Environmental change

Changes in the environment affect the distribution of organisms
Animals and plants experience environmental change
1. either caused by non-living factors such as average rainfall changing
2. or living factors such as a new predator or competitor
Can be measured using living indicator species
1. lichens measure sulfur dioxide concentration in the air so give a good idea of pollution from for example car exhausts cleaner air means more lichens.
2. invertebrate animals (E.G mayfly larvae, rat-tailed maggots and sludgeworms) can be used as water pollution indicators for the concentration of dissolved oxygen in water. For example the cleaner a river is the more mayfly larvae found as it means less bacteria so less oxygen been used up by bacteria so more oxygen for other invertebrates.
Can be measured using non-living indicators
1. collecting data about oxygen levels, temperature and rainfall allows us to measure environmental change
  1. dissolved oxygen meters are used to measure the concentration of dissolved oxygen in water
  2. satellites measure sea coverage, snow & ice levels accurately with a global coverage

Resource summary

	Created by Jack Willepotte almost 9 years ago