5.2 Flashcards
Distribution
The area inhabited by a plant or animal species
Density
the number of a species living within an area
Ecosystem
Communities of organisms that interact with each other and their environment
Biotic factors
The living things (organisms) in an ecosystem
Abiotic factors
The non-living features in an ecosystem
Tolerance range
range of an abiotic factor in the environment in which an organism can survive
Optimum range
the range, within a tolerance range for a particular abiotic factor, in which an organism functions best
Biodiversity
the variety of species of biological organisms, often in relation to a particular area
Sampling methods
techniques used to determine the density and distribution of various populations and communities within an ecosystem
Transect
a sampling area along a straight line in which the number of organisms in that area is counted and recorded
Quadrants
a sampling area, often one square metre, in which the number of organisms in that area is counted and recorded
mark, release and recapture
a sampling method used to determine the abundance of mobile species
