Ecology Flashcards
define ecology
study of an ecosystem, and interactions
define ecosystem
living and non-living organisms interacting in an area
define biotic factor
living factor
define abiotic factor
non-living factor
define habitat
where an organism lives
define population
all the same species in a place at the same time that are able to interbreed to produce fertile offspring
define community
total number of species in a population
define niche of species
specific rile the organisms plays in an ecosystem
what type of organisms are decomposers
- bacteria
- fungi
what affects population size
- births
- death
- immigration
- emmigration
linear vs log graphs
- log offers the advantage where there a large range of values
- allow all data points to be represented accurately and patterns to be observed
population growth curve stages
1) lag phase - slow change due to small numbers
2) log phase - rapid change due to increasing numbers
3) stationary phase - a stable population that fluctuates around the carrying capacity
what is carrying capacity
maximum population size that can be maintained in an environment. its dependent on the limiting factors present
what factor is density dependant?
biotic factors
abiotic actors are density independant
the two types of sampling?
- random
- systematic
what is random sampling
-eliminates bias and allows for statistical testing
- used to estimate size of a population
what is systematic sampling
- used when there appears to be gradual change in the distribution of a species
- used to determine the relationship between the distribution and an abiotic factor
how to carry out random sampling
- divide the area into aa grid
- generate pairs of numbers as coordinates
- use a large number of quadrats (>10) to improve reliability
- record abundance of species present in each quadrat (count individuals,% cover )
point quadrats
- every plant on each pin hits is recorded. if the pin hits several overlapping plants all of them are recorded
- quadrat is placed at regular intervals across the tape measure
‘in/out’ rule
top or right = IN
bottom or left = OUT
things to consider when using quadrats:
1) size of the quadrat - the smaller the quadrat the greater the accuracy
2) number of samples being taken in the area - more samples you take the more reliable the results are
3) placing quadrat at coordinates - i.e. bottom left corner on coordinates
drawing the graph
- plot the cumulative number of species or mean density against the number of quadrats used
- there is no need to use more quadrats once the line plateaus
equation for estimated mean density
total no. of individuals counted / (number of quadrats x area of quadrat)
equation for population total
mean per quadrat x no. of quadrats that fit into the sampled area
how to measure abundance
- species frequency - no. of quadrats that contain the species
- percentage cover - how much of the area in a quadrat is covered by a particular species. useful for species that are difficult to count e.g. grass
what are transects?
types?
systematic technique
- line transect -all individual touching the line are required
- continuous belt transect - all species within quadrats are recorded
- interrupted blet transect - all species are counted at set intervals
how to sample animals
capture, mark, release (Lincoln index)
- a set of animals are caught and then marked in some way
- animals are then released back into the community
- after a specified length of time, several individuals are caught again
- the number of marked individuals are counted
population size calculation via Lincoln index
no in the first sample x no in the second sample/number of marked individuals recaptured
what is the assumption that has to be made
- the proportion of marked to unmarked is the same in the sample as it is in the whole population
- method of marking must not be toxic, overly conspicuous or rub off
for the assumption to be true, what has to happen
- marked individuals need to be distributed evenly in the population
- defined boundaries of the population
- few deaths/births within the time frame
what is succession
a change in community over time
what is a community
a dynamic unit and passes through a number of stages from its origin to its climax