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Edexcel Topic 5 What Is An Ecosystem

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34 views2 pages

Edexcel Topic 5 What Is An Ecosystem

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monkeysaltacc
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Edexcel: Topic 5, what is an ecosystem?

The part of the earth inhabited by living organisms is knows as the biosphere. Within a biosphere there are different
ecosystems with features that effect the organisms living there. There are abiotic components (physical and chemical
factors) and biotic components (determined by organisms such as predation and competition). Ecosystems tend to be fairly
self-sustaining.

Habitats

There can be many habitats (the place with a distinct set of conditions where an organism lives) within an ecosystem. Within
a habitat there may be many microhabitats again each with a distinct set of conditions.

Communities

Within a habitat there will be several populations (a group of individuals of the same species found in an area) of organisms.
The populations in a habitat make up a community. If 2 species live in the same habitat and have the same niche they will
compete with each other and eventually the better adapted will out-compete the other and exclude it from the habitat.
Two species can share a habitat only if they occupy different niches.

What determines which species occur in a habitat?

The conditions in which species fight for survival are defined by the ecological factors in their habitat.

Abiotic factors

These are non-living or physical factors such as Solar energy input (affected by latitude, season, cloud cover and changes
to the earths orbit) Climate (rainfall, wind exposure and temperature) Topography (altitude, slope, aspect and drainage)
Oxygen availability (particularly important in an aquatic environment) Edaphic (factors connected with the soil such as pH
and mineral salt availability) Pollution (can be of air, water or land) Catastrophes (infrequent events which disturb conditions
considerably)

Biotic factors

These are 'living' factors such as competition (for resources such as food, light, water, space. These can be Interspecific
(between species) or intraspecific (within species)) Grazing, predation or parasitism (in all, one organism benefits
at another's expense) Mutualism (a relationship where both partners benefit). These are usually density dependent: effects
are related to to the size of the population relative to the area available. The greater the population density the greater the
competition. There is a greater diversity of organisms as the environment becomes more stable and more nutrients are
available.

Anthropogenic factors

factors arising from human activity, can be either biotic or abiotic. The impact of humans is far greater than that of any
other species. The introduction of sheep and rabbits, and the removal of predators of grazing animals, such as wolves, are
all the result of human activity. Grazing by domesticated animals is accompanied by high stocking densities, fencing, the
introduction of cultivated types of grass and the use of fertilizers, this means that the environment is no longer 'natural'

Adapted for survival

Species survive in a habitat because they have adaptations that enable them to cope with the biotic and abiotic conditions
of their niche.
Ecosystems are dynamic

A community which changes over time is known as a succession.

Primary succession

A primary succession starts in newly formed habitats where there has never been a community before. Unless prevented,
succession then continues until a relatively stable community is established. The pioneer phase: enter the botanic
mavericks --> a pioneer species are the first to colonise bare rock such as lichens and algae. they are the only species which
can cope with the extreme temperatures and lack of soil, water and nutrients. The pioneers begin to break up the rock
allowing some organic material to accumulate. The broken up rock forms the beginnings of soil. They change the
conditions of the habitat just enough to make them suitable for other species.

succession continues

mosses build up more organic material in the soil which can hold water. Seeds of small shallow rooted plants can develop.
As the conditions improve seeds from larger taller plants appear and compete with the already present plants. They replace
the existing community. Eventually a community usually dominated by trees is reached, this stable climax community often
remains unchanged unless conditions change. The nature of the climax community largely depends on environmental
conditions such as climate, the soil and which species are available. The dominant species is the one is the one which has
an overriding influence over the rest of the plant, microbe and animal species. It is usually the largest and/or most
abundant plant species. As the succession continues the number of niches increases with the number of species.

A climax community without trees

Succession does not continue possibly due to the propertied of the soils and underlying rock. The vegetation resembles
that of a low-competition pioneer phase of a more typical succession. The survival depends on the habitat remaining an
open pioneer-type habitat.

Secondary succession

On bare soil where an existing community has been cleared, secondary succession occurs. Bare soil will contain dormant
seeds of many species and others will be brought back in the wind or by animals. Groundsel is an example of a pioneering
species adapted to take advantage of newly bare soil where there is little or no competition. Adaptations include: Seeds
wildly dispersed by the wind, Rapid growth, Short life cycle and abundant seed production.

Deflected succession

A community remains stable only because of human activity preventing its natural course is called a deflected succession.
Many habitats need to be actively managed to prevent succession which would result in loss or change in biodiversity.
Grazing, mowing or burning may be used to deflect succession.

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