2.1

a) Carry out a simple ecological study using the most appropriate collecting and sampling methods; Habitats may include terrestrial and aquatic, for example, a tree, wall or small pond.

b) Features of each habitat. Relationship between organism and habitat – adaptations that enable the organism(s) to survive in that habitat.

c) Relationship between equipment used and habitat and species being investigated. Use quadrats to investigate the distribution of species in a particular habitat; estimate the density of a particular species. Calculate average (mean). Density = Total No. of organisms per unit area. Use of pooters, bottles, jars, nets, sieves, quadrats, line and belt transects, mark, release and recapture methods to collect data on organisms from a named habitat. Math - Simple statistical analysis. Data collection and presentation.

2.2

a) Distinguish between the following pairs of terms: a. abiotic and biotic factorsb. niche and habitat, c. Ecology – the study of living organisms in their environment. d. Ecosystem- a community of living organisms sharing an environment. Environment – the abiotic (non-

living chemical and physical) and biotic (living) factors.e. population and communityf. Species and population g. Habitat - the place where a particular organism lives.h. Niche – the role of an organism in an ecosystem. i. Species – a group of individuals of common ancestry that closely resemble each other and are

normally capable of interbreeding to produce a fertile offspring.j. Population – members of a particular species living in a particular habitat. Community – all the

populations of different species found living in a particular habitat.

2.3

b) Discuss the impact of the abiotic factors (soil, water, climate) on living organisms;a. Importance of soil in providing water, mineral nutrients and oxygen; b. Importance of air in providing various raw materials: oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen. c. Importance of light and temperature.

c) Components of soil – air (O2) and, water-holding capacity, mineral nutrients, pH and salinity. Chemistry - Elements, mixture and compounds; Oxidation; Decomposition Biodegradable; Recycling; Homeostasis.

3.1

a) Identify the relative positions of producers and consumers in food chains ;b) Construct food chains and simple pyramids.c) Provide a number of organisms from which to construct a food chain and a food web. Interdependence on living

organisms.

3.2

a) Identify from each habitat, a food chain containing at least four organisms; Terrestrial (arboreal and edaphic) and aquatic (marine and freshwater) habitats.

b) Construct food chains using organisms in each habitat. c) Energy relations.

3.3

a) Identify from each habitat: i. Herbivore, carnivore and omnivore ; not to be confined to familiar domestic animals.

3.4

a) Identify from each habitat, predator/ prey relationships; Terrestrial arboreal and edaphic) and aquatic (marine and fresh water) habitats. Example of the application of predator relationship. The use of ‘Biological Controls’. Link: Predator/Prey Relationships, Natural Selection.

3.5

a) Construct a food web to include different trophic levels; Use of examples from the habitat(s) investigated. Students may be required to interpret a food web containing unfamiliar examples.

b) Identify different trophic levels in food webs. c) Energy Flow in an Ecosystem.

4.1

a) Explain energy flow within a food chain or web; Simple diagram of non-cyclic energy flow from the sun. Different forms of energy.

3.6

a) Explain the role of decomposers ; i. Role of fungi and bacteria in converting complex compounds to simple substances. Action of mould on

bread, production of biogas from domestic organic waste material.

5.1

b) Explain, with examples, the impact of the continual re-use of materials in nature; Note the role of decomposers in the Carbon Cycle.

i. Nutrient cycling.ii. Chemistry Hydrolysis. Enzyme.

3.7

a) assess the special relationships among organisms; Simple treatment of symbiotic relationships:i. parasitism,

ii. commensalism, iii. mutualism

b) Use local examples, such as lice and ticks on mammals, epiphytes on trees, nitrogen fixing bacteria in root nodules of legumes. Give names of partners. Observe from a large tree. Examine root nodules, on the peanut plant.

5.1

a) Explain, with examples, the impact of the continual re-use of materials in nature; Note the role of decomposers in the Carbon Cycle. Refer to SO A3.6. Nutrient cycling

Syllabus 2.1

i. Quadrats are squares of wood, PVC and or metal of a specific area that can be used to frame

the area being observed or sampled. For more detailed analysis of a sample area the quadrat

can be gridded into small squares.

ii. Quadrats can be randomly placed or at measured intervals along a line (measuring tape, rope

or string) as in a line transect.

iii. Random sampling and line transect using quadrats can both be used to determine density and

frequency of a species but only line transects show the change in the types of species across

changing landscapes or merging habitats.

iv. Bottles can be used to collect and preserve samples of organisms from an environment

v. Nets can be used to capture organisms for collection [samples], counting and or tagging for

release.

vi. The number of quadrats where an organism is represented (present) compared to the total

number of quadrats used gives the frequency of the organism. E.g. 10 q and an organism

present in 6 out of 10 works out to be a frequency of 60%

vii. The total number of organisms (sum of organisms from each quadrat) per total unit area

sampled (number of quadrats times the area of each quadrat) determine the species density.

viii. Match the organism with the habitats as determined by specific abiotic factor

Organisms Match Habitats and Abiotic factorsa. Polar bear 5 1. Volcanic vents,

b. kingfish 3 4. Dry sandy soilc. earthworm 7 5. cold artic, 6. Maracas riverd. Tilapia fish 6 7. moist soil,

e. camel 2 8. Topical rain forest

f. Extreme bacteria 1 2. Hot desertg. Tree frog 8 3. Gulf of Paria

Syllabus 2.2 -2.3

i. Ecology is the study of the environment and the organisms that live there. The general space

where organism can be found on earth is called there environment/ecosystem while the specific

space in which they live is called their habitat. Within a habitat an organism may develop specific

roles/tasks. These specific roles/tasks is said to be the organism niche/job within that habitat.The

non living parts of an environment or habitat are called abiotic and the living are called biotic.

biotic factors ------ individuals, populations and communities with feeding relationships (food chains, food webs,

predator/prey relationships and symbiotic relationships (parasitism, commensalism and mutualism)

biotic factor (food chain)

Example of biotic influences on population size: 

I. predation levels - predator presence/numbers control prey populations

II. food availability - food supply determines all population sizes of a community

III. disease - often a natural control of large populations (producers or consumers)

IV. human activity   --- represents a major biotic factor that influences the ecosystem (biotic and abiotic)

Abiotic factors ---- physical or non - living environment that impact on the survivability of the biotic factors

example of abiotic influences on population size:

I. soil type,

II. space,

III. water availability

IV. climate

salinity- the degree on saltiness of an aquatic environment

pH - the degree of acidity or alkalinity of an aquatic (lake) or terrestrial (soil) environment

LIGHT - the intensity of light from high to low desert v,s, deep sea canyons

temperature - the quantity of heat energy absorbed by an environment measured as a change in degrees e.g.

Celsius

humidity - the quantity of water in the air, (high humidity = lots of water vapour in the air as in tropical

rainforests) while (low humidity = dry air as in deserts)

E.g. soil particle size affects air space and water retention which then determines soil micro climate and

conditions that will support specific organisms.

ii. A species or organisms of the same ancestry that are able to interbreed form a population. The

interaction of different species or populations in a specific living space or habitat forms a

community. The community of different populations interacting with their non-living environment

form an ecosystem. The specific role or job of an organism example, (shrimps are filter feeders

that remove waste and scraps of food left behind after predators feed) represents its niche.

iii. Edaphic factors are abiotic factors like (acidity/alkalinity) pH, (hot/cold) temperature, (inorganic

matter) minerals, dead or waste organic materials and texture of the soil determine or influence

biotic factors (plants and other organism) that live in the soil.

iv. Aquatic factors refer to salinity, wave action and oxygen content of the water.

v. Water habitats are termed aquatic (fresh or salt water) and land habitats are called terrestrial.

vi. Use a tick or x to classify the named habitats

aquatic Micro habitat terrestrial

Maracas bay x x

Dead tree trunk x x

Mangrove swamp x

Coral reef x

Northern range x

Queens park savannah x

Puddle of water x

Desert x

Producers of food chains the first trophic/feeding level

A food chain represents the transfer of energy form one organism to another as organisms feed in a sequence.

Syllabus [3.1- a) Identify the relative positions of producers and consumers in food chains], [3.3-Identify from each habitat: Herbivore, carnivore and omnivore], [3.2- d) Energy relations.], [3.4], [3.5], [3.6- Explain the role of decomposers; Role of fungi and bacteria in converting complex compounds to simple substances.]

producers are organisms of the first feeding level that are able to produce their own food (they start all food chains) being the first feeder they are organisms receiving the most energy in any food chain plants (terrestrial), phytoplankton (aquatic) and some bacteria are example of producers and are classed as photoautotroph’s or

chemoautotroph’s Photo (light) Autotroph (producers) use sunlight energy to convert inorganic carbon dioxide and water to chemical energy - food

(glucose). Chemo or chemical Autotroph - bacteria obtain their energy by the breakdown of chemical compounds usually along processes that

follow decomposition. e.g. nitrifying bacteria that convert ammonia compounds of a decaying animal to soil nitrate the most converted energy is obtained by feeding on the first trophic level (producers)

Consumer

heterotrophic organisms that consume/feed on other organisms for food (matter and energy)

are classified into herbivores, carnivores and omnivores (plant, animal and both plant and animal eaters respectively) energy is received with decreasing efficiency through each higher trophic level 90% loss between each level and only 10% of the available energy at each trophic level is passed up toxins build up and become more concentrated through higher trophic levels the first or primary consumers at trophic level 2 are usually herbivorous top consumer or predator populations are usually smaller in size than the supporting food supply or prey population top consumer populations receive less energy as a food chain lengthens to 5 or more trophic levels the top consumer populations compensate or adapt byo occupying multiple food chains feeding on a variety of prey at lower trophic levels (they occupy food webs)o become omnivorous - feeding on producers that receives the greatest amount of energy

Decomposers

bacteria and fungi that feed on dead or waste matter of plants and animals

their feeding breaks down dead or waste materials thus recycling nutrients (minerals) into the ecosystem the group of organisms that end all food chains most common cycles in nature where decomposers play major roles - carbon and nitrogen cycles

1. Organisms that feed on other organisms for food are called – predators/consumers

2. Organisms that produce the own food using inorganic substances are –plants or Autotrophes

3. Organisms that produce their own food from carbon dioxide, water and sunlight do so by the process –

photosynthesis

4. Organisms that feed on the organisms that occupy the first feeding level are called – herbivores

5. Organisms that feed on other animals are called – carnivores

6. All food chains end with – DECOMPOSERS E.G. fungi and bacteria

7. Another name for feeding levels – trophic levels

8. Construct 2 food chains using the following organisms – grasshopper, flycatcher bird, leaves, hawk, and

caterpillar. (Terrestrial)

a. Leaves-----grasshopper--------flycatcher bird-------hawk.

b. Leaves-----caterpillar---------flycatcher bird--------hawk

9. Construct food chains using the following organisms – algae, cod, small herring, and seal. (Aquatic)

a. algae------ small herring------cod------seal

10. State the differences between the movement of energy, toxins and minerals in a food chain

i. One direction always be lost through higher trophic levels

ii. Builds up increasing in concentration of the organisms feeding at higher trophic levels

iii. Recycled by the action of decomposers at every trophic level releasing minerals from the dead

or waste

11. Match the food chains to the pyramid of numbers

a. Grass—rabbit—flea =

b. Coconut tree—termites—woodpecker =

c. Morinda citrifolia is a tree in the coffee family or Noni----African snails—bare eyed thrush bird--- hawk = 1

12. What advantage an organism has by being part of a food web rather than a food chain

a. Increased survivorship

i. As organisms can occupy lower trophic levels in another food chain getting more energy.

ii. As organisms have more than one food source in case one supply is lost

13. Study the food web above and answer the following questions

a. Identify all the

i. primary producers =

ii. Herbivores =

iii. Omnivore/s =

iv. Organisms in more than one trophic level

14. Decomposers e.g. fungi & bacteria are helped by Detrivores e.g. maggots / ants and SCAVENGERS e.g.

vultures to RECYCLE minerals trapped in the waste and dead bodies of organisms.

15. The adaptation and counter adaptation of hunter and hunted organism describes a feeding relationship

called PREDATOR/PREY.

16. When one organism gains and the other in a feeding relationship is harmed and sometimes killed describes

parasitism. The organism that gains is called the parasite while the organism that is harmed is called the

host. E.g. ticks or fleas feeding on a dog or land animal.

17. Describe two other types of special feeding relationships with a given example.

a. Mutualism where both organisms involved benefit e.g. man gaining comfort and protection while the

dog gains a loving home and food.

b. Commensalism where one organism gains while the other does not gain nor is it harmed e.g. shark

gaining noting and is not harmed while the remora fish gains free food scraps and a ride.

18. These special feeding relationships are called symbiosis.

19. Determine the processes and or materials

a. The conversion of carbon dioxide gas to plant sugars and proteins photosynthesis

b. The conversion of plant proteins to animal proteins feeding

c. The conversion of dead organisms to ammonia compounds decomposition

d. Seas and lakes forming water vapour is evaporation

e. The action of decomposers that produces carbon dioxide respiration

f. The action of time and pressure on dead organisms is fossilization that produces fossil fuels

g. The conversion of ammonia compounds to soil nitrates is nitrification

h. The conversion of oil to carbon dioxide is combustion

i. The conversion of nitrogen gas by soil bacteria or bacteria of legumes describes nitrogen fixation

j. Water vapour undergoes condensation to form clouds and precipitation to cause rainfall.

k. The conversion of soil nitrates in water logged soil to nitrogen gas in the air describes denitrification

l. The release of water vapour from trees and plants into the air describes transpiration

m. The conversion of nitrogen gas to soil nitrates by lightning during a storm describes lightning fixation

n. Construct your own carbon, water and nitrogen cycles using the letters and answers a-l above