4.1 Species, Communities and Ecosystems

4.1 Species, Communities and Ecosystems

1. Nature of Science

   • Looking for patterns, trends and discrepancies
     • Plants and algae are mostly autotrophic but some are not

2. Species

   • Populations
     • Community
       • Ecosystems
         • Have the potential to be sustainable over long periods of time
           • Setting up sealed mesocosms
           • International-mindedness
             • The need for sustainability
       • Forms an ecosystem by its interactions with the abiotic environment
         • Testing association between two species
           • Aim 6
             • Chi-squared test
             • Quadrat sampling
             • Recognizing and interpreting statistical significance
   • Classifying species
     • Autotrophs
       • Obtain inorganic nutrients from the abiotic environment
     • Heterotrophs
       • Consumers
         • Decomposers
           • The supply of inorganic nutrients is maintained by nutrient cycling
             • Detritivores
               • Obtain organic nutrients from detritus by internal ingestion
             • Saprotrophs
               • Obtain organic nutrients from dead organisms by external digestion
         • Primary vs Secondary
     • Definition
       • A group of organisms which can interbreed and produce fertile offspring