Introduction

What is an Ecosystem?

An ecosystem is a natural environment and includes the flora (plants) and fauna (animals) that live and interact within that environment. Flora, fauna and bacteria are the biotic or living components of the ecosystem. Ecosystems are dependent on the following abiotic or non-living components:

climate - the temperature and amount of rainfall are very important in determining which species can survive in the ecosystem
soil - the soil type is important as this provides nutrients that will support different plants
water - the amount of water available in an ecosystem will determine what plants and animals can be supported

The biotic parts of the ecosystem have a complex relationship with the abiotic components - changing one will lead to a change in the other.

Our Planet | How the Wild World Works

Using the link below, watch the video and love our planet! Complete the task below as you watch.

What makes the following 'run well'?

Jungles
Forests
The poles
Grasslands
High Seas
Coastal Seas
Fresh Water

Source 1: Biomes - The Living Landscape

For you to do..

Read pages 4 & 5 of 'Global Interactions 2' (textbook) and view Source 1. For each question below, use TEEL structure as a part of your strategy to answer these questions. It would be a good idea to brainstorm your ideas before writing.

Outline the link between climatic zones and terrestrial ecosystems.
Explain how 'environmental conditions' can modify ecosystems.
Use source 1.1.5 (in the text) and Source 1 to summarise the key features of two terrestrial ecosystems.

LESSON 2

Ecosystems and their Functioning

Use the link below to work through the slides on how ecosystems function before completing the tasks below.

Year 12 Geo - Biophysical Interactions (google.com)

LESSON 3

The Ecosphere

... is the sum of all ecosystems.

Organism

Any form of life. A species, whether it be small or large. It can be a plant, animal or decomposer.

Populations

A group of organisms... or species that are living together. Populations change is size, structure, location and genetic make up.

Community

The interaction of different populations within a habitat including all plants and animals.

Ecosystem

This includes the community living within a habitat and all of the abiotic (non-living) environment.

For you to do..

Read pages 6 and 7 of your textbooks to answer the following questions.

Explain how a change in TWO abiotic factors could lead to change in an ecosystem.
Describe the Ecosphere. What are its components?
Find out the difference between a food chain and a food web and report on your findings.

Energy and the Nutrient Cycle

Read the relevant text on page 8 in the textbook. Also watch Source 2 on this page.

'Analyse' the flow of energy in the nutrient cycle.

Analyse: Identify components and the relationship between them; draw out and relate implications.

Refer to figures 1.1.8 and 1.1.9 on page 9 of the text. Which trophic level can the following species be found? Krill, Squid, Phytoplankton, Wedge Tailed Eagle and Humans?
According to source 2, how are plant nutrients cycled through an ecosystem? FYI, When animals die, the same decomposition processes apply, making nutrients available for plants through the soil with the help from precipitation.

Source 3: How humans disrupted a cycle

The Carbon Cycle

Refer to source 4. Draw a flow diagram that represents the Carbon Cycle in the source. Label it.
Refer to source 3. How can humans try to take Carbon out of the atmosphere?
'Carbon in the atmosphere supercharges plant growth and therefore the absorption of carbon' Discuss how this statement could be true in relation to climate change.

Source 4: The Global Carbon Cycle

Source 5 is a link: https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/image_maps/3-carbon-cycle

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