Ecology And Biodiversity Flashcards
An ecosystem is
An ecosystem is the interaction of a community of living organisms (biotic) with the non-living (abiotic) parts of their environment.
Plants in a community or habitat compete for
Light and space (in the roots)
Species depend on each other for
Food, shelter, pollination, seed dispersal
If one species is removed
It can affect the whole community
Abiotic factors affecting a community (non-living)
Light intensity, moisture levels, soil pH and minerals, wind intensity/direction, carbon dioxide in the atmosphere for plants
Biotic factors effecting a community (living)
Food availiability, predators, pathogens, species competing for resources, invasive species introduced
Types of adaptations
Structural, behavioural or functional
In a stable community the numbers of predators and prey should
Rise and fall in cycles
Biodiversity is
The variety of all the different species of organisms on earth, or within an ecosystem
A great biodiversity ensures
Stability of ecosystems by reducing the dependance of one species on another for food
Human factors affecting biodiversity
Higher standard of living, using up land, deforestation and global warming
Ways to maintain biodiveristy
Breeding programs, protection of endangered species, field margins, recycling instead of landfill and reducing deforestation
Abiotic factors are …
Non-living part of an ecosystem (temperature, light, water, soil pH, wind intensity etc)
Biotic factors are …
Living organisms (animals, plants, fungi etc)
Animals …. plants
Eat / pollinate
