Ecosystems Flashcards
What is population?
All organisms of ONE type in an area
What is community?
All organisms of all types in an area
What is a producer?
Any plant, as it produces its own energy from sunlight
What is a consumer?
Any animal, as it must consume another organism to get energy
What is a herbivore?
An animal that ONLY eats plants
What is a carnivore?
An animal that only eats other animals
What is an omnivore?
An animal that eats plants and meat
Sources of error when measuring light intensity
Too few readings are taken.
The solar sensitive panel may
be shaded by the measurer’s
body.
The panel may not be
pointed upwards.
Sources of error when measuring soil moisture/pH
Probe may not be clean.
Probe may not have been inserted to the same depth for each
measurement.
Sources of error when using a quadrat
too few samples are taken.
quadrat not thrown randomly.
sources of error when using pitfall traps
Numbers and types of organisms may not be representative as birds may eat organisms and some trapped organisms eat others.
Abiotic factors
-temperature
-light intensity
-pH
-soil moisture
Biotic factors
-predation
-competition
-grazing
-disease
How the removal of organisms effects other organisms
Any and all food sources for the affected animal will increase in number due to lack of predation/grazing.
Any predators of the animal will decrease in number due to lack of food.
Any other animals eating the same food sources will increase in number due
to lack of competition.
Any other animals preyed upon by the affected animal’s predator will decrease in number due to increased predation.
How is energy lost in a food chain/web ?
Heat, movement, undigested materials
Pyramid of numbers
Each layer of the pyramid shows the total number of all organisms in the food chain at that level, always starting from the bottom up. This can lead to “Christmas Tree” pyramids in food chains starting with a tree or shrub.
Pyramid of energy
Each layer in the pyramid shows the total energy content of all organisms in the food chain at that level, always starting from the bottom up. These diagrams always look like pyramids because energy is lost at every feeding level.
Define the term niche
The role the organism plays in its community
Niche aspects
- Resources and nutrients required, such as light and food supply.
- Interactions with other organisms in the community, such as predation and disease.
- The range of environmental conditions tolerated, such as temperature and pH.
What do animals compete for?
Food, water, breeding partners, shelter/territory
What do plants compete for?
lights, water, nutrients, space to grow
Interspecific competition
occurs between organisms of a DIFFERENT species
intraspecific competition
occurs between organisms of the SAME species
Define the term indicator species
Indicator species are species that indicate the level of pollution in an area.
Indicator species examples
Lichens are a good example of indicator species for air pollution. The hairier the lichen, and the more species around, the cleaner the air.
Water invertebrates are a good example of indicator species for water pollution. Different types of invertebrates can tolerate different levels of pollution.
