BIOLOGY UNIT 1 ECOLOGY A

HUMAN IMPACT AND CONSERVATION

What is an ecosystem

Biological communities of Biotic and Abiotic factors

What are examples of biotic factors (3)

Producers/autotrophs

Consumers / Heterotrophs

Decomposers

What are examples of abiotic factors (3)

Sun

Rainfall/Water

Temperature

What is a IB example of stable ecosystems

Kalahari desert - 60 million years old

Name the requirements to have stability in ecosystems

constant supply of energy

recycling of nutrients

genetic diversity

climatic variables

Name the requirements and specifics examples needed to have stability in ecosystems

constant supply of energy - sun

recycling of nutrients - carbon cycle/plants

genetic diversity - large populations/ mutations

climatic variables - tolerance and intolerance levels

what is a tipping point and what is the main example

A tipping point is a critical threshold that, when crossed, leads to large irreversible changes in the climate system biggest example of this is the amazon rainforest deforestation.

Explain why the Amazon rainforest has a minimum area to avoid reaching the tipping point

Deforestation creates a carbon source rather than a carbon sink - soybean production

Transpiration will be stopped, which will affect wind and rainfall patterns which will have an impact on climate change

what is the formula for percentage change

(final - initial / initial) x 100

What is the percent change if the predicted carbon released was 3.4 but in actuality the rainforest produces 4.1 million atoms of carbon per year

17%

What is a Mesocosm

a Mini contained ecosystem

What advantages do mesocosms provide for investigating ecosystems?

Scientists are able to manipulate an ecosystem’s variables that they wouldn’t usually be able to, to test effects.