2.1 - Species And Populations Flashcards
Define species
A group of organisms sharing common characteristics that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring
Define habitat
The enviroment in which a species normally lives. The habitat of the African elephant includes the savannahs, forests, deserts and marshes
Define niche
An ecological niche is where, when and how organisms lives
E.e. The niche of an elephant includes everything that defines this species; habitat, interactions between member of the heard, what and where it feeds
Define abiotic factos
Abiotic factos are the non living, physical factors that influence the organism and ecosystem
Define biotic factors
Biotic factors are the living parts of the envieroment. Including interactions with other organisms
Define carrying capacity
Maximum number of a species or ‘load’ that can be sustainably supported by a given area over a long period of time
Distinguish between fundamental niche and realised niche
No 2 species can have the same niche. The fundamental niche describes the full range of conditions and resources in which a species could survive and reproduce. The relisead niche describes the actual conditions and resources in which a species exits to due to its biotic interactions such as competition and prediction
Explain why population growth slows when a population approaches its carrying capacity
- limiting factors begin to affect the population and resticts its growth
- increased competition for resources
- increased in predators and an increase in disease and mortality due to increased numbers of individuals living in small areas
Define competition
Is the demand by individuals for limited environmental resources can be within species (intraspecific)or between different species (inter specific) when chiches overlap
Define predetation
Occurs when one organism hints and eats another organism
Define herbivore
An interaction where an animal feeds on a plant
Define parasitism
An interaction between a parasite and its host. The parasite benefits at the expense of the host. The carrying capacity of the host may be reduced because of harm caused by
Define mutualism
Like paradise this is a form of symbiosis where 2 organisms live togeather but in mutualism booth species benefit
Distinguish between inter and intra specific competition
Intra -
Within species
Inter -
Between species
Outline what is represented in s and just curves
Population growth curves. A population is a group of organisms of the same species living in the same area at the same time
