Chapter 2 Flashcards
what is species
a group of organisms that share common characteristics and that interbreed to produce fertile offspring.
what is habitat
the environment in which a species normally lives
what is niche
it describes the particular set of abiotic and biotic conditions and resources to which an organism or population responds.
what are the fundamental and realized niche
- fundamental niche describes the full range of conditions and resources in
which a species could survive and reproduce. - Realized niche describes the
actual conditions and resources in which a species exists due to biotic interactions
what are abiotic factors
The non-living, physical factors that influence the organisms and ecosystem
what are some examples of abiotic factors
- temperature
- sunlight
- pH
- salinity
- precipitation
what are biotic factors
The interactions between organisms
what are some examples of biotic factors
- predation
- herbivory
- parasitism
- mutualism
- disease
- competition
what is carrying capacity
The maximum number of a species or “load” that can be sustainably supported by a given environment.
what is a population
group of organisms of the same species living in the same area at the same time, and which are capable of interbreeding
what are limiting factors
factors that slow population growth as it approaches the carrying capacity of the system.
what do S and J population curves do
! draw them !
S and J population curves describe a generalized response of populations to a
particular set of conditions (abiotic and biotic factors)
! not a question, a tip !
! Students should address this topic in the context of valid named species, for example, use “Atlantic salmon” rather than “fish”, “Kentucky bluegrass” rather than “grass” and “silver birch” rather than “tree” !
not a question, a tip
what is a community
a group of populations living and interacting with each other in a common habitat
what is an ecosystem
a community and the physical environment with which it interacts
