Biology Links
Biology Course
Biology "Cave"

Science Links 
Science

ECOLOGY:

• the study of organisms in relation to their environment

• includes 

  • abiotic and biotic characteristics

  • adaptations

  • impact - organisms on each other and on the environment

Abiotic:

• Temperature

• Water

• Light

• Humidity

• Wind and air currents

• pH

• Mineral salts and trace elements

• Water currents

• Salinity

• Wave action

• Pressure

• Topography 

• Shelter

• Background

Biotic

• Trophic levels

• Niche

• Food Chains & Food Webs

• Food Pyramids

• Adaptation to habitat/environment

• Populations

• Communities

• Competition

• Distribution & Abundance

• Impact on environment

Biomes (Australian)
Each geographical area has a characteristic vegetation type.  Biomes are named after dominant plant types.  Australia has many biomes, but not all of the Biomes of the world are represented.

• Tropical Mixed Forest

• Rain Forest

• Temperate Forest

• Mangrove Forest

• Wet Sclerophyll Forest

• Dry Sclerophyll Forest

• Woodland

• Scrub

• Savanna

• Grassland

• Semi-desert

• Sand or stony desert

• Alpine

Biomes may be grouped into 4 main types according to the vegetation that is typical of each area.

• Tundra

• Forests

• Grasslands

• Deserts

Another important group of ecosystems are the aquatic ecosystems.  They, by definition, are not biomes however.

• Aquatic

Environments

• Marine

  • Estuaries

  • Coral Reefs

  • Oceans

    • Inter-Tidal Zone or Littoral Zone

      • rocky and sandy shores

    • Neritic (continental shelf)

      • shallow coastal water (<180m)

    • Pelagic Zone (open ocean)

      • Plankton-Nekton (surface)

    • Benthic Zone

      • floor of oceans - sandy or muddy

      • not as deep as abyssal zone

      • no light

      • nutrient rich

      • seaweed (algae)

      • bacteria, fungi, sponges, sea anemones, worms, sea stars, and fishes

    • Abyssal Zone

      • bottom of deepest oceans

      • no light

      • very cold (3°C)

      • rich in oxygen

      • poor in nutrients

      • chemosynthetic bacteria

      • many invertebrates & fishes

• Freshwater

  • Still - lakes, ponds, swamps

  • Running - streams, creeks, rivers, dams

• Terrestrial

Measuring Environmental Characteristics

• Transects

• Quadrats

• Capture/Recapture

• Water Samples

• Soil Samples

• Observing interactions between organisms

Downloads:  
The following files may be downloaded by "right clicking" with the mouse on the name of the file you want and then choosing "Save_Target_As"

PracReport 3 

Assignment 1: Collection

Tropical Savanna

Temperate Deciduous Forest

Desert