National 5 Biology - Life on Earth

National 5 Biology - Life on Earth Biodiversity ️️the variety of organisms within an ecosystem. abiotic factor ️️Non-living factor which has an impact on biodiversity e.g. pH, light intensity etc. biotic factor ️️Living factor which has an impact on biodiversity e.g. competition, predation etc. deforestation ️️clearing forests to make way for building, farming or to get natural resources. Decreases biodiversity. distribution ️️Where organisms are found -- can be impacted by abiotic and biotic factors. pH ️️ABIOTIC FACTOR: measure of acidity or alkalinity. light intensity ️️ABIOTIC FACTOR: how much light an area recieves. moisture level ️️ABIOTIC FACTOR: how much moisture is present in an area. moisture meter ️️measures moisture level. pH meter ️️measures pH level light intensity meter ️️measures light intensity temperature ️️ABIOTIC FACTOR: how hot or cold an area is. thermometer ️️used to measure temperature. low intensity grazing ️️decreases biodiversity as dominant species are able to grow unchecked preventing the growth of weaker species. medium/high intensity grazing ️️maintains biodiversity as dominant grasses are kept in check allowing more vulnerable species to grow. very high intensity ️️decreases biodiversity as all species are continually eaten preventing many from reaching reproductive age. quadrat ️️a square frame of known value used to estimate the number of a species in an area. pitfall trap ️️pot placed in a hole dug into the ground which is then covered and is used to estimate ground dwelling organisms in an area. habitat ️️the place where an organism lives. niche ️️the role of an organism within it's community i.e. nocturnal predator which eats small rodents. community ️️all of the different species living together in an ecosystem. ecosystem ️️the interactions between all of the living organisms and non-living parts in an area (between the community and their habitats) biomes ️️regions of the planet which share similar climate conditions i.e. arctic tundra, tropical rainforests, deciduous woodland...