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Biology Paper 2 > B16 Adaptations, interdependence, and competition > Flashcards

B16 Adaptations, interdependence, and competition Flashcards

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1
Q

Community

A

A group of interdependent living organisms in an ecosystem

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2
Q

Ecosystem

A

Made up of a community of organisms interacting with abiotic and biotic elements

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3
Q

Interdependence

A

If one species is removed or increased it can impact the whole community

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4
Q

Population

A

The number of individuals of the same species living in a certain habitat

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5
Q

What factors affect population size?

A
  • Competition
  • Disease
  • Predators
  • Migration
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6
Q

Describe how animals and plants are interdependent within a community

A
  • Plants produce food by photosynthesis
  • Animals eat plants
  • Animals pollinate plants
  • Animals eat other animals
  • Animals use plant and animal materials to build nests and shelters
  • Plants need the nutrients from animal droppings and decay
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7
Q

Species

A

A group of organisms that can breed together and produce fertile offspring

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8
Q

A stable community

A

One where all the species and environmental factors are in balance so that population sizes remain fairly constant

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9
Q

Examples of stable communities

A
  • Tropical rainforests
  • Ancient oak woodlands
  • Mature coral reefs
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10
Q

Abiotic

A

Non-living conditions

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11
Q

Abiotic factors affecting communities

A
  • Temperature
  • Light intensity
  • Moisture content of the soil
  • Soil pH and mineral content
  • Availability of oxygen
  • Availability of carbon dioxide
  • Wind intensity and direction
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12
Q

Affect of wind intensity and direction

A

In areas with strong prevailing winds, the shape of the trees and the whole landscape is affected by the wind. It also means plants transpire fast

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13
Q

Affect of oxygen concentration

A
  • The availability of oxygen has a huge impact on water-living organisms
  • Some invertebrates can survive in water in low oxygen levels. However, most fish need a high level of dissolved oxygen
  • The proportion of oxygen in the air varies very little
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14
Q

Affect of light intensity

A
  • Light limits photosynthesis, so light intensity also affects the distribution of plants and animals
  • Some plants are adapted to living in low light levels, for example, they may have more chlorophyll or bigger leaves
  • Nettles growing in the shade of other bushes have leaves with a much bigger surface area than nettles growing in the open
  • However, most plants need plenty of light to grow well
  • The breeding cycles of many animal and plant species are linked to day length and light intensity
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15
Q

Affect of temperature

A
  • Temperature is a limiting factor on photosynthesis and therefore growth in plants
  • In cold climates, temperature is always limiting. For example, the low Arctic temperatures mean the plants are all small
  • This in turn affects the numbers of herbivores that can survive and so the number of carnivores in the community
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16
Q

Affect of moisture levels

A
  • If there is no water, there will be little or no life
  • As a rule, plants and animals are relatively rare in a desert as the availability of water is limited
  • However, after it rains, many plants grow, flower, and make seeds very quickly while the water is available
17
Q

Affect of soil pH and mineral content

A
  • The level of mineral ions has a considerable impact on the distribution of plants
  • Carnivorous plants such as sundews thrive where nitrate levels are very low because they can trap and digest animal prey
  • The nitrates they need are provided when they break down the anima protein
  • Most other plants struggle to grow in areas with low levels of mineral ions
  • The pH of the soil also has a major effect on what can grow in it and on the rate of decay and therefore on the release of mineral ions back into the soil
  • low acidic pH inhibits decay
18
Q

Affect of carbon dioxide concentration

A
  • The level of carbon dioxide acts as a limiting factor for photosynthesis and plant growth
  • It can also affect the distribution of organisms e.g. mosquitoes are attracted to their food animals by high carbon dioxide levels
19
Q

Biotic

A

Living conditions

20
Q

Biotic factors affecting communities

A
  • Food availability
  • Arrival of new predators
  • New pathogens or parasites
  • Competition
21
Q

Affect of food availability

A

When there is plenty of food, organisms breed successfully. When food is in short supply, animals struggle to survive and often do not breed

22
Q

Affect of new pathogens or parasites

A

When a new pathogen or parasite emerges, organisms have no resistance to the disease. A new pathogen can damages and even wipe out populations in a community

23
Q

Affect of the arrival of new predators

A

Organisms that have no defences against new predators may be quickly wiped out

24
Q

Affect of interspecific competition

A
  • A new species may outcompete another to the point where numbers become too low for successful breeding
  • The grey squirrels that were introduced to Britain and outcompeted the native red squirrels are a good example
  • Another example is Japanese knotweed, which has become a very invasive plant pest
25
Q

What do animals compete for?

A
  • Food
  • Territory
  • Mates
  • Shelter
26
Q

What do plans compete for?

A
  • Light
  • Water
  • Soil nutrients
  • Space
27
Q

What is competition?

A

The process by which living organisms fight with each other for limited resources such as food, light or mates

28
Q

Interspecific competition

A

Competition between members of different species

29
Q

Intra-specific competition

A

Competition between members of the same species

30
Q

What do only animals compete for?

A

Mates and food

31
Q

What do only plants compete for?

A

Soil minerals and light

32
Q

What do plants and animals both compete for?

A

Water and space/land

33
Q

What makes a successful competitor?

A

A successful competitor is an animal that is adapted to be better at finding food or a mate than the other members of its own species

Biology Paper 2 (10 decks)

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