Biology

1. Biology Biodiversity & Sampling

2. 1. What is a species? A Species is a group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring The dogs below are different breeds, but are the same species because if they were to interbreed, they would produce fertile offspring

3. 2a) International Biodiversity How many different species can you name from this diagram of organisms from around the world? Biodiversity is the range of different types of species present in an Ecosystem Why is Biodiversity so important? Think about……………. Food Medicines New Medicines Building Materials Food sources Habitats What is Biodiversity? (03:17)

4. 2b) Scottish Biodiversity? How many different species can you name from this diagram of organisms from around SCOTLAND?

5. 3a) What is a Biome? A Biome is a geographical region of the planet that contains distinctive communities of plants and animals and a distinctive climate. Examples of 5 major types of Biomes are Forests, Deserts, Grassland, Tundra, Freshwater and Marine Tropical Rain Forest (03:00) Temperate forests (02:45)

6. 3b) What distinguishes a Biome? • Flora is the name given to the characteristic types of plants found in the biome • Fauna is the name given to the characteristic types of animals found in the biome • Biomes are distinguished by their flora, fauna and climate • The distribution of biomes is influenced by non-living factors (abiotic factors) such as temperature and rainfall • What types of Flora, Fauna & Climate would you expect to find in the following Biomes:- • Rain Forest • Desert • Marine

7. What is an Ecosystem? (03:12) 4. Ecosystems A Tree Ecosystem A Biome is made up of connected Ecosystems An Ecosystem is made up of many habitats and all the organisms and the non-living factors in one particular area A Habitat is the place where an organism lives A Community is 2 or more different types of organisms living together A Population is all the organisms of one type living together Habitat: Branches & Leaves Community: Bees, Moths, Squirrels, Bluetits Hawks Population: Squirrels Habitat: Trunk Community: Spiders Ants Population: Spiders Habitat: Root & Litter Zone Community: Woodlice & Worms Population: Woodlice

8. 5a) Biotic Factors & Biodiversity • A Biotic factor is a living factor which affects population numbers e.g. food, predation, grazing, competition • Biotic factors can affect Biodiversity e.g. If food increases, Biodiversity may increase e.g. If predators increase, Biodiversity may decrease Biotic Factors in an ecosystem (03:05)

9. Sunflowers competing for:- 5b) Competition • Competition occurs when organisms require the same resources e.g. food, space, mates • Plants compete for: light, water, space and soil nutrients • Animals: compete for food, water, space and mates • Competition for resources between the same species is called Intra-specific Competition • Competition for resources between two different species is called Inter-specific Competition • Intra-specific Competition is more intense than Inter-specific Competition because the organisms require EXACTLY the same resources • Intense competition can result in organisms being forced to leave the ecosystem, or can lead to the death of the organisms Light, Water, Root Space, Soil Nutrients Rabbits competing for:- Food, Mates, Space Intraspecific Competition Interspecific Competition

10. 5c) Predation • Predation is when one organism eats another • High Levels of Predation decrease Biodiversity as more organisms are eaten • Moderate Levels of Predation maintain Biodiversity as it keeps more dominant organisms in check • Low Levels of Predation decrease Biodiversity because more dominant organisms survive

11. 5d). Parasitism • Parasitism is when one organism (a parasite) feeds from another organism (the host) and causes it harm, but rarely kills it • Parasites are organisms that live on or in a host organism. • The parasite benefits from this arrangement, but the host suffers as a result. • Parasites do not usually kill the host because this would cut off their food supply Examples of Parasites include:- • Headlice (they bite other animals in order to feed off their blood) • Mistletoe (the roots of mistletoe grow into the host tree to absorb nutrients and minerals) • Fleas (they live on the skin of other animals and suck their blood) • Tapeworms (live inside another animal, attaching itself to the host’s gut and absorbing its food. The host loses nutrition, and may develop weight loss, diarrhoea and vomiting)

12. 5e). Grazing • Grazing is when animals feed on parts of plants • High Intensity Grazing (Over Grazing) decreases Biodiversity because more plant species are eaten • Moderate Grazing maintains Biodiversity because it allows the less dominant plants to survive • Low Intensity Grazing (Under Grazing) decreases Biodiversity because it allows better competitors to succeed

13. 6a) Abiotic Factors & Biodiversity An abiotic factor is a non-living factor which affects populations Examples of Abiotic Factors are:- Light Intensity Temperature pH Carbon Dioxide levels Oxygen levels Abiotic Factors in Ecosystem (03:00) Why does Light Intensity affects the number of daisies growing in a field? Why does Temperature affect the number of daisies growing in a field? Why does Carbon Dioxide levels affect the number of daisies growing in a field?

14. 6b) Abiotic Factors & Biodiversity ACID RAIN • pH of habitats are affected by Acid Rain • Acid Rain is formed when sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide are released when fossil fuels are burned • Acid rain indirectly decreases Plant Biodiversity as the acid destroys leaves so the plants can’t photosynthesise properly • Acid rain decreases Fish Biodiversity as it lowers the pH of freshwater which leads to fish deaths GLOBAL WARMING • The temperature of habitats is affected by Global Warming • Global Warming is caused when fossil fuels are burned and Carbon dioxide, Nitrous Oxide and Water Vapour are released and form a blanket around the Earth’s atmosphere. These gases trap heat and cause global warming. • An increase in temperature decreases Biodiversity as enzyme-controlled reactions do not work properly

15. 7. Human Influences & Biodiversity • Exploitation is when something is used in order to gain a benefit e.g. humans have used trees to make paper • The increase in the human population has led to over-exploitation – taking too much from the environment • Over-exploitation has led to a decrease in Biodiversity • Examples of over-exploitation include:- Over-hunting Over-fishing Over-grazing Habitat destruction (e.g. desertification, deforestation) Introducing Foreign Species Pollution • Air, Land, Freshwater and Seawater can become polluted and Biodiversity decreases • Organisms whose presence or absence gives information about the levels of pollution are called Indicator Species e.g. Lichens are sensitive to Sulphur Dioxide Usnea cornuta Good quality air Hypogymniaphysodes Poor quality air Mayfly Nymph (Clean water) Rat Tailed Maggot (Polluted water)

16. 8. Natural Disasters & Biodiversity The following Natural Disasters can decrease Biodiversity Forest fires Earthquakes Volcanic Activity Tsunamis Wind

17. 9a) Sampling Techniques • It’s impossible for scientists to count all the animals and plants in an Ecosystem as it would take too long and the habitat may get damaged, so instead sampling must be used • Several samples must be taken to ensure a reliable representation of the area • As the sample area size increases, the number of samples needed must be increased • Daisies in a field • Field Size = 12mX12m • Quadrat size = 1mX1m • Total number of daises in 10 quadrats = 80 • Predict how many daisies are in the whole field?

18. 9b) Quadrats • A quadrat is a sampling technique used to measure the population numbers of plants and relatively static organisms e.g. daisies, lichens, seaweeds, dog whelks • Quadrats should be thrown several times randomly to increase reliability • Errors when using a quadrat include:- wrongly identified organisms quadrats not thrown randomly quadrats not thrown enough times • To decrease errors when using a quadrat you should:- use a key to identify organisms throw quadrat randomly take more samples

19. 9c) Pitfall Traps • A pitfall trap is a sampling technique used to measure the population number of organisms e.g. woodlice, beetles, • Errors when using a pitfall trap include:- Trap not being level with soil surface Animals escaping from trap Animals being eaten in the trap Animals dying • To decrease errors when using a pitfall trap you should:- Hole is deep enough so pot is level with soil surface Have a lid on top to prevent escaping Empty trap frequently to prevent organisms eating each other, Ensure needle holes are in pot to prevent organisms dying due to lack of oxygen

20. 9d) Pooters • A pooter is a sampling technique used to measure the population number of insects found in tree bark e.g. spiders • Errors when using a pooter include:- Gauze not on mouthpiece so scientist sucks in spider! Animals being eaten in the pooter Animals dying • To decrease errors when using a pooter you should:- Ensure a gauze at end of mouth piece Empty pooter frequently to prevent organisms eating each other Ensure needle holes are in pooter to prevent organisms dying due to lack of oxygen

21. 9e) Kick Sampling • Kick Nets is a sampling technique used to measure the population number of organisms found in a river e.g. Mayfly Larvae • Errors when using a Kick Net include:- Not kicking the floor of the river Not pointing the kick net in correct direction Not having sampling bottles ready • To decrease errors when using the Kick Net you should:- Kick the gravel on the floor of the river Point the Kick Net upstream Have sampling bottles ready

22. 10a) Biological Keys Organisms can be identified using Biological Keys There are 2 types of Keys Branching keys Paired statement keys

23. 10b) Branching Keys A G C B E D F Practice Keys Booklet

24. A B C E D F G H 10c) Paired Statement Key • Single leaf go to 2 Several leaflets go to 6 2. Leaf with prickles HOLLY Leaf with no prickles go to 3 3. Leaf edge with lobes go to 4 Leaf edge with no lobes go to 5 4. Lobes sharp pointed SYCAMORE Lobes rounded OAK 5. Leaf with near smooth edge BEECH Leaf with serrated edge ELM 6. Leaflets in fan shape HORSE CHESTNUT Leaflets in pairs go to 7 7. Leaf edge serrated ROWAN Leaf edge near plain ASH Practice Keys Booklet

25. 11. Sampling Abiotic Factors An abiotic factor is a non-living factor that affects the growth and distribution of organisms in a habitat Examples of abiotic factors are light intensity, temperature, pH, and soil moisture Light meters measure light intensity • An error when using a light meter may be the scientist is shading the light sensor Soil thermometers is used to measure temperature • An error when using the soil thermometer may be the scientists not putting the thermometer deeply enough into the soil A pH meter is used to measure the pH of the soil A moisture meter is used to measure the moisture of the soil • An error when using moisture/pH meters is that the scientist may have left soil/moisture on the probe from the previous sample • The probe should be wiped between samples

26. Challenge Activities * Keys Booklet * Apprentice Task * Field Trip Booklet