Environmental Science - Ecology in Aotearoa

Ecology

The study of how living things interact with each other and their environment.

Environment

All the conditions or factors that affect an individual (living/biotic and non-living/abiotic)

Ecosystem

Interactions between all the living things and the physical environment in a particular.

Biotic Factors

Living things for example, humans, animals and plants.

Abiotic Factors

Non- living things e.g. water, air and rocks.

Sustainability

Acting to meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations (of all living things) to meet their own needs.

Conservation

Protecting and maintaining the health of the natural world.

Habitat

The area where an organism lives.

Organism

Any living thing (animals, humans)

Endemic

species that found naturally in

only one specific geographic area and nowhere else in the world. Examples: Tui, kerer,kiwi,takahe,kakapo.

Native

Species that naturally live and evolve in a specific region and have adapted to its enviroment without people bringing them in. Examples: Pukeko,Tauhou,ruru,poaka,kotare.

Introduced

Species that have. been brought to a new environment by humans either intentionally or accidentally. They did not originally exist in that area naturally. Examples: Peacock,pheasant,housesparrow,starling,rabbits.

Herbrivore

An animal that only eats plants.

Carnivore

An animal that only eats meat.

Omnivore

An animal that eats both plants and meat.D

Decomposers

Decomposers are living things like fungi and bacteria, that break down dead plants and animals, turning them into nutrients for the soil.

Biodiversity

Biodiversity is the variety of plant and animals life in the world or in a particular ecosystem.

3 Types of Biodiversity

Ecosystem, Species, Genetic Diversity

How many species currently living on earth?

8.7 Million

Why do we need Biodiversity?

We need Biodiversity because it helps keeps the earth healthy and helping living things survive.

Big 5

Economic, Ecosystem services, cultural value, recreational value, scientific value.

Types of adaption

Structural Adaptions, Behavioural adaptions, physiological adaptions.

Structural adaptions

Are physical features of the organism. These include things you can see like its shape/body covering, as well as its internal organisation.

Behavioural Adaptions

Are learned or inherited behaviours that help an organism to survive.

Physiological Adaptions

Physiological adaptations are body changes that help an organism survive in its environment.

Adaptions

Adaption is any heritable trait that helps an organism, such as a plant or animal service and reproduce in its environment.

Introduced pests

Are one of the major ways that is causing a large threat to biodiversity in Aotearoa.