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CSEC BIOLOGY - Ecological Studies
CSEC BIOLOGY - Ecological Studies
ECOLOGY
Ecology
It is the scientific study of ecosystems
Ecosystem
Is made up of two components A. Biotic factors: all the living organisms
Abiotic factors: The physical or non-living part of the ecosystem. Examples of abiotic factors includes:
Water Sunlight Soil: structure Humidity/moisture Atmospheric gases Pressure and sound (for marine habitats) Can you add to this list?
Abiotic factors-light
Length of day/night affects flowering and fruiting of
Abiotic Factors-soil
Importance of Soil
Anchorage Provision of nutrients/minerals Provision of water Air to plants and soil organisms
Components of soil
Four components of soil
Types of Soil
Clay
Lots of clay, little sand and little humus Many small clay particles Water drains poorly (high retentivity) Small air spaces, little air Heavy to dig Can be waterlogged easily High water holding capacity
Loam
1/2 sand, 1/3 clay and 1/6 load Mixture of large and small particles Water drains well Intermediate size air space Intermediate Intermediate Intermediate
Sand
Lots of sand, little clay and humus Many large particles of sand Water drains too easily (low retentivity) so soil is dry Large air space Light and easy to dig Minerals are leached out of soil more quickly Low water holding capacity
Biotic Factors
Symbiosis- Revision
Symbiosis: is a close and often long-term interaction
Mutualism
Mutualism is the way two organisms of different species
exist in a relationship in which each individual benefits. Explain how the organisms benefit from each other
Mutualism
discharged cnidoblasts. But Clownfish are not affected Suggest what the sea anemone gains from this relationship
Commensalism
In ecology, commensalism is a class of relationship
between two organisms where one organism benefits without affecting the other.
Parasitism
Parasitism is a non-mutual symbiotic relationship
between species, where one species, the parasite, benefits at the expense of the other, the host.
area is studied Why? It is impossible to count all the number of plants of animals in an area
Precausion
Avoid degrading the habitat/environment Avoid removing organism from their natural habitat
It is a square metal or wood frame of known area It is used to estimate the number of species in an ecosystem
E.g. to estimate # of weeds in an area A sample area is studied, then, the information is used to estimate the number of species in the entire area
E.g. 1m2 Quadrats are thrown 10 times at random in a 300 m2 area. The average per throw is calculated. That number is then multiplied by 300 to estimate the total number in the area
10
10
10
11
10
13
10
Total #
=90 Average per throw = 90/10 =9 (density) Estimated number in 300 m2 = 9 * 300 =2700 species
Quadrats
Quadrat frames, constructed from wood or metal, are used to investigate the distribution of species
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xSCznJPd_ak/TckwoD5nAQI/AAAAAAAAAIw/24m4xT5wYi0/s1600/quadrat.jpg
Nets are used for sampling small moving animals such as insects. They can also be used to estimate the number of species in pond.
http://wiki.bugwood.org/uploads/Fig27_bugnet.jpg
Nets
Line transects are used in habitats where there is a clear change in conditions and the distribution of the vegetation or sessile (immobile) animal from one point to another. E.g. of area that can be studied : river banks and swampy areas A line transect is one in which all individual organisms touching the tape/string are recorded
Line Transect
http://teacheratsea.wordpress.com/2013/07/31/julia-harvey-determining-population-sizeaday-in-my-life-cruising-july-27-2013/
Pitfall trap
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/standard/biology/biosphere/investigating_an_ecosystem/revision/3 /
Transects
Belt transect involves laying a tape through the area of
study and sampling the population with Quadrats positioned at regular intervals alongside the tape
Species Frequency
The percentage frequency of a species is the
= 10/25 * 100 = 40 %
Density
Density of a population is the number of organisms
ANY QUESTIONS?
Lab # 20
Aim: Introduction