Chapter 10: Ecosystems Flashcards
10.1 The nature of ecosystems
What is an ecosystem?
An ecosystem consists of a network of habitats and the communities of organisms associated with them. This includes ALL the living organisms which interact together.
10.1 The nature of ecosystems
What is a habitat?
- Where an organism lives and some organisms live in a very small part of a habitat called a microhabitat.
- Organisms must be adapted to live there. If organisms are not adapted to live there then they cannot.
- A habitat must be able to supply an organism/individual with resources to meet it’s requirements.
10.1 The nature of ecosystems
What are the types of habitats?
- Oak woodland
- Coniferous woodland
- Freshwater ponds
- Savannah
- Temperate grasslands
- Deserts
- Arctic tundra
10.1 The nature of ecosystems
What is an endemic species?
Endemic species are those that are naturally found in a specific geographic region and are not found anywhere else in the world.
10.1 The nature of ecosystems
What is a community?
A population is a group of THE SAME species that occupy the same habitat, the different populations of different species that occupy a habitat are known as communities.
10.1 The nature of ecosystems
Given a map, outline the different biomes that exist within it
10.1 The nature of ecosystems
Describe a tropical rainforest biome and its level of biodiversity
- High humidity (rain all year), warm and lots of sunlight
- Very high biodiversity
10.1 The nature of ecosystems
Describe a tropical seasonal rainforest biome and its level of biodiversity
- Drier than a tropical rainforest, warm and sunny
- High biodiversity
10.1 The nature of ecosystems
Describe a savannah biome and its level of biodiversity
- Dry tropical grassland
- Medium biodiversity
10.1 The nature of ecosystems
Describe a tropical woodland biome and its level of biodiversity
- Wetter than a savannah, grassland with thornwoods, bushes and trees
- Medium biodiversity but more than a savannah
10.1 The nature of ecosystems
Describe a desert biome and its level of biodiversity
- Very little rainfall, fluctuating extreme temperatures between day and night
- Very low biodiversity
10.1 The nature of ecosystems
Describe a temperate grassland biome and its level of biodiversity
- Warm dry and temperate areas
- Medium biodiversity
10.1 The nature of ecosystems
Describe a temperate shrubland biome and its level of biodiversity
- Hot dry summers and cool wet winters
- Medium biodiversity
10.1 The nature of ecosystems
Describe a temperate forest biome and its level of biodiversity
- Warm, moist regions including decidious and coniferous species
- Less biodiversity than a tropical rainforest
10.1 The nature of ecosystems
Describe a taiga biome and its level of biodiversity
- Evergreen forests in cold subartic and subalpine regions
- Low biodiversity
10.1 The nature of ecosystems
Describe a tundra biome and its level of biodiversity
- Very cold, artic and mountain regions
- Very low biodiversity
10.1 The nature of ecosystems
Describe a high mountain biome and its level of biodiversity
- Very cold, high altitude
- Very low biodiversity
10.1 The nature of ecosystems
Describe a polar ice biome and its level of biodiversity
- Very cold and little available water
- Very low biodiversity
10.1 The nature of ecosystems
What is a niche?
The niche of an organism is the specific role that it occupies habitat or specifically communities.
10.1 The nature of ecosystems
What occurs when two organisms attempt to occupy the same niche within the same habitat?
If individuals occupy the same habitat then they cannot occupy the same niche resulting in competition. This causes a winner/loser and the death/extinction of the one less suited to survive.
10.1 The nature of ecosystems
What is the niche of orchids?
- Some orchids exploit insect behaviour as part of their niches with regards to pollination.
- Pyramidal orchids scent attract moths. As moths probe for nectar a parcel of pollen in a collar shape attaches to their tongues
- Over time the pollen curls forward meaning it is the perfect shape to pollinate the stigma on the next flower the moth visits,
- Some orchids have become so specialised they can only be pollinated by one species of insects.
- The male mistakes the orchid for a female wasp (partly because of looks and also because the flower scent resembles a females pheromones), pollen sticks to his head when ‘mating’ which is then transferred to the stigma on the next flower he visits
10.1 The nature of ecosystems
What is a species?
- Basic unit of biological classification
- Individual organisms that are very similiar in appearance, anatomy, physiology, biochemistry and genetics
- Breed freely to produce FERTILE offspring
10.1 The nature of ecosystems
Define a consumer
10.1 The nature of ecosystems
Define a producer
10.1 The nature of ecosystems
Define a decomposer
10.1 The nature of ecosystems
Define an autotroph
10.1 The nature of ecosystems
Define a heterotroph
10.1 The nature of ecosystems
Define a detritivore
10.1 The nature of ecosystems
Define a herbivore
10.1 The nature of ecosystems
Define a carnivore
10.1 The nature of ecosystems
Define a trophic level
