Year 10 Science Global Interactions

Levels of Biological Organisation

cell -> tissue -> organ -> organ system -> organism -> population -> community -> ecosystem -> biome -> biosphere

Biotic factors

The living components of an ecosystem, e.g. flora, fauna, fungi, prokaryotes, eukaryotes, etc.

Abiotic factors

The non-living components of an ecosystem, e.g. soil pH, soil composition, sunlight, rainfall, climate, etc.

Biosphere

All the living things on the Earth, including plants, animals, fungi, bacteria, etc.

Hydrosphere

All the water on the Earth and the systems that water goes through (e.g. the water cycle).

Lithosphere

The Earth itself — rocks, soil, mountains, tectonic plates, mantle, etc.

Atmosphere

The layer of gases that surround the Earth.

Carbon Cycle

The natural process by which carbon is recycled, involving its release (respiration, fossil fuel burning, decay) and incorporation (photosynthesis).

Greenhouse effect

The natural process involving heat being absorbed by the atmosphere and re-emitted, raising Earth’s temperature.

Greenhouse gases

Carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, and water vapour.

Enhanced greenhouse effect

Human industrial processes increase greenhouse gas emissions beyond natural recycling capacity, leading to rising global temperatures and climate change.

Climate change

The result of the enhanced greenhouse effect, causing raised global temperatures and increases climate variability.

Evidence for climate change

Rising sea levels, worse and more frequent climate disasters, increased ocean temperatures and acidity, and melting ice.

Ozone Depletion

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) break down ozone in the atmosphere, exposing the Earth to more UV radiation.

Biodiversity

The variety of life on Earth, the genetic diversity of said life, and the uniqueness of the ecosystems they form.