Organisation of an Ecosystem

What are decomposers?

Decomposers release enzymes onto dead matter to consume the broken down substance.

What are quadrats?

Square frames made from wood or plastic placed in an area to measure the abundance of plants or slow moving animals.

What do quadrats investigate?

Number of individual species, species richness and percentage cover.

What do transects measure?

How the abundance of species changes as you move through the habitat.

How do you use a transect?

A transect line is drawn using a tape measure and a quadrat is placed at a regular interval.

What is the method for the Measuring Population Size in a Habitat required practical?

1. Choose a starting point where grass has been cut

2. Use random numbers to generate a set of co-ordinates to place your first quadrat.

3. Count the number of different plant species within the quadrat

4. Return to the start point and repeat 14 more times using different co-ordinates.

5. Repeat steps 1-4 on area where grass isn’t cut.

6. Calculate mean and compare results.

What is the process of the carbon cycle?

Carbon is removed from the atmosphere by plants and algae during photosynthesis, carbon is passed onto the animals when they feed on the plants and is returned to the atmosphere during respiration. When the animals and plants die the carbon in their bodies are released by decomposition or are turned into fossil fuels which when burnt releases carbon dioxide.

What is the process of the water cycle?

Sunlight evaporates water from the surface, the water cools into a vapour to form clouds, water in the clouds is blown by the wind into other areas, it rains or snows and water is absorbed into the ground or runs along the surface the absorbed water is stored within rocks and water vapour is evaporated from the trees or water enters through the roots.

What is it called when rocks store water within them?

Aquifers

What is transpiration?

When water vapour is evaporated off of trees.