Natural ecosystem and human activities

Ecosystem : all the living things together with all non living things in an area

Population : all the organisms of one species living in a defined area at the same time

Community : a group of populations of different species that live together in an are and interact with each other

Habitat : the place within the ecosystem where an organism lives

Niche : the role of a species within the ecosystem and includes the type of food it eats , where it lives and where it
reproduces and its relationships with other species

Biotic Abiotic

1. Producers 1. Temperature
2. Primary consumers 2. Humidity
3. Secondary consumers 3. Water
4. Tertiary consumers 4. Oxygen
5. Decomposers 5. Salinity
6. light
7. PH

Pollination : transfer of pollen grains from anther to stigma for it to fuse with the ovule to fertilize it

1. Pollen grains are either blown by wind or carried by insects

2. The pollen grain lands on the stigma of another flower and sends out a tube that grows down to the ovule
3. Ovule is then fertilized to form an embryo in a seed or fruit that grows into a plant

Photosynthesis

Energy from sunlight is converted to chemical energy using the chlorophyll

Carbon dioxide + water = glucose + oxygen

Importance of chlorophyll
• trap light energy
• Converts light energy into chemical energy

Food chain : a digram showing the relationship between a single producer , primary , secondary and
Tertiary
Food web : a diagram showing relationship between all of the producers , primary , secondary and
tertiary consumers in ecosystem
Trophic level : a feeding level within a food chain or food web
Pyramid of numbers : a diagram that represents the number of organisms at each trophic level in an
ecosystem by a horizontal bar whose length is proportional to the numbers at that level

Respiration : process by which living organisms break down glucose in presence of oxygen to release
CO2 , water and energy to carry out process of life such as movement

Energy is lost by :
1. Movement
2. Used for cellular respiration
3. Used for reproduction
4. Lost as faeces

Carbon cycle

1. Carbon present in the atmosphere is absorbed by plants for photosynthesis

2. These plants are then consumed by animals and carbon gets bio accumulated into their bodies
3. These animals and plants eventually die and upon decomposing carbon is released back into the atmosphere
4. Some of the carbon that is not released back into atmosphere becomes fossil fuels
5. These fossil fuels then used for man made activities which pumps more carbon back into atmosphere

Importance of wet lands

1. The photosynthesis absorbs CO2 and impacts climate change
2. They absorb water so reduce flooding
3. Provide habitats so increase biodiversity
4. Maintenance of water quality
5. Shoreline protection fro m erosion
6. Provide employment
7. Recharging of aquifers

Causes of habitat loss Causes of deforestation

1. Deforstation 1. Land cleared for farming , food production and
2. intensive agricultural practices livestock due to human population extension
3. drainage of wetlands 2. Roads and settlements
3. Rock and mineral extraction
Impacts of habitat loss Impacts of deforestation
1. Loss of biodiversity 1. Habitat loss
2. Extinction 2. Loss of biodiversity and genetic depletion
3. Genetic depletion 3. Soil erosion and desertification
4. Climate change
5. Disruption of food webs
 Measuring and managing biodiversity

Pitfall traps :
• used to sample moving organisms
• Consists of a jar buried in the soil
• Organisms fall into the trap and smooth sides prevent them from escaping
• The jar may or may not be covered
• Traps should be inspected and emptied regularly

Pooter :
• used to sample moving organisms like insects
• Glass mouthpiece suck air through pooter , then insect gets sucked in other tube
• Gauze prevents insects entering mouth so insects get trapped in pot

Transects :
• use a grid map of an area
• Select a starting point
• Count all organisms along the transect or at regular intervals using quadrats
• Record the results in a table
• Repeat the transect in different positions in the same field
• Calculate average number of organisms for the whole field

Quadrat :
• observe the quadrat from a distance for a fixed period of time
• Count the number of plants of the species or area covered by the plants
• Repeat sampling in different positions and take average
• Record results in a table

Method Advantages Disadvantages

• often kill organisms captured

• inexpensive
Pit fall trap • May oversample or under sample
• Easy to set up

• quick
• not applicable in all situations
Transects • Inexpensive
• Portable

Quadrats • quick
• not always very accurate
• Inexpensive
• Sample may be biased if not
• Portable
enough quadarts are placed
 Sampling techniques

Random sampling Systematic sampling

A sampling method in which the sampling A sample method in which the sampling device is
device is placed using random number placed along a line
generator or the roll of dice Used to check how the species change along a
It is used when two areas are to be compared gradient in the environment

Strategies for conserving biodiversity of natural ecosystem

1. Sustainable harvesting of wild plant and animal species

2. Sustainable foresty by using selective logging which is the removal of mature trees only of species that are
valuable
3. Agroforestry a system in which crops are grown around trees
4. Wildlife corridor
5. Extractive reserves
6. National parks
7. Seed banks
8. Wildlife and ecological reserves

Advantages of selective logging

1. Selective logging causes less damage to forest than excessive logging

2. Provides job opportunities
3. Extraction is sustainable
4. Non valued trees still provide habitat for many species and immature valued trees can be used years later

Advantages of national parks

1. Laws that ban activities such as hunting

2. An entry fee charged is used for conservation work
3. Provides jobs and attracts tourists so increase income
4. Guidebook is provided that includes information on the importance of the conservation of wild nature

Why is it difficult to make ecological reserves

1. Difficult to accurately outline the area or restrict access to it

2. Area may be in the territory of more than one country so all countries need to agree
3. Reduce the income of local people
4. Reduce tourism
Role of zoos and captive breeding
• captive breeding programs maintains biodiversity and increase species numbers thus reducing risk of extinction
• Aim to release captive breed animals into the wild when habitats have been restored

Advantages Disadvantages

• provide better diet to animal • difficult to breed animals

• provide continous supply of food to animal • Lack of genetic cariation
• Provide access to medical care • Ethically wrong
• provide education and awarness • Cannot always provide natural habitats

Ways to reduce inbreeding :

• organisms aren’t allowed to breed repeatedly with the same partner
• A variety of partners for an organism can be achieved through IVF and inter zoo swapping of individuals
• Use a database to record breeding history of individuals in captivity

Environmental impacts of large number of tourists

1. More domestic wast

2. More traffic
3. More buildings
4. Increase in demand for water food and electricity
5. Damage to tourist attractions