Energy

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Energy Life
New Unit

• Systems, Flows Cycles

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What is an Ecosystem?

• an ecosystem is a naturally occurring assemblage
  of organisms (plant, animal and other living
  organisms) living together with their environment
• An ecosystem may be of very different sizes. It
  may be a whole forest, as well as a small pond

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Biotic

• The Biotic components of the ecosystem are the
  living organisms
• These are the Animals, Micro-Organisms, Trees and
  other Plants

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Abiotic

• The Abiotic components are the inorganic
  (physical) and chemical elements of the ecosystem
• These include the Soil, Climate, Relief, Geology
  and Drainage

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The relationship between Biotic and Abiotic

• The interaction between Biotic and Abiotic
  components creates a stable system in equilibrium
• This means that the dead and living matter
  interact, but the whole system remains in balance

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The Components of an Ecosystem
Climate
Vegetation
Soils
Animals
People
The flow of energy and the cycle of nutrients
maintain the equilibrium in the ecosystem.
Upsetting the balance can seriously affect the
system
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Case Study of a small-scale ecosystem

• The first case study of the unit is for a small
  scale ecosystem
• Ecosystems exist at a variety of scales
• Examples of the smallest ecosystems are
  rockpools, hedgerows, and even your back garden

• You are going to produce a case study of a
  hedgerow using the textbook
• You need Page 93
• To complete the Case study, answer Question 3
  (parts a, b, c d)

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What is a Biome?

• A biome is a huge ecosystem
• They exist on a global scale, and are often
  bigger than countries e.g. the Amazon rainforest
  is 6 x bigger than the UK
• The global distribution of biomes is linked very
  closely to global climate and soil distribution

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Its Map Time!

• Produce a map to show the world distribution of
  biomes
• Page 94 of textbook- figure 1
• You need pencils crayons
• Remember to include a key, title, etc

You need to do a comparison of the World soils,
vegetation and climate- Complete Question 2 a b
(Page 95)
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Probably wont get this far
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Organic Elements

• We have already covered the concept that an
  ecosystem is a link between organic and inorganic
  elements
• Before we cover the processes in an ecosystem
  (next lesson), we need to understand what makes
  up the Organic elements in an ecosystem

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Organic Elements

• There are 2 organic elements in an ecosystem
  which link with the inorganic elements. These
  are-
• Biomass
• Dead organic matter

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Biomass

• This is the amount of living matter in the
  ecosystem at any one time
• It includes living matter above ground (e.g.
  leaves/animals) and below ground (e.g.
  roots/burrowing animals)
• We measure it in dry weight per area
• e.g. tonnes per hectare or kg per m²
• Different ecosystems / biomes have differing
  biomass- Tropical rainforest has a large biomass
  Arctic Tundra a very small biomass

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Dead organic matter

• This includes-
• On the surface of the soil- The litter layer
  (leaves branches yet to decay)
• Soil humus- the organic matter that has
  decomposed and become part of the soil
• In most ecosystems dead organic matter is less
  than biomass. Sometimes it can be the other way
  around (often in Tundra)

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Homework

• This is the final break before the summer of
  exams.
• 6 lessons before your Geography exams
• (No lesson on 3rd May Lesson on 24th May as your
  exam is on 27th May)
• Homework is to revise everything on Physical
  geography so far (Water on the land Climatic
  Hazards)
• Plus 3 Human geography topics if you need to
• Plus, look at all the different types of
  graphs/maps/data you have used this year