Ecology Flashcards
Define habitat
the place where an organism lives (characterised by physical conditions and the other organisms present)
Define population
all of the organisms of one species within a habitat
Define community
all of the populations of different species in a habitat at the same time (eg. in an oak woodland it might consist of aphids, earthworms, fungi, blue tits and oak trees)
Define ecosystem
a community of interacting organisms and their physical environment
plus all of the abiotic factors of its environment
Define abiotic conditions
all non-living features of an ecosystem
Define biotic conditions
all the living features of an ecosystem
Examples of abiotic conditions (2)
temperature, rainfall
Examples of biotic conditions (2)
predation and competition
Define ecological niche
The role of a species within its habitat and how the organism fits into the environment (where it lives, what it does there, what food it requires and how it obtains it, when it feeds, relationship to other living things, all the biotic and abiotic factors a species is adapted to)
Define adaption
a feature of an organism that increases its chances of survival and reproduction
Two major process to consider within an ecosystem
1) the flow of energy through the system
2) the cycle of elements through the system
Define carrying capacity
the particular maximum stable size of a population of species which an ecosystem can support
What does the carrying capacity of an ecosystem depend on?
- the effect of abiotic factors (eg. if temp is cold the maximum may still be a v small population)
- interaction between different organisms (intraspecific, interspecific competition and predation)
Define intraspecific competition
organisms of the same species compete with each other for the same resources
Define interspecific competition
organisms of different species compete with each other for the same resources (eg. red vs grey squirrel in the UK)
Define microhabitat
Smaller units within a habitat each with their own microclimate.
Within an ecosystem are many habitats and within these are many microhabitats. Eg. in an oak woodland a stream is one habitat and the mud at the bottom is the microhabitat of a bloodworm
Define the competitive exclusion principle
when no two species occupy exactly the same niche
‘two species competing for the same limited resource cannot coexist at constant population values.’
Define ecology
the study of inter-relationships between organisms and their environment
What is the difference between a habitat and niche?
a habitat is where it lives, a niche is what it does in its habitat
Maximum number of species that can occupy a niche?
1 only
What happens if two species attempt to occupy the same niche?
they will compete with each other and one species will be more successful until there is only one species left.
It may look like two species are occupying the same niche but…
there will be slight differences in how they live in the niche (eg. variations in what they eat)
Three types of adaption?
1) Behavioural - way the organism acts
2) Physiological - processes inside their body
3) Anatomical - structural features of their body
Define population size
the total number of individuals of one species in a habitat
What can populations be characterised as?
Dynamic. They vary in size and composition over time.
When can a population growth curve be plotted? And when can it not? - what should be done instead?
When a population changes in size slowly over a period of time. Not when a population size changes rapidly over a short period of time (eg. microorganisms such as bacteria). Instead, a logarithmic scale can be used so that the curve fits on the graph.
When will a population grow?
When there are no limiting factors
What are limiting factors which could result in the growth of a bacterial population slowing, diminishing or ceasing (4)
- mineral ions are consumed as population increases
- population becomes so large that bacteria at the surface prevent light reaching bacteria at deeper levels
- other species introduced to the habitat (carried by animals or wind) and may feed on the bacteria or compete for light, food or minerals.
- winter bringing lower temperatures, lower light intensity or shorter light duration
What changes the rate of growth of a population?
changes in abiotic or biotic factors
Name factors which can limit the growth of a population (8)
- availability of Food, Light, Oxygen, Water and Shelter
- accumulation of toxic waste
- disease, predators
What is carrying capacity determined by?
Limiting factors
Three adaptions to abiotic factors
1) otters have webbed paws so they can swim and walk on land - can live and hunt on land and water which increases chances of survival and reproduction
2) seals have thick layer of blubber so can keep warm in cold seas - can live in places where although it is cold the food is plentiful so increases chances of survival and reproduction
3) hedgehogs hibernate and lower their metabolic rate during winter - conserves energy for coldest months so increases chances of survival and reproduction
Three adaptions to biotic factors
1) sea otters use rocks to smash open shellfish - access to another source of food so increases chances of survival and reproduction
2) male frogs have special mating calls to attract females - ensures they attract a mate of the same species - makes successful mating more likely so increases chances of reproduction
3) bacteria produce antibiotics that kill bacteria in the same area - less competition for resources so increases chances of survival and reproduction
What happens to population size when the temperature is not ideal for metabolic reactions of a mammal to take place?
The mammal spends more energy trying to maintain the correct body temperature. This means less energy is available for growth and reproduction so the population size will decrease.
How is population size affected by interspecific competition?
When two different species are competing with each other for the same resources the resources available to both populations are reduced.
Eg. if they share the same food there will be less food available to both species which means less energy for growth and reproduction so population size decreases in both species.
How do adaptions effect population size?
If two species are competing for resources but one is better adapted to the surroundings, the less well adapted species will be outcompeted.
Eg. grey squirrels are larger and can store more fat and eat a wider rage of food so this helps them to survive and reproduce more than red squirrels who they outcompete.
Describe and explain a graph showing intraspecific competition (number of individuals against time)
- sideways S
1) population of a species when resources are plentiful. As population increases more individuals are competing for the same amount of space and food
2) Eventually there are limiting factors such as availability of food and space. There isn’t enough for all individuals so population declines
3) Smaller population again means less competition for space and food so more chance of growth and survival so population increases again
Describe a predator-prey population graph
(graph goes up and down)
………As prey population increases there is more food for predators so predator population increases
As predator population increases more prey is eaten so prey population decreases
As prey population decreases less food for predators so predator population decreases.
As predator population decreases prey population increases because more survive and are able to reproduce …….
Give an example of other factors involving predator-prey population sizes.
X declines because food availability is a limiting factor. But then predation on X by Y accelerates the declining population.
What are predator-prey population sizes described as?
interlinked (as one changes, the other changes)
What abiotic factors influence the size of a population?
1) temperature
2) light
3) pH
4) water availability
5) humidity
Explain why too high or low temperatures affect population carrying capacity?
Plants & cold blooded animals:
- too high temperatures enzyme denaturation reduces growth and chances of survival and reproduction. So population has smaller carrying capacity (of those with adaptions to live in higher temperatures)
- too low temperatures enzymes work slowly metabolic rate reduced so less growth and chances of survival and reproduction.
Warm blooded animals:
- energy spent maintaining optimum body temperature so less energy for growth, mature more slowly and reproductive rate slows. Carrying capacity of warm blooded population at high/low temps is reduced.
Explain how light affects population carrying capacity?
lots of light = more photosynthesis = plants grown and more chance of survival and reproduction (more seeds produced etc). Increases carrying capacity of animals that feed on plants because more food.
What happens if abiotic factors are below the optimum for a population?
Fewer individuals able to survive because their adaptions are not suited to the conditions.
If no individuals have adaptions that allow for survival then the population becomes extinct.
Give 2 examples of intraspecific competition leading to reduced populations.
1) oak trees competing for resources. Some oak trees grow larger restricting light and taking water and minerals until eventually a population is reduced to a few dominant oaks.
2) robins compete for breeding territory. Female robins mate with males that have established territories to provide adequate food for a family. As resources lower each male must have a large territory to provide the same adequate amount of food. So fewer territories in a given area so less breeding pairs leading to a reduced population.
How could an increase in food supply effect population size?
more individuals likely to survive so increased probability that they will produce offspring and population size will increase
What type of relationship is a predator-prey relationship?
interspecific
How have predators and prey evolved?
alongside each other - as predators become faster, prey have got more protective features etc
Name for predators of plants
herbivores
What happens when there is a selection pressure on a population?
organisms with suitable adaptions survive and reproduce so the population evolves to be better adapted to the prevailing conditions.
Define abundance
the number of individuals of a species in a given space
Why are only small samples of a habitat studied?
- time consuming to count all organisms
- damage to habitat studied if did so
Name two sampling techniques used to study habitats
1) random sampling (frame or point quadrats)
2) systematic sampling along belt transect
What are point quadrats and how are they used?
- horizontal bar, two legs, ten holes at set intervals through each a pin is dropped
- each species the pin touches is recorded
What are frame quadrats and how are they used?
- square frame divided by string or wire into equally sized subdivisions
- abundance of species counted in each frame