Mikayla Steen 2024
Ecosystems at Risk
ECOSYSTEMS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT................................................................. 2
❖ biophysical interactions which lead to diverse ecosystems and their functioning.............. 2
❖ vulnerability and resilience of ecosystems.............................................................................. 4
➢ impacts due to natural stress................................................................................................... 4
➢ impacts due to human induced modifications to energy flows, nutrient cycling, and
relationships between biophysical components...........................................................................4
❖ the importance of ecosystem management and protection................................................... 4
➢ maintenance of genetic diversity..............................................................................................4
➢ utility values...............................................................................................................................4
➢ intrinsic values...........................................................................................................................4
➢ heritage values...........................................................................................................................4
➢ need to allow natural change to proceed.................................................................................4
❖ evaluation of traditional and contemporary management strategies.................................. 4
CASE STUDIES OF ECOSYSTEMS............................................................................... 4
❖ TWO case studies of different ecosystems at risk to illustrate their unique
characteristics including:.............................................................................................................. 4
➢ spatial patterns and dimensions: location, altitude, latitude, size, shape and continuity.. 4
➢ biophysical interactions including:..........................................................................................4
➢ the dynamics of weather and climate...................................................................................... 4
➢ geomorphic and hydrologic processes such as earth movements, weathering, erosion,
transport and deposition, soil formation..................................................................................... 4
➢ biogeographical processes: invasion, succession, modification, resilience...........................4
➢ adjustments in response to natural stress............................................................................... 4
➢ the nature and rate of change which affects ecosystem functioning.................................... 4
➢ human impacts (both positive and negative).......................................................................... 4
➢ Traditional and contemporary management practices......................................................... 4
* A lot of this information was taken from Atomi and my teacher
,Mikayla Steen 2024
ECOSYSTEMS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT
* Introduction *
❖ = Syllabus dot-point
The geographical location of ecosystems around the world are determined by their longitude and
latitude, this can tell us man of the factors that ecosystem might have, for example, in the middle
of brazil we can estimate that it will be a very humid environment.
Ecology is a science that examines the interaction between organisms and their living
environment (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) environments.
❖ biophysical interactions which lead to diverse ecosystems and their functioning
Define ecosphere
The ecosphere is the collection of living things and dead organisms ( the biosphere), including
with one another and their non-living environment. The cryosphere represents the aggregate (
total) of the world’s ecosystems.
Variations in Ecosystems such as
aquatic or terrestrial.
Terrestrial include:
- Mountains
- Desserts
- Polar
- Grasslands / Savanna
- Rainforest/ temperate forest
- Tropical deciduous forests
Aquatic include:
- Ponds
- Lakes
- Oceans
- Coral Reefs
* A lot of this information was taken from Atomi and my teacher
, Mikayla Steen 2024
The Study of Ecology
The study of ecology is concerned with interactions that occur at five levels or organisations:
Organisms, populations, communities, ecosystems and the ecosphere.
Explain why an understanding of the operation of an ecosystem’s food web would be
essential for the sustainable management of that ecosystem.
The understanding of food webs is essential to be able to predict population change of
density and distribution in an ecosystem. The operation of ecosystems is the groups of
organisms that interact with each other and their biophysical environment collectively.
Ecosystems are determined by their unique characteristics and patterns. A food web
demonstrates how energy is passed down by producers and consumers (as seen in the
image to the right). Interconnecting the species in an ecosystem by the way a species is
consumer or consumes another, allows ecologists to see how a specific organism
influences the entire ecosystem.
For example from the diagram to the right, if the density of the mouse were to drastically
lower not only would the grass density increase, but the owl, fox, and hawk population
would consume more of the rabbit, grasshopper, and frog population which would
decrease these population causing an even more increase to the grass density. This could
disrupt soil quality and runoff which is essential for water bodies like rivers, lakes and
ponds.
* Factors affecting the functioning of
ecosystems *
● biophysical interactions that lead to diverse ecosystems and their functioning
Ecology is depicted in 5 stages:
1. Organism
2. Population
3. Community
* A lot of this information was taken from Atomi and my teacher
Ecosystems at Risk
ECOSYSTEMS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT................................................................. 2
❖ biophysical interactions which lead to diverse ecosystems and their functioning.............. 2
❖ vulnerability and resilience of ecosystems.............................................................................. 4
➢ impacts due to natural stress................................................................................................... 4
➢ impacts due to human induced modifications to energy flows, nutrient cycling, and
relationships between biophysical components...........................................................................4
❖ the importance of ecosystem management and protection................................................... 4
➢ maintenance of genetic diversity..............................................................................................4
➢ utility values...............................................................................................................................4
➢ intrinsic values...........................................................................................................................4
➢ heritage values...........................................................................................................................4
➢ need to allow natural change to proceed.................................................................................4
❖ evaluation of traditional and contemporary management strategies.................................. 4
CASE STUDIES OF ECOSYSTEMS............................................................................... 4
❖ TWO case studies of different ecosystems at risk to illustrate their unique
characteristics including:.............................................................................................................. 4
➢ spatial patterns and dimensions: location, altitude, latitude, size, shape and continuity.. 4
➢ biophysical interactions including:..........................................................................................4
➢ the dynamics of weather and climate...................................................................................... 4
➢ geomorphic and hydrologic processes such as earth movements, weathering, erosion,
transport and deposition, soil formation..................................................................................... 4
➢ biogeographical processes: invasion, succession, modification, resilience...........................4
➢ adjustments in response to natural stress............................................................................... 4
➢ the nature and rate of change which affects ecosystem functioning.................................... 4
➢ human impacts (both positive and negative).......................................................................... 4
➢ Traditional and contemporary management practices......................................................... 4
* A lot of this information was taken from Atomi and my teacher
,Mikayla Steen 2024
ECOSYSTEMS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT
* Introduction *
❖ = Syllabus dot-point
The geographical location of ecosystems around the world are determined by their longitude and
latitude, this can tell us man of the factors that ecosystem might have, for example, in the middle
of brazil we can estimate that it will be a very humid environment.
Ecology is a science that examines the interaction between organisms and their living
environment (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) environments.
❖ biophysical interactions which lead to diverse ecosystems and their functioning
Define ecosphere
The ecosphere is the collection of living things and dead organisms ( the biosphere), including
with one another and their non-living environment. The cryosphere represents the aggregate (
total) of the world’s ecosystems.
Variations in Ecosystems such as
aquatic or terrestrial.
Terrestrial include:
- Mountains
- Desserts
- Polar
- Grasslands / Savanna
- Rainforest/ temperate forest
- Tropical deciduous forests
Aquatic include:
- Ponds
- Lakes
- Oceans
- Coral Reefs
* A lot of this information was taken from Atomi and my teacher
, Mikayla Steen 2024
The Study of Ecology
The study of ecology is concerned with interactions that occur at five levels or organisations:
Organisms, populations, communities, ecosystems and the ecosphere.
Explain why an understanding of the operation of an ecosystem’s food web would be
essential for the sustainable management of that ecosystem.
The understanding of food webs is essential to be able to predict population change of
density and distribution in an ecosystem. The operation of ecosystems is the groups of
organisms that interact with each other and their biophysical environment collectively.
Ecosystems are determined by their unique characteristics and patterns. A food web
demonstrates how energy is passed down by producers and consumers (as seen in the
image to the right). Interconnecting the species in an ecosystem by the way a species is
consumer or consumes another, allows ecologists to see how a specific organism
influences the entire ecosystem.
For example from the diagram to the right, if the density of the mouse were to drastically
lower not only would the grass density increase, but the owl, fox, and hawk population
would consume more of the rabbit, grasshopper, and frog population which would
decrease these population causing an even more increase to the grass density. This could
disrupt soil quality and runoff which is essential for water bodies like rivers, lakes and
ponds.
* Factors affecting the functioning of
ecosystems *
● biophysical interactions that lead to diverse ecosystems and their functioning
Ecology is depicted in 5 stages:
1. Organism
2. Population
3. Community
* A lot of this information was taken from Atomi and my teacher
