2. Ecology pt3 Flashcards

1
Q

Define population

A

the total number of a species living at the same time in a specific place

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2
Q

Define community

A

all of the populations of the organisms (animals, plants, fungi, protista, prokaryotes) that are interdependent in a habitat

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3
Q

Define ecosystem

A

a community of organisms (biotic) interacting with the non-living elements (abiotic) of their environment

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4
Q

Define interdependent

A

the relationship between communities where the increase or decrease in the numbers of one, affects the whole community

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5
Q

Define competition

A

the combat between individuals to obtain resources

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6
Q

What happens when individuals of the same species compete?

A

It leads to natural selection

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7
Q

What happens when individuals of diffrent species compete?

A

could cause extinction

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8
Q

Define stable community and give 3 examples

A

a habitat with fairly constant environmental factors so that the number of species, and the populations of each species is balanced and relatively constant

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9
Q

give 3 examples of a stable community

A
  • tropical rainforest
  • ancient oak woodlands
  • mature Coral Reefs
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10
Q

The ……. Of a species and the ……… Of each are affected by ……… And ……….. Factors

A

Distribution
Population
Biotic
Abiotic

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11
Q

List 4 biotic factors that affect communities

A
  • availability of food
  • new predators arriving
  • new disease
  • competition
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12
Q

Explain how the a availability of food affects communities?

A
  • organisms can only live where their food source is
  • if there is a lot of food they’re likely to reproduce
  • if there’s not a lot of food they’re unlikely to breed and some many starve so the population will fall
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13
Q

Explain how a new predator arriving affects communities?

A

If a spices has poor defences against a new predator they’re likely to be killed off

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14
Q

Explain how a new disease affects communities?

A

A new parasite or pathogen can kill off a species, or just greatly reduce their numbers

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15
Q

Explain how competition affects communities?

A

If one species is much more successful at obtaining resources eg. Food, the less successful may die out in that area

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16
Q

Define Interspecific

A

Competition between different species

17
Q

List 7 abiotic factors that affect communities

A
  • light intensity
  • temperature
  • water/moisture levels
  • soil PH and mineral content
  • Oxygen availability
  • wind intensity and direction
  • carbon dioxide concentration
18
Q

Explain how light intensity affects communities?

A
  • it limits photosynthesis, and affects the distribution of plants
  • some plants can tolerate low light (large leaves)
  • some can only with high light intensity
  • (biotic factor) plants are a food source for herbivores it will affect the distribution of animals
19
Q

Explain how the temperature affects communities?

A
  • limits photosynthesis, affects the distribution of plants and keeps then small in cold climates
  • (biotic factor)plants are a food source for animals so affects there distribution too
20
Q

Explain how water/moisture affects communities?

A
  • both plants and animals need water

- only well adapted species can tolerate dry conditions

21
Q

Explain how the soil PH and mineral content affects communities?

A
  • all plants need nitrates to produce proteins and grow
  • they also need minerals
  • if the soil doesn’t have enough nutrients plants will die (unless adapted)
  • If the pH is too low, plants can’t grow as it disrupts enzymes function
22
Q

Explain how the oxygen availability affects communities?

A
  • all plants and animals need oxygen to respire

- the concentration of oxygen in water can vary so can affect aquatic organisms

23
Q

Explain how wind intensity and direction affects communities?

A
  • strong winds can blow soil away and make it difficult for seeds to take root and grow
  • it’s direction can affect the shape of growing plants
24
Q

Explain how the carbon dioxide concentration affects communities?

A
  • is needed for photosynthesis

- but generally the same everywhere in the atmosphere