Chapter 6 Study of an Ecosystem

Diversity of Organisms Ireland has a wide range of ecosystems e.g. sea shore, pond, grassland etc. We are going to study a grassland/hedgerow ecosystem. Flora (plants in your ecosystem) Hawthorn, blackberry bramble, nettles, dandlions, grass. Fauna (animals in your ecosystem) Hedgehog, fox, ladybird, butterfly, fly, greenfly (aphid) wood louse, robin, blackbird

A map helps give an overall impression of the area being studied.

Habitat Study

Devices used to collect organisms

Qualitative Study Verses Quantitative Study A qualitative study records the presence or absence of organisms. e.g. by collecting and naming the species present. A quantitative study records the numbers of organisms that are present.

Influence of Abiotic Factors (non-living factors) 1.Light Intensity (use a light meter to measure light intensity in Lux) The light intensity is lower near the hedge i.e. less light near the hedge. This influences the number and types of plants that grow there. 2.Soil type (types of soil: sandy, clay, loam) Sandy soil – large particles and good drainage. Clay soil - small particles, poor drainage Loam soil-mix of sand and clay – ideal conditions for plant growth 3.pH of soil- pH scale is between 0 to 14. Use universal indicator paper or a pH meter to measure pH. pH below 7 is an acidic soil, above 7 is basic soil and pH 7 is a neutral soil.

Sources of Error in an Ecosystem Study 1.Human Error – Making mistakes in measurement. 2. Changing conditions – Nature is never static or constant e.g. winter, spring etc. 3. Accidental Discovery – Possible that you may accidently discover a rare animal/plant in your study of the ecosystem. 4. Sample Size – A single habitat many not be a fair representation of a whole ecosystem. If a habitat is too small many plants/animals will be left out.