1. Ecosystems Flashcards
Define ecosystem
Is all the organisms living in a community.
And non- living (abiotic) conditions.
Biotic conditions.
Living features of an ecosystem.
Predators or food.
Abiotic conditions.
Non living features.
Temp.
Soil.
Example.
Fresh water ecosystem
Biotic contains- fish.
Abiotic - temp of water
can be large or small.
Pond.
Or
Entire ocean.
Habitat definition.
Place where organism lives within an ecosystem.
Eg reeds
What does each species have within a habitat?
It’s own niche.
Define niche.
The role of a species within its habitat.
Example of niche.
What it eats.
Where and when it feeds.
What interactions does the niche include.
Biotic - organisms it eats and those it’s eaten by.
Abiotic - temp range an organism can live in, time of day when organism is active.
Every species has its own unique niche.
A niche can only be occupied by one species.
It may look like 2 species are filling same niche but thee is variations
Example.
Common pipistrelle bat
Soprano pipistrelle bat
Common pipistrelle bat - Britain farmland, open woodland, hedgerows and urban areas. Catches insets using high pitched sounds of 45 kHz
Saprano pipistrelle bat - woodland areas, near lakes. Catching insects using echolocation at 55 kHz
Slight differences in echolocation
What happens if 2 species occupy same niche ?
They will compete.
One species will be more successful.
One only left.
What is an adaptation?
Features that members of a species have that increased their chances of survival and reproduction.
What type of features can they be ?
Physiological - inside body.
Behavioural - acts
Anatomical - strictures
Organism with better adaptationsV
Better chance of survival, reproduce and pass on advantageous allele which determines good adaptation.
What happens when adaptations are passed on?
Increases their frequency in the population, adaptations more common- natural selection.
Every species is adapted to use an ecosystem in a way that no other species can, give example.
Giant anteaters can break into ants nests and reach ants.
Claws rip open nest.
Long sticky tongue moves rapidly.
Name some examples of adaptations to abiotic conditions.
Otters have webbed paws walk on land/ swim effectively. Hunt / live both places.
seals thick layer of blubber warmth in cold areas.
All of which increases chances of survival.
Name some examples of adaptations to biotic conditions.
Male frogs mate call to attract females attract mate of same species - better chances of reproduction.
Bacteria Producing antibiotics.
