B4.2- Ecological niches Flashcards
ecological niche
the role of an organism in an ecosystem
spatial habitat
the physical area inhabited by an organism
the biotic and abiotic factors that affect the niche of an organism
-growth of individual
-survival of individual
-ability to reproduce
-mode of nutrition
-interactions with other species
-interaction with own species
tolerance
how well a species react to the presence of something
obligate anaerobes
-organisms that cannot survive in the Prescence of oxygen
-must live in o2 free zone
-carries out anaerobic respiration
facultative anaerobes
-organisms that can survive in the Prescence or absence of oxygen
-can carry out aerobic and anaerobic respiration
obligate aerobes
-organisms that cannot survive in the absence of oxygen
-carries out aerobic respiration
hypoxia and anoxia
hypoxia= reduced o2 levels
anoxia=no 02
autotrophs
organisms that make their own food from inorganic substances
heterotrophs
organisms that take food from other organisms
ANIMALS ARE HETEROTROPHS
holozoic nutrition
=a form of heterotrophic nutrition
when an organism; ingests food, internally digests food, absorbs nutrients into blood stream and assimilates nutrients
mixotrophic nutrition
=organisms that can behave as an autotroph and a heterotroph
(example: euglena)
-is useful when one form of nutrition is low
obligate mixotrophs, facultative mixotrophs
obligate mixotrophs=require both autotrophic and heterotrophic modes of nutrition
facultative mixotrophs= can switch between two modes based on available resources
saprotrophic
saprotrophs are heterotrophs that obtain their nutrients by external digestion of food (by excreting enzymes)
-nutrients are absorbs for assimilation after digestion
the diversity of nutrition in archaea
archaea are very metabolically diverse, they use:
-light
-oxidation of inorganic chemicals
-oxidation of carbon compounds to provide ATP
archaea (phototrophs, chemolithotrophs, organotrophs)
phototrophs= archaea that use light energy to produce ATP
chemolithotrophs= archaea that oxidize inorganic molecules to produce ATP (chemosynthesis)
organotrophs= archaea that oxidize organic compounds to produce ATP
family hominidae
=great apes
teeth relation to diet
1- incisor= cutting off bite size pieces of food
2. canine
3. premolar= for crushing, slicing food
4. molar= grinding into paste
adaptations of plants from herbivores
-producing capsaicin in fruit and seeds to produce burning sensation
-produces toxin
-chemical irritants
adaptations of herbivores for eating plants
-flat molars for grinding
-continuous teeth growth
-chewing mouthparts
piercing mouthparts, has styles to insert into phloem
physical, chemical and behavioral adaptations of predators for finding prey
physical=
-sharp claws, talons
-powerful teeth, jaws
-speed, agility
-camouflage
chemical=
-venom to immobilize prey
-pheromones
behavioral=
-hunting in pack
-ambush tactics
physical, chemical and behavioral adaptations of prey from predators
physical=
-armor, protective coating
-swift, agile
-camouflage
-mimicry to environment
chemical=
-produces toxic chemicals
bright colors to warm predators= aposematism
behavioral=
-travelling in groups
-swarms
-alarm calls
-nocturnality
plant adaptations for harvesting light
1) canopy trees=
-height, crown structure
-broad, flat leaves
2) lianas (woody vines)
-climbing mechanism, twists around trunks to reach light
-rapid growth
-flexible, thin stems
-large broad leaves
3) epiphytes growing on branches
-(doesn’t harm host)
-grow on canopy trees
-broad flat leaves
-flexible growth
4) strangler epiphytes
-(outcompetes host)
-germinate on branches, send down aerial roots
-gain access to canopy
5) shade tolerant plants
(live on forest floor)
-branching, increases SA for absorbing light
-broad leaves
-high conc of chlorophyll
fundamental niche
niche that an organism could potentially occupy in the absence of competition
from other species
realized niche
the niche an organism does occupy due to competition from other species
competitive exclusion
=no two species in a community can occupy the same niche, as one will be better adapted for the niche and will outcompete the other specie, eliminating them
competitive exclusion of red squirrels
-grey squirrels are competitively excluding red squirrels in the UK and Ireland
due to:
-larger size
-better disease resistance
-aggression
-faster reproduction
