1) Properties of living things:

1. Organisms are made up of similar chemicals(C,H,O,N etc.)

2. Organisms are composed of cells.

3. Organisms need food.

4. Organisms can move. (Some animals can’t move, they are called sessile. An example is the sponge, but in their larval stage they are mobile).

5. Organisms reproduce.

6. Organisms regulate their metabolic processes.

7. Organisms respond to stimuli.

8. Organisms grow.

9. Death.

2) Ecological factors and their effects on living organisms.

Environment- is the all living and nonliving factors that surround an organism. The environment includes abiotic, anthropogenic and biotic components.

Abiotic factors are nonliving factors that affect living things. They are divided into climatic and soil factors.

The variety of living things on earth is affected and determined by climatic factors. The science of climate is meteorology. Climatic factors are: light, temperature, water.

Light is the energy source of all organisms. The natural source of light is the sun.

• Light is essential for photosynthesis.

• Effects pigment production, the exoskeleton and shell, and the formation of some other structures in various animals.

Temperature is a measurement of hotness and coldness.

• Affects the development, reproduction and metabolism of organisms.

• Temperature affects enzyme function, which affects how living things carry out everyday processes, like making proteins and other chemical reactions.

• At low temperatures, enzyme function is slower, but still working.

• At higher temperatures, the enzyme's bonds are destroyed, so it cannot carry out it's function of catalysing reactions any more.

• The optimal temperature for humans is 38 degrees celcius, where enzymes function at their peak.

Animals are placed into 2 groups according to the relationship between the body temperature and the air temperature.

• Poikilothermic animals(without constant body temperature).

• Homoeothermic animals(with constant body temperature).

Water precipitates from the atmosphere in the form of rain, snow and hail.

Plants are placed in three groups according to their water needs or structural differences arising from the amount of water.

• Hydrophytes (grow where water is always available).

• Mesophytes (grow where water availability is intermittent).

• Xerophytes (grow where water is scarce most of the time).

Soil is a natural body consisting of layers that are primarily composed of minerals.

Soil structure, pH, mineral and salt content affect the organism in different ways.

Soil is very suitable to life for bacteria, fungi, viruses, algae and protozoans.

Soil consist minerals, organic molecules, air and water.

• Soil is a source of minerals.

• Soil is a materialin which to anchor plant’s root.

• Place to live.

• Food.

Biotic factors are living factors that affect living things.

Each biotic factor needs energy to do work and food for proper growth. Biotic factors include human influence.

• parasitism

• disease

• predation

Biotic components usually include:

• Producers,( i.e. autotrophs: e.g. plants) they convert the energy [from photosynthesis (the transfer of sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into energy), or other sources such as hydrothermal vents] into food.

• Consumers, (i.e. heterotrophs: e.g. animals) they depend upon producers (occasionally other consumers) for food.

• Decomposers,( i.e. detritivores: e.g. fungi and bacteria) they break down chemicals from producers and consumers (usually dead) into simpler form which can be reused.

Consumers are divided in 3 groups:

• Primary consumers.

• Secondary Consumers. 475929

• Tertiary consumers.