Ecosystems and Biodiversity

Question 1

What are abiotic factors?

Answer 1

non-living factor that affects living organisms and functioning of ecosystems

Question 2

What are biotic factors?

Answer 2

living factors that affects other organisms or shape the ecosystem

Question 3

How are ecosystems classified?

Answer 3

Based on types of habitats or microhabitats, energy flows and nutrient cycles within the system, the interaction of organisms within the system

Question 4

What are three classification systems used in Australia?

Answer 4

Holdridge life zone classification scheme, specht’s classification system and ANAE classification system

Question 5

How does specht’s classification system classify ecosystems?

Answer 5

dominant vegetation type and canopy cover

Question 6

Define biodiversity

Answer 6

variety of all living things; the different plants, animals and micro-organisms; and the genetic information they contain and the ecosystems they form

Question 7

Define distribution

Answer 7

area where an organism is found and also refers to ways individuals are arranged in that area, largely affected by physical and chemical factors (abiotic)

Question 8

Define abundance

Answer 8

refers to the total number of organisms in an area, usually described as density and is largely influenced by biotic factors

Question 9

Identify limiting factors

Answer 9

Physical and chemical factors (change of climate, soils and temperature may limit the distribution of a population), competition (intraspecific (within a species) or interspecific (between different species), disease and overcrowding (disease may reduce abundance and overcrowding may result in fighting, disturbance of breeding and eventually a reduction in numbers) and exploitation (the arrival of a foreign or exotic species from another community may greatly upset the balance in a community)