Abiotic factors
The non-living aspects of an ecosystem e.g. temperature, light intensity,
moisture, wind direction, wind intensity, soil pH, soil mineral content, carbon dioxide levels
and oxygen levels.
Adaptions
A feature of an organism that increases its chance of survival in its environment.
Such features may be behavioural, structural or functional.
Anaerobic decay
Decomposition in the absence of oxygen (commonly occurring in
waterlogged soils) that produces carbon dioxide and methane gas.
Apex predator
A carnivore at the top of the food chain with no predators.
Biodiversity
The variety of living organisms in an ecosystem.
Biogas
A type of biofuel (methane gas) produced by anaerobic decay in biogas generators.
Biotic factors
The living components of an ecosystem e.g. food availability, pathogens,
predators and other species.
Carbon cycle
The cycle through which carbon (in the form of carbon dioxide) moves
between living organisms and the environment, involving respiration, photosynthesis and
combustion.
Community
All of the populations of different species living together in a habitat.
Competition
When different organisms compete for the same resources (e.g. light, water,
mates, territory) in an ecosystem. This limits population sizes and stimulates evolutionary
change
Compost
Dead and decaying organic matter, commonly used as a fertiliser
Decomposers
Organisms that release enzymes which catalyse the breakdown of dead
plant and animal material into simpler organic matter.
Decomposition
The breakdown of dead materials into simpler organic matter (affected by temperature water and oxygen availability)
Deforestation
The removal of tress from land which is subsequently used to grow crops or provide space for cattle
Distribution
The spread of living organisms in an ecosystem, it is affected by environmental changes which may be seasonal, geographical or man made
Ecosystem
The community of organisms (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components of an area and their interactions
Efficiency of biomass transfer
The efficiency of biomass transfer between trophic levels
How is efficiency of biomass transfer calculated
Biomass availability after transfer /Biomass availability before transfer x100
Extremophiles
Organisms that can live in extreme environments eg in high temperatures
Food chain order
Producer - primary consumer - secondary consumer- tertiary consumer
Food security
Ensuring that populations have access to adequate amounts of safe amounts of safe and nutritious food
Interdependence
The dependance of different organisms on each other for survival eg plants depending on pollinators and herbivores on plants
Mycoprotien
A food high in protien (produced by the microorganism fusarium in fermentation vats)
Peatlands
Areas of peat soil in wetland habitats formed by the accumulation of partially decayed organic matter (peat is used in garden compost)
