2.1 species and populations Flashcards
species
group of organisms with common characteristics that can interbreed to produce fertile offspring
population
group of individuals of the same species living in the same area at the same time
habitat
environment in which a species usually lives
niche
- role an organism plays + position it holds in the environment
- includes all interactions the organism has with the abiotic and biotic environment
fundamental niche
describes the environmental conditions under which a species can live
realised niche
actual conditions in which a species exists due to biotic interactions
abiotic + examples
- non-living, physical factors that influence organisms and ecosystems
- temp, sunlight, water, ph, salinity
biotic
- interactions between the organisms (producers, consumers, decomposers)
j curve
- exponential pop. growth
- are not sustained in the real world (may occur for short periods but a crash is inevitable)
s curve
- logistic pop. growth
- pop. growth rate accelerates then slows down when it reaches max carrying capacity
predation
one organism hunts and kills another (wolves hunting rabbits)
herbivory
animals that consume plants (elephants: bark, leaves, roots, grass)
mutualism
two organisms of different species co-existing (bacteria + cows, cows have better digested food)
parasitism
organism takes nutrients from another (host) without killing them (lice, ticks)
disease
departure of normal state of functioning (ebola virus)
