Triple Bottom Line: A framework for sustainability that balances environmental health, social equity, and economic viability.
Supporting Services: Essential ecosystem processes, such as nutrient cycling and photosynthesis, that underpin the production of all other ecosystem services.
Socio-political Factors: The human-driven values, laws, and governance structures that determine how natural resources are managed and protected.
| Concept | Focus | Primary Driver |
|---|---|---|
| Biotic Factors | Living organisms | Biological interactions (predation, competition) |
| Abiotic Factors | Physical environment | Chemical and physical properties (temp, pH, light) |
| Richness | Quantity of species | Total count of distinct species present |
| Evenness | Distribution | Relative abundance of each species |
Define with Precision: When asked about sustainability, always mention the balance between 'current needs' and 'future generations' to secure full marks.
Distinguish Succession Stages: Be prepared to identify the difference between a pioneer community (early stage) and a climax community (final stable stage).
Analyze Interactions: In ecosystem questions, look for how abiotic changes (like water availability) directly impact biotic productivity (like plant growth).