Biology welcome to the jungle part 3

What is an ecosystem?

A community of organisms interacting with each other and their physical environment.

What is a habitat?

The place where an organism lives.

What are abiotic factors? Give 2 examples.

Non-living factors like temperature, light intensity, moisture, pH.

What are biotic factors?

Living factors such as predators, competition, and disease.

What is biodiversity?

The variety of different species in an ecosystem.

Why is biodiversity important?

It helps ecosystems stay stable and survive changes.

What is interdependence?

Species depend on each other for survival (e.g., food, shelter, pollination).

What is an adaptation?

A feature that helps an organism survive in its environment.

Give 3 types of adaptations.

• Structural (e.g., thick fur)

• Behavioural (e.g., migration)

• Functional (e.g., antifreeze proteins)

What happens if one species is removed from a food web?

It can disrupt the entire ecosystem due to interdependence.

What is a quadrat used for?

To sample organisms in a small area to estimate population size.

What is a transect?

A line used to study how organisms change across an area.

Explain how abiotic factors affect distribution of organisms.

Organisms are found where conditions (temperature, water, light) suit their survival and reproduction.

How does deforestation affect biodiversity?

• Habitat destruction

• Reduced species numbers

• Disrupted food webs

Explain how pollution affects ecosystems.

• Toxic substances kill organisms

• Bioaccumulation builds toxins in food chains

• Reduces biodiversity

What is bioaccumulation?

The build-up of toxic substances in organisms along a food chain.

Evaluate human impact on biodiversity. (6 marker)

• Negative: deforestation, pollution, climate change

• Positive: conservation, breeding programs, recycling

• Conclusion: human activity has mostly reduced biodiversity but can also protect it