Hass Revision

Ecosystems, biomes, and climate at a year 9-10 level

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