Ecosystems N5 U3 P1 Flashcards
Species definition
A group of organisms that can interbreed to produce fertile offspring
Biodiversity definition
The variety of living things found in an ecosystem
Population definition
All the organisms of one particular species living in a particular habitat
Producer definition
Any organism producing their own food
-plants
Consumer definition
Any organism that cant produce their own food, feed on other consumers or producers
Herbivore definition
Only eats things that need photosynthesis
Carnivore definition
Only eats eats meat
Omnivore definition
Eats both meat and vegetation
Predator definition
Animal that hunts and kills another organism
Prey definition
Hunted by predators
Food chain definition
Shows feeding relationship between plant and animals
Food web definition
Complex feeding relationship interconnects in an ecosystem
Ecosystem definition
All the organism living in a particular habitat and the non-living components which the organisms interact with
-requires plants
Community definition
All the organism living in a particular habitat
Niche definition
The role the organisms play within a community
Pyramid of numbers definition
Number of organisms at each level of a food chain
Pyramid of energy definition
Amount of available energy at each level in a food chain
Allele definition
Variant of gene
Biomes definition
Largest ecosystems
Geographical region of the planet
Charecterised by climates
Major biomes
Forests
Deserts
Grassland
Tundra
Aquatic
Factors affecting biomes
Temperature
Rainfall
[abiotic]
Ecosystems non-living components
Temperature
Light intensity
Soil type
Soil nutrients
Rainfall
Need for plants in ecosystems
Plants release oxygen in the process of photosynthesis
Oxygen required by both plants and animals
Plants provide shelter for animals
Need for animals in ecosystems
Animals act as pollinators so that plants can reproduce
Niches interactions
Organisms interact with both physical and biological parts of the ecosystem
Competition
Parasitism
Predation
Light
Temperature
Nutrient availability
Competition
Occurs when resources are in short supply
Intraspecific competition is more intense than interspecific competition
Interspecific competition
Occurs amongst individuals of different species for one or a few of the resources they require
Intraspecific competition
Occurs amongst individuals of the same species for all resources required
Grazing intensity
Animals feed on plants
Decreases biodiversity as there is animals feeding intensely on plants
Number of plants will decrease
