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science chp 12 sec 2 Interactions Within Ecosystems - Coggle Diagram
science chp 12 sec 2 Interactions Within Ecosystems
12.1 Conserving the Environment
Earth has limited resources:
Fossil fuels → energy
Oceans & forests → food
Fresh water (<1% of Earth’s water)
Human impacts:
Wasting food = wasting resources
More electricity use → more fuel burnt → more CO₂ → climate change
Excessive waste → land, water, air pollution
Measures:
Reduce fossil fuel use
Reduce consumption
Use eco-friendly practices
Reforestation
12.2 Physical Environment
Types: Abiotic (non-living) + Biotic (living)
Measured by data loggers: temperature, pH, light intensity
Physical factors:
Light → photosynthesis, hunting, detecting danger
Temperature → affects enzyme activity, metabolism
Water → needed for all processes
Minerals/salinity → plant growth, salt balance
Air → oxygen for respiration, carbon dioxide for photosynthesis
pH → affects survival & enzyme activity
Adaptations
Behavioural (migration, hunting time, hibernation)
Structural (cactus spines, aerial roots, antifreeze proteins)
12.3 Biotic Environment
Levels of organisation: individual → population → community → ecosystem
Organisms interact → form interrelations → keep balance
If disrupted → endangered → extinct
Interactions
Parasitism → one benefits, other harmed (mosquito, flea)
Mutualism → both benefit (clownfish + anemone)
Predator-prey → predator hunts prey (eagle + rabbit)
12.4 Energy Flow
Food chain: sequence of energy transfer (e.g. grass → rabbit → snake → hawk)
Food web: interconnected food chains
Producers → make food (photosynthesis)
Consumers → eat others
Decomposers → recycle nutrients
Energy transfer
Respiration releases energy for life processes
Energy lost as heat, waste, faeces
Only 10% transferred to next trophic level
Flow is non-cyclic (one-way)
12.5 Decomposers
Fungi & bacteria = most efficient
Break down faeces & dead matter → release:
Carbon dioxide (into air)
Nutrients (into soil water)
Nutrient flow = cyclical
12.6 Conservation
Human activities & pollution upset balance of nature
Conservation = careful management of natural resources
Importance:
Reduces pollution & disruption of cycles
Protects biodiversity
Preserves rainforests
Methods
Terrace farming → prevent soil erosion
Wind turbines → clean energy
Sustainable habits:
Bring own bag
Reduce food waste
Bring own bottle
