourth trophic level.
An
energy pyramid
shows the relative numbers of organisms at each trophic level needed to sustain an ecosystem.
Flow of Matter in an Ecosystem
Certain matter is cycled between the living and non-living parts of the ecosystem.
Nitrogen
is cycled through ecosystems from nitrogen gas in the air, nitrates in the soils, plant protein and animal protein and back into the atmospheric nitrogen again.
Habitat Study
Why study a habitat?
Gives us information about the different lifeforms that live in it
Helps us understand how different animals and plants are adapted to their habitats
Helps us understand the impact of human actions
Helps us identify the factors that can lead to harmful changes in the habitat
Helps us protect the habitat from harmful conditions
Steps in a Habitat Study
Step 1:
Identify a habitat
Step 2:
Section off the area you will study within the habitat
Step 3:
Measure some factors affecting the habitat
Abiotic factors
are non living things that affect organisms in their habitats, for example air temperature, soil temperature, soil pH and light intensity.
Air Temperature
Method:
Place a thermometer in the air
Apparatus:
Thermometer
Soil Temperature
Apparatus:
Soil Thermometer
Method:
Place a soil thermometer in the soil
Soil pH
Apparatus:
Universal Indicator
Method:
Collect some soil and test it with universal indicator
Light Intensity
Method:
Expose the light meter and take the reading
Apparatus:
Light Meter
Biotic factors
are the living things that affect other living things for example what organisms each organism feeds on, competition, interdependence and adaptation.
Step 4:
Identify the
producers
Step 5:
Identify the
consumers
Certain apparatus can be used to capture animals and identify them.
Pooter
Beating Tray
Pitfall Trap
Step 6:
Identify the
decomposer
Step 7:
Note the
adaptations
plants and animals have to help them survive in the habitat.
Step 8:
Note examples of competition from the habitat
Competition
is the interaction between members of the same species or members of different species for resources that are in short or limited supply
Step 9:
Note examples of interdependence from the habitat
Interdependence
is the way one thing relies on another.
Step 10:
Counting populations -
frequency
is the percentage chance of finding a particular organism in one throw of a quadrat
For plant populations, a
quadrat
study is carried out.
For animal populations, a
'capture/recapture'
method is carried out
Size of Population = (Number of animals caught on day 1 × Number of animals caught on day 2) ÷ Number of animals caught on day 2 with the tag mark