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Ecosystem
An autonomous system of living organisms that interact with each other and the non-living components of an environment.
Dynamics of an ecosystem
How energy is transferred amongst the system and throughout.
Structure of an ecosystem
Characterised by the organisation of producers, consumers, and decomposers.
Lithosphere
The solid part of the Earth’s crust, consisting of rocks and soil.
Hydrosphere
All of Earth’s water bodies, including lakes, rivers, streams, oceans, ground water, and ice caps.
Atmosphere
Layers of gas surrounding the Earth.
Biosphere
Consists of living things including plants, animals, bacteria, fungi, etc.
Abiotic factors
Non-living components that influence the function of the ecosystem.
Examples of abiotic factors
Air, sun, soil, water, and basic compounds and elements of the environment.
Climatic factors
Abiotic factors classified by temperature, wind, and rain.
Edaphic factors
Abiotic factors classified by soil, minerals, and topography.
Biotic factors
Living components including the association of different species in the same areas.
Examples of biotic factors
Animal, plant, and microbial communities.
Trophic levels
Divisions within a food chain that categorize organisms based on their feeding relationships.
Autotrophs
Organisms that are self-feeding and form the core of all biotic systems.
Heterotrophs
Organisms that are consumers and rely on other organisms for food.
Saprotrophs
Organisms that act as decomposers, breaking down dead organic matter.
Climate → Fauna
Determines the type of food available, food supplies, and adaptations of the fauna; rising temperatures can cause habitat loss and force wildlife to migrate.
Climate → Vegetation
Climate change causes droughts, bushfires, and floods, affecting flora biodiversity; precipitation nurtures plant growth but can disturb it at extreme levels.
Climate → Landforms
Controls gradational processes such as weathering, mass movement, erosion, transportation, and deposition.
Climate → Soil
Affects soil by controlling water movement and the breakdown of humus, impacting depth and drainage.
Vegetation → Fauna
Flora provide food and shelter to fauna and influence their adaptations.
Vegetation → Climate
Flora affects atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, leading to a cooler climate and creating microclimates.
Vegetation → Landforms
Flora improves landform stability through root cohesion.
Vegetation → Soil
Flora contributes energy and nutrients to soil by producing organic matter like humus.
Fauna → Vegetation
Herbivores consume flora and can disperse seeds and pollinate plants.
Fauna → Climate
Fauna produce methane, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.
Fauna → Landforms
Fauna can alter landforms, causing them to break and change shape.
Fauna → Soil
Fauna like rabbits and moles aerate soil through burrowing and transform organic matter into decomposable forms.
Soil → Fauna
Soils provide homes and nutrients for fauna.
Soil → Vegetation
Soil determines the type and growth of flora and supplies minerals; nutrient-rich soil promotes abundant flora growth.
Landforms → Fauna
Different landforms create diverse habitats for animals to live and evolve.
Landforms → Vegetation
The roughness of landform surfaces increases vegetation diversity, while slope enhances vegetation cover.
Landforms → Climate
High land modifies temperatures and can create orographic rainfall; landforms can also channel or block winds.
Landforms → Soil
Soils on hillsides tend to be shallow due to erosion, while soils on hilltops are deep but lighter in color; valley soils are deeper and darker.
Climate → Fauna
Determines the type of food available, food supplies, and adaptations of the fauna; rising temperatures can cause habitat loss and force wildlife to migrate.
Climate → Vegetation
Climate change leads to droughts, bushfires, and floods, affecting flora biodiversity; precipitation nurtures plant growth but can disturb it at extreme levels.
Climate → Landforms
Controls gradational processes such as weathering, mass movement, erosion, transportation, and deposition.
Climate → Soil
Affects soil by controlling water movement and the breakdown of humus, impacting soil depth and drainage.
Vegetation → fauna
Flora provide food and shelter to fauna as well as the control of adaptations
Vegetation → Climate:
Flora affects the carbon dioxide content in the atmosphere, leading to a cooler climate. They also create microclimates which is the climate of a very small area.
Vegetation → landforms
Flora improves the stability of landforms, with their roots providing extra cohesion to landforms
Vegetation → soil
Flora provides energy and nutrients to the soil by producing organic matter such as humus and nutrients
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