Ecosystems

Question 1

Habitat

Answer 1

a place in an ecosystem that an organism lives. Ecosystems are made of many different habitats ranging in size (microhabitat to ecosystem)

Question 2

Species

Answer 2

related organisms that share characteristics and are capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring

Question 3

Population

Answer 3

a group of organisms of the same species living in the same area

Question 4

Community

Answer 4

different species living together in the same area

Question 5

Ecosystem

Answer 5

all the living and non-living factors in an area that interact with eachother

Question 6

Ecosystem organisation

Answer 6

Species - Australian fur seal
Population - colony of fur seal
Community - australian fur seal and red-billed gull
Ecosystem - all living and non living things, species, plants, soil, water

Question 7

Species diversity

Answer 7

the variety of species within a habitat or region. Some habitats, such as rainforests and coral reefs, have many species. Others, such as salt flats or a polluted stream, have fewer.

Question 8

Ecosystem diversity

Answer 8

the variaty of ecosystems in a given place. An ecosystem is a community of organisms and there physical environment interacting together. An ecosystem can cover a large area, such as a whole forest, or a small area, such as a pond.

Question 9

Diversity

Answer 9

In general, the higher the biodiversity of an ecosystem, the more stable it is

Question 10

Biological classification Hierarchy

Answer 10

Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species

Question 11

Allopatrick Speciation

Answer 11

occurs when a species seperates into two seperate groups which are isolated from one another. A physical barrier such as a mountain range or waterway makes it impossible to breed. Each species develops differently based on the demands of their unique habitat or the genetic characteristics of the group are passed on to offspring

Question 12

Peripatrick speciation

Answer 12

Occurs when small group of individuals break away from a larger group and form a new species. Similar to allopatric speciation, physical barriers can make it impossible for members of the groups to interbreed with one another. Difference is one group is much smaller.

Question 13

Parapatrick speciation

Answer 13

Occurs when a species is spread out over a large geographical area. Although it is possible for any member of the species to mate with another member, individuals only mate with those in their own geographic region. It sometimes happens when part of an environment has been polluted.

Question 14

Sympatrick speciation

Answer 14

Is contreversial, some scientists dont believe it exists. It occurs when there are no physical barriers preventing any members of a species from mating with one another, and all members are in close proximity. A new species, perhaps made by a new food source.

Question 15

producer

Answer 15

A producer is an organism that creates its own food or energy. Producers, also called autotrophs, include plants, bacteria, and algae. Plants get energy from the sun and turn it into food, a sugar called glucose.

Question 16

decomposer

Answer 16

A decomposer is any organism that breaks down or eats decaying material for its energy source. Decomposers are important within the environment because they breaking down the bodies of dead animals or plants, and recycling those materials back into the Earth.

Question 17

primary consumer

Answer 17

The primary consumer definition is an organism that eats plants and provides the energy needed for other types of consumers to use. Primary consumers differ from other consumers because they are the only types of animals that eat plants.

Question 18

secondary consumer

Answer 18

Secondary consumers are organisms that receive their energy from primary consumers. Most secondary consumers are carnivores, meaning they survive by eating animal tissues.

Question 19

competition

Answer 19

Competition in biology is a set of interactions between organisms and species to get a limited resource. Competition favors evolution. The need to adapt and survive puts evolutionary pressure on species, so changes in their morphology or behavior occur.

Question 20

mutualism

Answer 20

The term mutualism can be simply defined as a relationship in which both species are mutually benefited. This relationship can either be within the species or between the two different species. The species with this relationship is termed as symbionts.

Question 21

commensalism

Answer 21

Commensalism is a long-term biological interaction (symbiosis) in which members of one species gain benefits while those of the other species neither benefit nor are harmed.

Question 22

predation

Answer 22

Predation is a biological interaction where one organism, the predator, kills and eats another organism, its prey. It is one of a family of common feeding behaviors that includes parasitism and micropredation (which usually do not kill the host) and parasitoidism (which always does, eventually)

Question 23

parasitism

Answer 23

Parasitism is a close relationship between species, where one organism, the parasite, lives on or inside another organism, the host, causing it some harm, and is adapted structurally to this way of life

Question 24

Reproductive Isolation – pre-zygotic

Answer 24

Prezygotic isolation is the separation of different species to keep them from creating offspring by preventing the gametes from forming a zygote.

Question 25

Reproductive Isolation – post-zygotic

Answer 25

Postzygotic barriers occur after fertilization and result in reduced zygote viability or offspring with lower fitness. Reproductive isolation reduces the gene flow between related species. This allows each species to evolve as a group distinct from other species.

Question 26

The carbon cycle

Answer 26

The carbon cycle included the uptake of carbon dioxide by plants through photosynthesis, the ingestion of carbon dioxide by animals, and the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere (respiration and organic material decay)
Human activities like the burning of fossil fuels contribute to the release of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

Question 27

The nitrogen cycle

Answer 27

the nitrogen cycle involves the uptake of nitrogen from the atmosphere by a process called fixaation which is carried out by microbes or industrial processes. Decompasition of biological waste by microbes can return nitrogen to the atmosphere. Nitrogen is mainly used by humans as a fertiliser in farmlands, but its excessive usage can lead to serious problems.

Question 28

Niches

Answer 28

An ecological niche describes the functional position and role of an organism within its environment
An ecological niche will be comprised of various components, including:
Thehabitatin which the organism lives
Theactivity patternsof the organism (e.g. periods of time during which it is active)
Theresourcesit obtains from the environment (e.g. food source, territorial boundaries, etc.)
Theinteractionsthat occur with other species in the region (e.g. competition / predator-prey relationships)

Question 29

Fundamental Niche

Answer 29

Thefundamental nicheis the entire set of conditions under which an organism can survive and reproduce (i.e. where itcanlive)

Question 30

Realised Niche

Answer 30

Therealised nicheis the set of conditions actually used by a given organism after interactions with other species are taken into account (i.e. where itdoeslive)