a2 biology field studies
DESCRIPTION
A2 Biology Field Studies. Specification points covered today: (h) explain how human activities can manipulate the flow of energy through ecosystems (HSW6b); * continuation from earlier ( i ) describe one example of primary succession resulting in a climax community; - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
A2 Biology Field StudiesSpecification points covered today:
(h) explain how human activities can manipulate the flow of energy through ecosystems (HSW6b);
*continuation from earlier
(i) describe one example of primary succession resulting in a climax community;
(j) describe how the distribution and abundance of
organisms can be measured, using line transects, belt transects, quadrats and point quadrats (HSW3);
Key words that you will need to be able to define......
• Moraine• Pioneer plants• Succession (primary & secondary)• Seral stages• Climax community• Continuous/interrupted transect• Line transect• Belt transect
Intensive farming is a way of manipulating energy
flow in food chains
How might farmers go about minimising the loss of energy from their crops and livestock
to ensure MAXIMUM yield? (using named examples may help)
1.__________________________________________2.__________________________________________3.__________________________________________4.__________________________________________5.__________________________________________
Spec point (h
)
Monocultures
A single species of plant grown in one area – what would be the
ADVANTAGES of this?
Minimising energy loss from movement
Does high productivity outweigh the ethical concerns?
Youtube link
Exam question (3 marks)
Suggest which animals would be the most efficient to farm; Endotherms (like birds & mammals) or
Ectotherms (like worms, fish & reptiles)Explain your answer
Changes in Ecosystems:Ecological Succession
DESCRIBE WHAT YOU SEE
Succession definition:
• Natural, gradual changes in the types of species that live in an area; can be primary or secondary
• The gradual replacement of one plant community by another through natural processes over time
Glaciers retreat to leave MORAINE
Moraine – debris that a melting glacier leaves behind. Contains rocks of
various sizes
LABEL what is happening at each stage a-d
Primary Succession
• Begins in a place without any soil – Sides of volcanoes– Landslides– Flooding– Glacier retreat
• Starts with the arrival of living things such as lichens that do not need soil to survive
• Called PIONEER SPECIES
Primary Succession• Soil starts to form as lichens and the forces of
weather and erosion help break down rocks into smaller pieces
• When lichens die, they decompose, adding small amounts of organic matter to the rock to make soil
QUESTION: a) Decomposers would breakdown lichens into what nitrogen containing compound? (1)b) What is the process called that converts this compound into USABLE nitrogen-based chemicals for plant growth? (1)c) Name the micro-organisms involved & any intermediate products (3)
http://www.life.uiuc.edu
Primary Succession
• Simple plants like mosses and ferns can grow in the new soil
http://uisstc.georgetown.edu
http://www.uncw.edu
Primary Succession
• The simple plants die, adding more organic material
• The soil layer thickens, and grasses, wildflowers, and other plants begin to take over
http://www.cwrl.utexas.edu
Primary Succession
• These plants die, and they add more nutrients to the soil
• Shrubs and tress can survive now
http://www.rowan.edu
Primary Succession
• Insects, small birds, and mammals have begun to move in
• What was once bare rock now supports a variety of life
http://p2-raw.greenpeace.org
Secondary Succession
• Begins in a place that already has soil and was once the home of living organisms
• Occurs faster and has different pioneer species than primary succession
• Example: after forest fires
http://www.ux1.eiu.edu
http://www.agen.ufl.edu
Climax Community
• A stable group of plants and animals that is the end result of the succession process
• Does not always mean big trees– Grasses in prairies– Cacti in deserts
WWhat conditions would plants be exposed to and how would they be adapted to this?
Transects: LINE, BELT, CONTINUOUS, INTERRUPTED
Procedures & equipment to consider when studying succession
Distinguish between a line transect and a belt transect.
Outline the advantages and limitations of using a frame quadrat.
Outline the advantages and limitations of using a point quadrat.
Studying succession – normally involves use of transects
Describe how you would investigate plant diversity along a sand dune.For each scenario use pages 190 & 191Scenario 1: Using a gridded quadrat along a line transect (8 marks)
Scenario 2: Using a point quadrat along a belt transect (8 marks)