Ecosystems Flashcards
What does an ecosystem consist of?
All the organisms living in a particular habitat and the non-living components with which the organisms interact
What does a niche relate to?
The resources it requires in its ecosystem, such as light and nutrient availability and it’s interactions with other organisms in the conditions it can tolerate such as temperature
When does competition in an ecosystem occur?
When resources are short in supply
When does interspecific competition occur?
Amongst individuals or different species for one or a few of the resources they require.
When does intraspecific competition occur?
Amongst individuals of the same species and is for all resources required
What competition is more intense?
Intraspecific competition
What are species able to do?
Interbreed and produce fertile offspring
What does biodiversity describe?
The variety of living things on Earth
Why is biodiversity important?
Economics- Human food and raw materials
Aesthetics- Diverse habitats for people to enjoy
Ethics- We have a duty to prevent species becoming extinct
Ecosystem services- Our food supply depends on pollinators and nutrient cycling
Ecosystem stability- Complex food webs are more stable and prevent environmental collapse
What is niche related to?
It’s habitat, eg. soil
It’s feeding level and mode of life, eg. Consumer, predator
How it interacts with other organisms in the ecosystem
It’s use of the resources in an ecosystem such as light, temp, and nutrients, and the conditions it can tolerate
Can the same niche be filled by different species in different ecosystems?
Yes
What will usually be the producer in a food chain?
Green plants that photosynthesise
What do arrows in food chains represent?
The flow of energy
What do food webs show?
Feeding relationships within a community
What are food webs made of?
Many inter-linked food chains
What happens if you remove a species from a food web?
It may affect the number of other organisms in the food web
What do abiotic factors include?
Light
Moisture
PH
Temperature
What are different species adapted to and what does this determine?
Different conditions. This determines their disruption in a habitat
What do biotic factors include?
Predation
Grazing
Disease
Food availability
Competition (for resources such as food, space and mates)
What do habitats have?
Limited amounts of the resources needed by living organisms
What must organisms do?
Compete with others in order to get enough of these resources to survive.
What happens if organisms are unsuccessful?
If they are unsuccessful and can’t move to another habitat, they will die.
What might animals compete for?
Mates
Space
Food
Water
What might plants compete for?
Light
Minerals
Space
Water
