ENVS 1

ENVS 1

1. Conditions for life on Earth

   • Early Conditions
     • Lots of water
       • Physiological solvent
       • Transports O2, CO2, Sugars, AA etc
         • Blood
         • Sap
       • Temperature control
         • Homeostasis
       • Anomalous expansion
         • Ice floats
       • High Specific heat capacity
         • Reduces temp fluctuations
       • Aquatic habitats
     • Temp Range
       • Allows liquid water
       • Allows Enzymes to not denature
         • Living organism are found within 0-40  Thermophillic bacteria can withstand higher temperatures (sometimes over 80 degrees c) 
     • Gases
       • CO2
         • Photosynthesis
         • Climate control
       • Nitrogen
         • Protein synthesis
     • Sun Light/Radiation
       • Sunlight = energy
         • Photosynthesis
       • When absorbed = heat
         • Water cycle
         • Warming of the Earth
       • Little UV + Ionising radiation
   • How presence of life has equalled change
     • First Ecological succession. Life became more abundant and changed conditions on earth making them more suitable for varied life forms to develop and colonise a wider range of habitats.
     • Atmospheric Oxygen
       • Reactive so atmospheric concentration declined
         • Oxidation
       • Small amount released by photolysis of water
         • Photosynthetic bacteria then released larger amounts of O2
           • This absobed UV, they split, producing OZONE
             • Ozone layer allowed protection from UV allowing colonisation of land
     • Atmospheric CO2
     • Water Cycle

2. Conservation in the UK

   • Aims
     • - Protection of wildlife
     • - Protection of landscape/ countryside
   • Organisations
     • Governmental
     • NGO's
   • Meathods
     • Semi-natural habitats
     • Woodland management

3. Conservation Abroad

   • Antarctica
     • Threats
     • Importance
     • Features
     • Conservation
     • Life
   • Coral Reefs
     • Ecological features
     • importance
     • Threats
     • Conservation
   • Tropical rainforests
     • Ecological Features
     • Importance
     • Threats
     • Conservation

4. Life processes in the biosphere

   • Adaptation
     • Biotic Factors
     • Abiotic factors
   • Grouping
     • Taxonomy
     • Grouping environments
   • Changes in Ecosystem
     • Ecological succession
   • Diversity and ecological stability
     • Diversity index
     • Population dynamics
     • Homeostatic regulation of population size

5. Wildlife conservation

   • Rational for conservation
     • Knowledge/ Understanding
     • Moral/ Ethical
     • Aesthetics /Recreation
     • Economic
     • Resources
     • Life-support systems
   • Conservation Meathods
     • CB+R
     • Habitat conservation/ creation
     • Legal Protection
     • Management of exploitation
   • Human Threats
     • Unsustainable exploitation
     • Eradication of competitors
     • Unable to survive habitat alteration

6. Land resources

   • Land Use conflicts
     • Causes
     • Methods of resolving
   • Landscape conservation
     • Protection
     • Enhancement
     • Visitor management
     • Organisations