EcosystemsEcosystems

An ecosystem is a combination of all the An ecosystem is a combination of all the living and non-living elements of an area. living and non-living elements of an area. It is made up of all the living (such as It is made up of all the living (such as plants, animals, and people) and non-plants, animals, and people) and non-living (such as topography, climate, and living (such as topography, climate, and water) elements in a particular area.water) elements in a particular area.

ECOLOGY

ECOLOGY is the study of the natural environment and of the relations of organisms to each other and to their surroundings.

In this topic we will all be ecologists!

Types of ecosystemsTypes of ecosystems DesertDesert RainforestRainforest BushlandBushland Coral reefsCoral reefs MangrovesMangroves RiversRivers CaveCave PondPond Sand duneSand dune GrasslandsGrasslands AlpineAlpine

Ecosystems are made up of Ecosystems are made up of biotic (living) and abiotic (non-biotic (living) and abiotic (non-

living) factors.living) factors.

Biotic factorsBiotic factors Plants Plants AnimalsAnimals FungiFungi Micro-organisms. E.g. bacteria,Micro-organisms. E.g. bacteria,

Abiotic factorsAbiotic factors

Abiotic factors in an ecosystem can determine Abiotic factors in an ecosystem can determine which organisms can live there. They include:which organisms can live there. They include:

SunlightSunlight WindWind TemperatureTemperature Availability of waterAvailability of water Soil nutrientsSoil nutrients RocksRocks

DesertDesert

RainforestRainforest

BushlandBushland

Coral ReefsCoral Reefs

MangrovesMangroves

RiversRivers

CaveCave

PondPond

Sand duneSand dune

GrasslandGrassland

AlpineAlpine

Major Ecosystems of the World

Australia’s major ecosystemsAustralia’s major ecosystems

PopulationPopulation A population is a group of organisms of the same kind A population is a group of organisms of the same kind

living in the same place at the same time e.g. The living in the same place at the same time e.g. The Bream population in the Shoalhaven River. When all of Bream population in the Shoalhaven River. When all of the populations in an ecosystem interact and form a the populations in an ecosystem interact and form a communitycommunity. .

If the population's needs are not met, it will move to a If the population's needs are not met, it will move to a better habitat. Two different populations can not better habitat. Two different populations can not occupy the same occupy the same nicheniche at the same time, however. So at the same time, however. So the processes of the processes of competition, predation, competition, predation, cooperation, and symbiosiscooperation, and symbiosis occur. occur.

CommunityCommunity A community is a number of different A community is a number of different

populations interacting with each other.populations interacting with each other.

The community of living things interacts The community of living things interacts with the with the non-livingnon-living world around it to world around it to form an ecosystem. form an ecosystem.

HabitatHabitat Within each ecosystem, there are Within each ecosystem, there are habitatshabitats

which may also vary in size. which may also vary in size.

A habitat is the place where a A habitat is the place where a populationpopulation lives. For example, a population of ants has its lives. For example, a population of ants has its own habitat. own habitat.

A A micro habitatmicro habitat is a habitat within a habitat is a habitat within a habitat e.g. a rock pool on a rock platform.e.g. a rock pool on a rock platform.

The habitat must supply the needs of The habitat must supply the needs of organisms, such as food, water, temperature, organisms, such as food, water, temperature, oxygen, and minerals. oxygen, and minerals.

Interactions Populations of animals interact with each

other and their environment in a variety of ways:

Feeding behavior e.g. herbivores & carnivores, predation.

Competition e.g. food (intra) & space (inter)

Relationships e.g. parasitism

Human Impacts on the Human Impacts on the environmentenvironment

Global Warming Global Warming Use of CFC's and impacts on Use of CFC's and impacts on

the Ozone Layer the Ozone Layer Overuse of Pesticides Overuse of Pesticides Use of PCB's Use of PCB's Deforestation Destruction of Deforestation Destruction of

Wetlands Wetlands Urban Encroachment Urban Encroachment Endangered Species Endangered Species Acid Rain Acid Rain Water Contamination Water Contamination Use of Fossil Fuels Use of Fossil Fuels Dams for Hydro Electricity Dams for Hydro Electricity

Disposal of Radioactive Disposal of Radioactive Wastes Wastes

Oil Spills Oil Spills Smog Air Pollution Smog Air Pollution Soil Erosion Soil Erosion Introduction of Invasive Introduction of Invasive

Species Species Heavy Metals Heavy Metals Salting Roads Salting Roads Crop Irrigation Crop Irrigation Irrigation, land erosion and Irrigation, land erosion and

pesticide run off pesticide run off