B4.2- Ecological niches

Question 1

ecological niche

Answer 1

the role of an organism in an ecosystem

Question 2

spatial habitat

Answer 2

the physical area inhabited by an organism

Question 3

the biotic and abiotic factors that affect the niche of an organism

Answer 3

-growth of individual
-survival of individual
-ability to reproduce
-mode of nutrition
-interactions with other species
-interaction with own species

Question 4

tolerance

Answer 4

how well a species react to the presence of something

Question 5

obligate anaerobes

Answer 5

-organisms that cannot survive in the Prescence of oxygen
-must live in o2 free zone
-carries out anaerobic respiration

Question 6

facultative anaerobes

Answer 6

-organisms that can survive in the Prescence or absence of oxygen
-can carry out aerobic and anaerobic respiration

Question 7

obligate aerobes

Answer 7

-organisms that cannot survive in the absence of oxygen
-carries out aerobic respiration

Question 9

hypoxia and anoxia

Answer 9

hypoxia= reduced o2 levels
anoxia=no 02

Question 10

autotrophs

Answer 10

organisms that make their own food from inorganic substances

Question 11

heterotrophs

Answer 11

organisms that take food from other organisms
ANIMALS ARE HETEROTROPHS

Question 12

holozoic nutrition

Answer 12

=a form of heterotrophic nutrition
when an organism; ingests food, internally digests food, absorbs nutrients into blood stream and assimilates nutrients

Question 13

mixotrophic nutrition

Answer 13

=organisms that can behave as an autotroph and a heterotroph
(example: euglena)
-is useful when one form of nutrition is low

Question 14

obligate mixotrophs, facultative mixotrophs

Answer 14

obligate mixotrophs=require both autotrophic and heterotrophic modes of nutrition
facultative mixotrophs= can switch between two modes based on available resources

Question 15

saprotrophic

Answer 15

saprotrophs are heterotrophs that obtain their nutrients by external digestion of food (by excreting enzymes)
-nutrients are absorbs for assimilation after digestion

Question 16

the diversity of nutrition in archaea

Answer 16

archaea are very metabolically diverse, they use:
-light
-oxidation of inorganic chemicals
-oxidation of carbon compounds to provide ATP

Question 17

archaea (phototrophs, chemolithotrophs, organotrophs)

Answer 17

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

Question 18

family hominidae

Answer 18

=great apes

Question 19

teeth relation to diet

Answer 19

1- incisor= cutting off bite size pieces of food
2. canine
3. premolar= for crushing, slicing food
4. molar= grinding into paste

Question 20

adaptations of plants from herbivores

Answer 20

-producing capsaicin in fruit and seeds to produce burning sensation
-produces toxin
-chemical irritants

Question 21

adaptations of herbivores for eating plants

Answer 21

-flat molars for grinding
-continuous teeth growth
-chewing mouthparts
piercing mouthparts, has styles to insert into phloem

Question 22

physical, chemical and behavioral adaptations of predators for finding prey

Answer 22

physical=
-sharp claws, talons
-powerful teeth, jaws
-speed, agility
-camouflage
chemical=
-venom to immobilize prey
-pheromones
behavioral=
-hunting in pack
-ambush tactics

Question 23

physical, chemical and behavioral adaptations of prey from predators

Answer 23

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

Question 24

plant adaptations for harvesting light

Answer 24

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

Question 25

fundamental niche

Answer 25

niche that an organism could potentially occupy in the absence of competition from other species

Question 26

realized niche

Answer 26

the niche an organism does occupy due to competition from other species

Question 27

competitive exclusion

Answer 27

=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

Question 28

competitive exclusion of red squirrels

Answer 28

-grey squirrels are competitively excluding red squirrels in the UK and Ireland due to: -larger size -better disease resistance -aggression -faster reproduction