ecology/populations Flashcards
niche
the role of an organism in an environment
2 types of niche
- fundamental
- realised
fundamental niche
where an organism COULD live
realised niche
where an organism DOES live
Lincoln index
(no of animals in first sample -marked x total in second) / (number of marked in second)
what does t test allow you to do?
compare 2 means
environment
the biotic and abiotic surroundings of an organism
ecosystem
the interactions between organisms and their environment
habitat
the environment where an organism lives
community
all the species in a particular environment at a particular time
3 types of adaptations
- structural
- functional
- behavioural
structural adaptions eg.
shape and colour
functional adaptions eg.
reproduction and metabolism
behavioural adaptions eg.
migration and mating rituals
factors affecting population size (6)
- abiotic
- seasons
- food supply
- interspecific competition
- infraspecific competition
- predation
stages of succession (6)
- bare ground
- colonisers (lichens + moss)
- pioneers (grasses + ferns)
- herbaceous plants (weeds)
- shrubs
- climax (trees)
carrying capacity
the maximum population of that species which the ecosystem can sustain without damaging the ecosystem
population
a group of individuals of the same species which occupy the same habitat at the same time
assumptions made in mark-recapture experiments
- no births or deaths in population
- the mark hasn’t rubbed off
- no migration/emmigration
- mark doesn’t affect individuals chance of survival
- physical environment is the same
primary succession
the change in species through time form colonisation by a pioneer species through to a climax community in one geographical location
biodiversity
the range and variety of all living organisms within a particular area
when do you use a t-test
when you need to compare 2 means
