Ecosystems A small – scale study of the school grounds

What is an ecosystem? “An ecosystem is a natural unit consisting of all plants, animals and micro-organisms (biotic factors) in an area functioning together with all of the non-living physical (abiotic) factors of the environment. It can be made up of a number of different habitats”

Biotic or abiotic? SoilWater Nutrients Sunlight – light and heat Animals Plants Air Decomposers Image from (Artist; Barry Small)

Your school ecosystem You’ve probably never really thought of your school as an ecosystem Can you think of examples of the different habitats which make up your school grounds ecosystem? Which living things have you seen which live in your school grounds ecosystem? Source: field-studies-council.org

This may help…

The fieldwork Aims 1.To survey a)The soils b)The microclimate at several different locations within your school grounds 2.To analyse and compare results, and use them to decide on the most suitable location for a new vegetable allotment

Soil One of the Earth’s most important natural resources Like a thin carpet covering the land, between the atmosphere and lithosphere Image from Soil-Net.com

What is it? Soil consists of a mixture of sand, silt and clay, and organic matter on top Different soils have different proportions of each of these The texture, pH and hydrology of each different type varies A very fine, sandy soil A clay soil (dry) Images from Soil-Net.com

Soil surveys You will … 1.Use a key to find out the type of soil 2.Test the pH of the soil 3.Test the infiltration rate of the soil in each location Image from Soil-Net.com

Microclimates – a definition A microclimate is where there are local differences in the climatic conditions. These conditions can vary quite dramatically in a very small area The variations are caused by a number of environmental factors – can you think of any?

Microclimate surveys Ground surface (cover and colour), aspect – the direction the site faces, shelter / exposure all affect the microclimate For each study site in your school grounds, you’ll be recording… The aspect using a compass The temperature using a thermometer Wind speed and direction Precipitation, using a rain gauge

What next? Read the instructions in the fieldwork booklet and other resources carefully Use the map to identify the study sites within your school grounds Watch and listen to your teacher carefully as they explain / demonstrate the fieldwork techniques For each site, fill in the data collection tables fully and accurately

Follow up: Part 1 Analysing your data Read the instructions in the ‘follow up resource 1’ carefully Complete all tasks There are extension activities to stretch you

Follow-up: Part 2 A school vegetable garden You are going use the data from your fieldwork to; Decide which would be the most suitable site for a vegetable garden in your school grounds Research and make decisions about which vegetables would be the best to grow in your garden Image from gardenorganic.org.uk

Small to big If soil and climatic conditions can vary in as small an area as that of your school grounds… Think how they’ll vary across the UK… Visit to find out!

What about in a biome? “A biome is a very large ecosystem, e.g. hot desert, tropical rainforest, deciduous forest” Hot, dry exposed. Highly alkaline soils, low in nutrients Hot and wet. Sheltered. Acidic soils, poor stored nutrients