Clint Howard

Biology A Local Ecosystem

1. The distribution, diversity and numbers of plants and animals found
in ecosystems are determined by biotic and abiotic factors
Distinguish between biotic and abiotic features of the local environment
-

Biotic = LIVING FACTORS

Abiotic = NONLIVING FACTOSR

Compare the abiotic characteristics of aquatic and terrestrial environments

Characteristics
Viscosity : measure of
mediums resistance to
an object
Buoyancy : amount of
support

Aquatic
HIGH difficult for
organisms to move
through
HIGH support to plants
and animals

Temperature

Heats up and cools down

more slowly then air

Availability of gases,
water and ions

Gases- depends on temp,

diffusion is slower. More
gases available at lower
temps. O2 decreases
with depth
Water Environment
Ions saltwater (35% is
dissolved ions)
Freshwater = low in ions
Decreases with depth

Light penetration
Pressure Variation

Availability and types

of substrates ( rocks,
soils, sands etc)
Strength of natural
forces
Availability of shelter
and space

Varies with depth.

Increases depth =
increase pressure
Bottom dwellers affects,
free swimming etc less
affected
Tides, currents, waves
may vary
Not required for all
organisms, substrate,
rocks etc is sufficient

Terrestrial
LOW easy to move
through
LOW plants and animals
need to support own
body
Vary a lot. Daily and
seasonal variations can
be great
Gases freely available,
diffusion is rapid
Water varies, location is
problem,
Ions vital for plant
growth in soil

Plent of light, dense plant

growth can affect light
Decreases with height
above sea level. Little
effect on life
Amount and type of soil
important to plants.
Provides habitats for
ground dwellers etc
Winds and rain can very
Most animals require
shelter.

Identify the factors determining the distribution and abundance of a species in

each environment

Clint Howard
Distribution
-

Where organisms if found

Usually uneven
Found where abiotic and biotic factors favour them
Distributed where: SURVIVAL is high, Predation is low, requirements for
survival are met

Abundance
-

How many organisms

Not the same
Changes over time : INCREASES due to births and immigrations
DECREASES due to deaths and emigration

Abiotic Factors affecting Distribution and Abundance

-

Light
Strength of wind
Rainfall
Temp variations
Topography
Tides, currents and waves
Water
Substrate
Space and shelter
Oxygen

Biotic Factors
-

Availability of food
Number of competitors
Number of mates available
Number of predators
Number and variety of disease causing organisms

Describe the roles of photosynthesis and respiration in ecosystems

-

Energy needed to sustain ecosystems is obtained fro the sun

Energy is captured through photosynthesis
Photosynthesis uses co2 and water to make food ALL ORGANISMS rely on
this
Respiration is the process by which cells obtain energy
Organic molecules are broken down and energy is produced
ALL RELIES ON SUN
Energy is never recycled requires CONSTANT input
Photosynthesis POWERS ecosystems

Identify uses of energy by organisms

-

SYNTHESIS of complex molecules ( lipids, proteins etc)

GROWTH of cells (differentiation, division, elongation etc)
REPAIR and MAINTENANCE of old or damaged cells

Clint Howard
-

ACTIVE TRANSPORT of materials across cell membranes

Functions of SPECIAL CELLS needing extra energy (nerves, muscle, kidney)
TRANSPORT of materials within the ecosystem (phloem, circulatory system
etc)

Identify the general equation for aerobic cellular respiration and outline this as a
summary of a chain of biochemical reactions
-

Respiration is breakdown of glucose with oxygen to released energy

CO2 + H2O are produced as waste products

GLUCOSE + OXYGEN CARBON DIOXIDE + Water + ENERGY

-

Aerobic = requiring oxygen

Energy is held in glucose bonds, when bonds are broken, energy is
released
Respiration involves around 50 reactions, each catalyzed by a diff enzyme

ATP (adenosine triphosphate)

-

Energy carrier for all cells

Energy produced by respiration is kept in ATP
Energy is stored in phosphate bonds

ADP + P ATP
-

For every glucose molecule, 38 ATP molecules are produced

ADP + P + GLUCOSE + OXYGEN CARBON DIOXIDE + WATER + ATP

38ADP + 38P + C6H12O6 + 6O2 6CO2 + 6H2O + 38ATP
TWO STAGES TO RESPIRATION
-

Glycolysis
Occurs in cytoplasm
Splits the 6-carbon glucose into two 3-carbon molecules (pyruvate)
2 ATP molecules are gained
DOES NOT require oxygen

Krebs Cycle
Occurs in the mitochondria
Pyruvate is broken down into water and CO2
36 ATP molecules are gained
OXYGEN is required

Clint Howard

2. Each local aquatic or terrestrial ecosystem is unique

Examine trends in population estimates for some plant and animal species within
an ecosystem
-

Grey Mangrove Forest, Homebush Bay

As water levels rose, amount of mangrove seedlings decreased, amount
semaphore crabs INCREASED
As water level reduced, amount of mangrove seedlings INCREASED,
amount of semaphore crabs DECREASED
Mangrove seedlings do not prefer to be covered in water, drown etc

Outline factors that affect numbers in predator and prey populations in the area
studied
-

Amount of food available

Salinity of water
Amount of water

Identify examples of allelopathy, parasitism, mutualism and commensalism in an

ecosystem and the role of organisms in each type of relationship
Allelopathy
-

Production by a plant of allele-chemicals, which inhibit the growth of plants

around it
Casuarina. Leaves contain allele-chemicals, when dropped, released
chemicals, preventing other plants from growing

Parasitism
-

Relationship between two organisms where one benefits at expense of

other
Pimple wasp. Lays eggs on leaves of mangrove. Larvae eat through leave
and when they hatch leaf is damaged

Mutualism
-

Two organisms, both benefit

Lichen. Fungus and alga joined together. Fungi provides structure, alga
provides food

Commensalism
-

2 organisms, only one benefits, other gets no harm

Golden orb weaving spider + dewdrop spider. Weaving spider makes web,
catches its prey. Leaves scraps behind, dewdrop eats leftovers

Describe the role of decomposers in ecosystems

Clint Howard
-

Rubbish cleaners of ecosystems

Feed on left overs of other organisms, dead organisms, decaying
organisms and wastes
Enable materials of decomposition to be available for plants
Keep biomass in CIRCULATION

explain trophic interactions between organisms in an ecosystem using food

chains, food webs and pyramids of biomass and energy
Trophic interaction = feeding relationship between organisms
-

Food Chain represents flow of energy

Food chain starts with producers herbivores Carnivores
Food web = complex set of interacting food chains within an ecosystem
Ecosystems are COMPOSED of FOODWEBS
At every step, energy is lost; heat, wastes etc
Loss energy represented through energy pyramid. Lowest level = biggest,
levels shrink
Every step of food chain, biomass is lost as undigested material and
wastes
Shown through BIOMASS PYRAMID.

Define the term adaptation and discuss the problems associated with inferring
characteristics of organisms as adaptations for living in a particular habitat
ADAPTATION = feature of organism that makes it well suited to its environment
and lifestyle
-

Adaptations can be
Structural Physical characteristic
Physiological How organisms functions
Behavioural How organisms relates to environment
Always genetic ; result of NATURAL SELECTION
Problems with inferring :
Unknown environment = guesswork
May have gains from LIFE EXPERIENCES rather than genetic
advantages

Identify some adaptations of living things to factors in their environment

-

Frogs burrow into soils to prevent drying out

Marsupial hopping mice have deep burrow to keep cool
Kangaroos have internal respiratory organisms

Describe and explain the short-term and long-term consequences on the

ecosystem of species competing for resources
Competition = struggle between organisms for same resource
Short term

Clint Howard
-

Competition reduces chance of survival and restricts abundance of all

competitors

Long Term
-

One of competitors will eventually be more successful, and drive out or

significantly reduce number of other organisms

Identify the impact of humans in the ecosystem studied

-

Homebush Bay, industrialisation and urbanisation

Bay has been almost destroyed, wetlands removed
Sedimentation of river, blocking off of natural waterways
Dredging bay for land reclamation