ecological niches Flashcards
ecological niche
the role a species fulfills in a ecosystem. it includes the zone tolerance for abiotic and biotic factors which determains the habitat. food is obtained via different modes ( photosynthesis or consuming other organisms) and competition is minimized
how does a species occupy a specific niche
organism has to adapt physically and by behavior
lower tolerance limit ( abundance of organisms)
zone of tolerance= no organisms
zone of stress= few organisms
optimum range ( abundance of organisms)
many organisms
upper tollerance limit
zone of stress= few organisms
zone of tolerance=no organisms
resource partitioning
show adaptation to the ecological niche which they occupy to avoid competition
obligate aerobe
requires o2
eg: all animals and plants
obligate anaerobe
killed by o2
eg: bacterium
facultative anaerobe
grows better with o2 but can live without it
eg: yeast, gut bacteria
photosynthesis
main source of nutrition in plants, algae and several photosynthetic prokaryotes
examples of organisms that perform photosynthesis
algae- such as pondweed
plants= ferns, flowers, trees, energy from sunlight, use coe2 to produce sugars
eukaryotic algae (seeweed)
3 modes of nutrition
autotrophs, heterotrops, mixotrophs
autotrophs
synthesize organic compounds ( sugars, amino aids, fats) by using other sources of energy
2 types of autotrophs
photoautotrophs= produce organic compounds from co2 water and light energy through photosynthesis eg: algae, plants, protists, mosses, some bacteria
chemoautotrophs= produce organic compounds from other elements through chemosynthesis
eg: archae bacteria
heterotrophs
obtain organic compounds by consuming other organisms internally or externally
types of heterotrophs
saprotrops- obtains food from dead and decaying matter by secreting enzymes and digestung externally eg: fungi, bacteria
prasites- obtain food from organism without killing it eg: barnacle
helozoic- complex food particles are taken and broken down eg: herbivor, carnivor, omivore
mixotroph
perform both modes of nutrition uptake depending on the availabiliy- photosynethesises and consumes
eg: some protocists, venus fly trap
holazoic nutrition in animals:
obtain their nutrients ( carbohydrates, amino acids, fats by consuming food
how are the molecules absorbed into bloods stream?
large food molecules are broken down into smller ones before they are absorbed into the bloodstream and transported to cells in the body
how is food passed through the body
1) ingestion of food through mouth
2) mechanical digestion
3) chemical digestion (enzymatic hydrolisis)
4) small molecules absorbed into epidermis of gut
5) assimilation into cell
6) egestion through anus
are single celled organisms able to perform halozoic nutrition
yes
how do single celled organisms perform holozoic nutrition
food particles are taken in by engulfment of the substance ( endocytosis) and substequen break down & digestion in specialized vesicles
what organells are contains within these single celles organisms
pseudopod, food vacuol, nucleus, endoplasm, ectoplasm,contractile vacuole
how do single celles organisms perform holozoic nutrition detailed diagram
ameoba engulfs the food particle in ingestion by the pseudopod then in digestion a food vacuole is creates, the food is absorbed then assimilated then egested
how does saprotrophic nutrition work
saprotrophs digest food by secreting enzymes to break down organic compounds externally. the producs of digestion are then absorbed.
what do saprotrophic organisms do
fungi, decompoers, breal down dead organic matter and release important elements back to the ecosystem
what are the 2 types of mixotroph nutrition in some protists
facultative mixotrophs can be entirely autotrophic, entirely heterotrophic or use both modes
obligate mixotrophs
obligate mixotrophs must use both modes of nutrition. this is often the case if a type of nutrition cannot be synthesized by thhemselves
what are the 3 categories that living things can be categorized
archea, bacteria, eukaryote.
how are archea adapted to live
archea are adapted to live in extreme condition such as hot springs, salt lakes or volcanic craters
what are the 3 ways that archea get their nutrients
phototrophic: using light as energy source to produce sugars
chemotrophic: use of inorganic chemicals such as iron by oxidizing Fe2+to fe3+ to produce sugars
heterotrophic: oxidising organic compound obtained from other organisms and digesting them
describe archae structure
no nucleus and unicelular- similar to bacteria
teath of herbivores
large and flat to grind fibrous plants
teath of omivores
molars flat to grind, sharp canines to rip
2 groups of herbivore insects
jawlike mouth part= biting, chewing, ingesting, eat
tubular mouthpart= piercing leaves or stems, feeding off phloem sap: mandibles, labrum, maxilla
how are aphids adapted
aphids has modified piercing mouth parts called stylets. these secrete enzyme pectinase to break down the polysacharide pectin which holds together the cell wall of plants. - easier to access sap
herbivorous animals adaptation
specialized back teath, specific digestive system adapted for plant matter, bacteria and arched living their help break down cellulose
plants adaptations
thorns,
produce phytotoxins that cause nasue, cardiac problems, halucination
how do animals resist plants
they hyave adapted to resist agains these toxins, neutralizing some rumminants- they have micorbes in theirgut which detoxify toxins, or proteins in saliva that destrou toxin
adaptation of predetor bear
- muscular limbs to hold and pounce prey
-claws to catch fish - speed and agility
- keen senses + hearing smell
- tactics like ambushing, fishing, scavanging vulnurable
camouflauge
adaptation of predetor snake
- heat sensing pits
- forked tongue to detect direction of prey
- vibration detecton
- venom
- flexible jaw
- camfolauge and ambush
adaptation of prey: antelopes
- fast runners
- agility , leaping
- keem senses
- group behavior , herding
school of fish adaptation prey
- schooling, moving in groups
- speed
- camoflauge in water
- sensory adaptation to detect vibrations
- high reproduction rate
what are the layers of plants in forrest for harvesting light
emergent layer= tallest trees with birds and insects (no animals)
canopy layer= thickest with most flora and fauna
understory layer= young herbs and shrubs
forest floor=darkest humid layers, insects and giant animals
adaptation of plants
roots atatch to tree trunks to get up to canopy layer, large to catch light
fundamental niches
full range of enviormental and social conditions under which a species could potentially survive and reproduce, taking account tolerance levels to abiotic and biotic factors
realized niche
specific set of condition under which a species does survive in a given haitat or ecosystem with the limitation of other species present- these are conditions to which it adapts
competetive exclusion
2 species share a niche- leads to interpsecific competition for resources- 1 species becomes more adapted and takes the advantage of resources- failing species dies or migrates
example of competetive exclusion
eatern grey squirl vs euoasian red squirel- grey came on top for better digestion, stronger, more adapted to urbun ennviroment
