How ecosystems work Flashcards
What are abiotic factors?
Factors that relate to non-living aspects of the environment
What are biotic factors?
Factors that relate to living organisms
List some abiotic factors that could effect an organism/environment
- Wind
- Atmospheric gases
- Fire
- Solar radiation
- Temperature
- Humidity
- Day length
- Aspect
- Soil type
- Salinity
- Wave action
List some biotic factors that could effect an organism/environment
- Human activity
- Competitors
- Predators
- Parasites
- Parent material
What is a fundamental niche?
- The total/whole range an organism could occupy
what is a realised niche?
- The actual range an organism occupies (due to biotic factors)
What is a habitat?
- Where an organism lives
What is a population?
- The total number of organisms
What is a community?
- Different organisms/species that live together
What is an ecological niche?
The role of a population in a given community
When does primary succession occur?
From the starting point of an empty inorganic surface
what is secondary succession?
The evolution of an ecosystem from existing soil that is clear of vegetation, but that has in the past contained organisms
What are opportunist/pioneer species?
The first plants to grow on an empty inorganic surface
When does a climax community occur?
?
what is the carbon cycle?
?
