The living world - ecosystems Flashcards
Abiotic
Relating to non-living parts of an ecosystem.
Biotic
Relating to living parts of an ecosystem.
Consumer
An animal that eats animals and/or plant matter.
Decomposer
An organism such as a bacterium or fungus, that breaks down dead tissue, which is then
recycled to the environment.
Ecosystem
A community of plants and animals that interact with each other and their physical
environment.
Food chain
The connections between different organisms (plants and animals) that rely on one another
as their source of food.
Food web
A complex interconnection of all the food chains in an ecosystem.
Nutrient cycling
A set of processes whereby organisms extract minerals necessary for growth from soil or
water, before passing them on through the food chain - and ultimately back to the soil and water
Global ecosystem
A very large ecological area on the earth’s surface, with fauna and flora (animals and plants) adapting to their environment. Examples include tropical rainforest and hot desert.
Producer
An organism that is able to absorb energy from the sun through photosynthesis.
Micro-habitat
very local scale interaction of plants/animals with their environment
Biome
ecosystems found on a very large scale, often occupying similar locations with similar characteristics
Biosphere
all the living organisms in the world and their physical environment
Example of a small scale UK ecosystem
Reigate Heath, Surrey
Producers found in Reigate Heath
Producers form the foundation of Reigate Heath:
Heather - a dominant plant that thrives in acidic, nutrient poor soils, providing food and habitat for many species
Gorse - key shrub, offering shelter and food for insects and birds
Consumers found in Reigate Heath
Primary consumers: Rabbits, insect species such as butterflies
Secondary consumers: Birds such as the Dartford warbler, which feeds on insects, small mammals like the weasel, which preys on rabbits and rodents
Tertiary consumers: Birds of prey like kestrel, hunting small mammals and birds
Decomposers: fungi, bacteria, detritivores (insects such as beetles and worms that feed on decomposing plant and animal bacteria)
Example of an interrelationship within Reigate Heath
heather provides food and shelter for insects and small mammals
What are 4 ways that human activities can affect Reigate Heaths ecosystem?
Golfing - litter, artificial, noise, disruption
Parking - cars, fumes, noise
Roads - roadkill, noise
Pub - litter, noise, disruption
