recall that many different materials cycle through the abiotic and biotic components of an ecosystem
examples of cycled materials e.g. nitrogen and carbon
recall that many different materials cycle through the abiotic and biotic components of an ecosystem
examples of cycled materials e.g. nitrogen and carbon
explain the role of microorganisms in the cycling of materials through an ecosystem
the role of microorganisms in decomposition
explain the importance of the carbon cycle and the water cycle to living organisms
maintaining habitats, fresh water flow of nutrients
explain the effect of factors such as temperature, water content, and oxygen availability on rate of decomposition
the terms aerobic and anaerobic
describe different levels of organisation in an ecosystem from individual organisms to the whole ecosystem
explain how abiotic and biotic factors can affect communities
temperature, light intensity, moisture level, pH of soil, predators, food
describe the importance of interdependence and competition in a community
interdependence relating to predation, mutualism and parasitism
describe the differences between the trophic levels of organisms within an ecosystem
use of the terms producer and consumer
describe pyramids of biomass and explain, with examples, how biomass is lost between the different trophic levels
loss of biomass related to egestion, excretion, respiration
calculate the efficiency of biomass transfers between trophic levels and explain how this affects the number of trophic levels in a food chain