REVISION

1. REVISION The Living Environment

2. Conditions for Life on Earth Availability of water Appropriate temperature range Suitable ambient gases Light Atmospheric oxygen Atmospheric carbon dioxide Physiological solvent, transport, coolant. The anomalous expansion on freezing (ice floats) prevents many water bodies from freezing solid. The high specific heat capacity of water moderates temperature change. Water provides aquatic habitats. For liquid water, enzyme function. Carbon dioxide, nitrogen in the pre-life atmosphere photosynthesis, source of energy for the water cycle. The production of oxygen and its interaction with UV to form the ozone layer. Reduction of CO2 levels and the importance of this in maintaining global temperatures as the sun has become brighter.

3. Rationale for Wildlife Conservation • Educational reasons • Aesthetic/recreational • Moral reasons • Ethical reasons • Economic benefits • Medical • Food resources • Materials How many can you name? Hint: there are 8

4. How humans threaten wildlife Deliberate exploitation Food Fashion Pets and entertainment Furniture and ornaments Traditional medicines Accidental harm from other activities Unintentional deaths caused by human activities Introduced species Predators Competitors Disease Habitat change / destruction Give an example of each

5. Conservation methods • CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species). • Wildlife & Countryside Act (1981 & 1984) • Legal establishment of protected areas • IWC (International Whaling Commission) • Captive breeding and release How do each of these help in conservation?

6. Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) National Nature Reserves Local Nature Reserves Marine Nature Reserve Ramsar sites Special Protection Areas (SPAs) Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) Plants, animals, geographical or geological features. Rare or migratory birds Usually SSSIs which are good examples of important habitats. Very strict legal controls benefit of wildlife and the public Wetlands of international importance. E.G. Lundy Island, Skomer Conservation in the UK

7. UK Habitats Broadleaf woodland Wetlands Heathland Hedgerows Chalk grassland Hay meadows Coastal habitats How many threatened habitats do you know? Hint: 7!

8. Conservation Abroad Tropical Rainforest Coral Reef Antarctica For each you must be able to give ecological features, importance to humans and threats.

9. Life processes in the Biosphere A • Temperature • Symbiotic nutrition • Acquiring food /avoidance of predation • light • pH • Disease • water • mineral nutrients • turbulence and physical damage. • Pollination • Seed dispersal B B A A B A A A B B Which are biotic and which are abiotic?

10. Grouping organisms Species Population Community Ecosystem Habitat Niche Biome Biosphere Can you define each one?

11. Changes in ecosystems What is the difference between primary and secondary succession? What is a plagioclimax? What is the climax community in Britain? What are pioneer species?

12. Populations What is carrying capacity? Give 2 density dependent factors Give 2 density independent factors The maximum population size that can be supported indefinitely without damaging or over-exploiting the environment. food supply, disease drought, flood, volcanic eruption

13. Land Use Conflicts • Urban expansion • New/enlarged roads • Proposed/enlarged airports • Port developments • Mining /quarrying • Harnessing energy • Windfarms • Power stations • Recreation and tourism There are 9 major causes of land use conflicts, can you name them?

14. Practical Skills • Random sampling using quadrats • Belt transects to record changes in species distribution • Mark - release - recapture (Lincoln Index) method of estimating population size • Kick sampling and nets for aquatic organisms • Pitfall traps, • Light traps for night-flying moths