AS Ecological Terminology

Question 1

Biomass

Answer 1

The total mass of living, or recently living material in an area.

Question 2

Biome

Answer 2

A large geographical region with particular climatic features, in which a characteristic, unique community of species lives e.g. Taiga, coral reefs, temperate grasslands, tundra, tropical rainforest. Don’t confuse the terms biome and ecosystem. Biome refers to the total area where the community of species is found, whereas ecosystem refers to a particular community and its interactions. So, there are many tropical rainforest ecosystems but only one biome.

Question 3

Community of species

Answer 3

A community of species is made up of the populations of all the species living in a particular area.

Question 4

Ecological niche

Answer 4

The role that an organism plays in its habitat, including its use of resources and its inter-relationships with other species.

Question 5

Ecosystem

Answer 5

The community of organisms living in an area, their inter-relationships and interactions with their abiotic environment e.g. tropical rainforest, savannah grassland, coral reef. Do not confuse the term ‘ecosystem’ with ‘biome’.

Question 6

Habitat

Answer 6

The place where an organism, species or population lives.

Question 7

Population

Answer 7

All the individuals of a species living in a particular area.

Question 8

Species

Answer 8

A group of organisms that resemble each other more than other organisms and naturally interbreed to produce fertile offspring.

Question 9

Taxon

Answer 9

A group of organisms based on their biological similarities e.g. domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species.

Question 10

Evolution

Answer 10

The process that changes the gene pool of a species.