Ecology (part of conservation of life) (life processes in the biosphere)

Population dynamics: - size - distribution - survival rate - age structure

-satellite/ radio tracking -DNA databases/ eDNA -Image recognition, including software -Acoustic monitoring, sonograms (new technologies improve the validity of ecological research by allowing the collection of more representative data and new information)

• light • water • nutrients • pH • abiotic habitat provision

• food • control of predation • pollination • seed dispersal • biotic habitat provision • other inter-species provision • disease

-species -taxon -ecological niche -population -community of species -ecosystem -biome

A group of organisms that resemble each other more than other organisms and naturally interbreed to produce fertile offspring.

A group of organisms based on their biological similarities eg domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species.

The role that an organism plays in its habitat, including its use of resources and its inter-relationships with other species.

All the individuals of a species living in a particular area.

A community of species is made up of the populations of all the species living in a particular area.

The community of organisms living in an area, their inter-relationships and interactions with their abiotic environment eg tropical rainforest, savannah grassland, coral reef. Do not confuse the term ‘ecosystem’ with ‘biome’.

A large geographical region with particular climatic features, in which a characteristic, unique community of species lives eg Taiga, coral reefs, temperate grasslands, tundra, tropical rainforest. Don’t confuse the terms biome and ecosystem. Biome refers to the total area where the community of species is found, whereas ecosystem refers to a particular community and its interactions. So, there are many tropical rainforest ecosystems but only one biome.

The sequences of changes in community composition which changes as an area is colonised and develops until a climax community is eventually produced. The time period in which a species can survive depends upon the ease with which it colonises and the biotic and abiotic conditions that it is able to survive.

One of the first species to colonise an area at the start of ecological succession. They are usually well adapted to extreme abiotic factors.

The relatively stable community of species present at the end of ecological succession.

Pioneer stage (no competition) -1st species to colonise and begin forming soils (pioneer species e.g. protists and prokaryotes) -these species are able to take advantage of harsh abiotic factors -lithosere= moss, lichen -hydrosere= algae, phytoplankton -psammosere= marram grass Intermediate stage -gradual change in species as niches are established -pioneer species usually outcompeted= die -lots of competition and high biodiversity -organisms beginning to exploit the land leading to greater changes Natural climax stage - stable, mature community - lowers biodiversity, as one species dominates the others - usually taking full advantage of the abiotic factors

A stage in ecological succession in the changes that occur, eventually producing the climax community.

sere= a starting point for ecological succession - water = hydrosere - bare rock = lithosere - sand = psammosere

Natural ecological succession is stopped by human actions. Long-term continuation of the actions that deflect succession will create a plagioclimax.

Ecological succession that takes place in an area where the existing climax community has been disturbed or destroyed.

primary succession = starts as only having abiotic factors/ completely destroyed ecosystem (no soil) = volcanic eruption, asteroid collision secondary succession = (the soil has to remain) partially destroyed ecosystems (soil, possibly some grass) = tree falling down, forest fires → happens also when a plagioclimax community is no longer being managed

All species have a stage in their life cycle when movement can take place. It is essential to avoid extinction as changing conditions make the current location unsuitable. It is important to be able to move, colonise, grow, breed, then populate other areas. - when a species colonises an area, it will change the habitat, which may make it suitable for other new species - the full range of processes and stages in these changes can be seen in a newly created habitat which currently has no life e.g. bare rock, landslides or created by volcanic eruption (primary succession)

A community of species that does not develop to a natural climatic climax community, but is maintained by external influences which prevent this, including human activities such as burning, grazing or ploughing.

human activity which stops a habitat from reaching a natural climax this has to occur regularly so the community doesn’t have time to reform and a new community of species develops - conservation management of plagioclimax communities (hedges) in the UK is usually through the maintenance of the traditional activities that created them