Biological Environment Flashcards
Define: Physical Environment
Includes all living organisms within a given area such as:
Animals
Plants
Fungi
Microorganisms
Population
A group of freely interbreeding individuals of the same species occupying the same place at the same time
Population size may remain fairly steady over time or it may change, depending on abiotic and biotic factors affecting the environment
Community
A group of two or more different species in the same geographic area at the same time
Density dependant factors
Usually biotic, food availability, disease, predation
Effects depend on population size/density - the larger the population, the larger the effect
The maximum population size is carrying capacity
Density independent factors
Usually abiotic - climate change, light intensity
Effects similar regardless of density
May lead to large population decrease
Intraspecific competition
Competition between the same species
Interspecific competition
Competition between different species
Eutrophication
When a body of water becomes overly enriched with minerals and nutrients which induce excessive growth of algae
Limiting factor
Anything that stops a population increasing in size
