Y9 Geography - Ecosystems

Ecosystem

a community of plants and animals interacting with each other and their physical environment

Biotic

living components of an ecosystem (plants, animals, decomposers)

Abiotic

non‑living components (climate, soil, water, light)

Producer

an organism that makes its own energy through photosynthesis

Primary consumer

an animal that eats producers (herbivore)

Secondary consumer

an animal that eats primary consumers

Tertiary consumer

a top predator that eats secondary consumers

Decomposer

organisms like fungi and bacteria that break down dead material and return nutrients to the soil

Nutrient cycling

the continuous movement of nutrients through soil → plants → animals → decomposers → soil

Food chain

a simple line showing energy transfer from producer to top consumer

Food web

a complex network of interconnected food chains showing interdependence

Interdependence

how organisms rely on each other for food, shelter, pollination, and survival

Small‑scale UK ecosystem

an example such as Epping Forest, showing producers, consumers, decomposers and nutrient cycling

Ecosystem balance

when one component changes (e.g., fewer insects), the whole system is affected through food webs and nutrient cycling

Global ecosystems (biomes)

large‑scale ecosystems such as rainforest, desert, tundra, determined by climate and latitude

Human impacts

actions like deforestation, pollution, and climate change that disrupt ecosystems