Sustainable Living

• Living together involves the interactions and relationships between various organisms and their surroundings within a shared habitat.
• It includes how living beings coexist, compete, and depend on each other for survival.

Sustainable Living

• Sustainable living is a lifestyle aimed at minimizing an individual's or society's consumption of Earth's and personal resources.
• It requires decisions that lessen environmental impact, allowing future generations to meet their needs.
• Reducing consumption, reusing items, and recycling materials are key principles.
• Utilizing renewable energy sources, conserving water, and protecting biodiversity are components.
• Practices such as eating locally sourced food are promoted to decrease transportation emissions.
• Using eco-friendly products and minimizing waste is encouraged.
• The aim is to balance human needs with the health of the planet.
• Focus on long-term well-being rather than short-term gains.
• Integrated with environmental conservation.
• Reduces the ecological footprint.
• Supports social and economic equity.

Factors of an Environment Affecting Survival

• Environmental factors are conditions or influences in the surrounding environment that affect the survival, growth, and reproduction of living organisms.
• These factors can be biotic (living) or abiotic (non-living).

Abiotic Factors

• Abiotic factors are non-living components of the environment that influence living organisms.
• Temperature affects metabolic rate and physiological processes of organisms.
• Water availability is essential, influencing the distribution and survival of living organisms.
• Sunlight provides energy for photosynthesis, where plants convert light energy into chemical energy.
• Soil composition impacts plant growth, nutrient availability, and water retention.
• pH levels influence the solubility of nutrients and availability of essential elements.
• Salinity (salt concentration) affects water balance in organisms, particularly in aquatic environments.
• Oxygen levels are critical for respiration in most organisms.
• Wind influences temperature, humidity, and seed and pollen dispersal.
• Natural disasters like floods and wildfires can change ecosystems affecting the survival of many species.
• Climate change alters temperature/precipitation patterns, posing challenges to ecosystems.

Biotic Factors

• Biotic factors are living components of the environment impacting other organisms.
• Competition happens when organisms need the same limited resources like food, water, or shelter.
• Predation occurs when one organism (the predator) consumes another (the prey).
• Herbivory is when an organism (the herbivore) consumes plants.
• Symbiosis involves close interactions between different species.
• Mutualism involves a symbiotic relationship where both species benefit.
• Commensalism benefits one species, while the other is neither harmed nor helped.
• Parasitism benefits the parasite at the host's expense.
• Disease can affect populations by causing mortality or reducing reproductive success.
• Introduced (invasive) species can outcompete native species and disrupt ecosystems.
• Human activities like habitat destruction and pollution affect survival.
• Food availability influences the population size and health of organisms.
• Reproductive success is essential for maintaining populations.

Interdependence

• Living organisms rely on each other for survival.
• Plants provide oxygen and food for animals.
• Animals help pollinate plants and disperse seeds.
• Decomposers break down dead organisms, returning nutrients to the soil.
• Maintaining biodiversity is crucial for the health and stability of ecosystems.
• Loss of biodiversity can lead to ecosystem collapse and the loss of essential ecosystem services.
• Understanding the interactions between biotic and abiotic factors is essential for managing and conserving ecosystems.
• Conservation efforts should focus on protecting habitats, reducing pollution, and mitigating climate change.