IQ1 - Module 3: Biological Diversity Flashcards
what is an ecosystem?
An ecosystem is a combination of all living organisms interacting with one another and their physical environment.
what is a community and a population?
A community refers to all the populations of different species living within an ecosystem.
A population refers to all the individuals of a particular species living within the ecosystem.
what does the environment refer to
The environment refers to the surroundings of an organism including abiotic and biotic factors.
what are the types of terrestrial ecosystems?
▪ Temperate forest
▪ Tropical forest
▪ Desert
▪ Grassland
▪ Shrubland
▪ Woodland
what are the types of aquatic ecosystems?
▪ Marine / Saltwater
− oceans and coral reefs
− wetlands
− rock platforms
− mangrove swamps
▪ Freshwater − lakes
− rivers ▪ Estuaries
what are abiotic and biotic factors?
Abiotic factors and biotic factors differ significantly between ecosystems.
Abiotic and biotic factors act on the characteristics of the organisms and affect the ability of an organism to survive and reproduce in a particular environment.
Successful species have adaptations that enable them to overcome adverse challenges.
what are abiotic factors?
▪ Non-living (physical and chemical) components of the ecosystem
− temperature
− pH
− salinity
− light availability
− oxygen levels
− water availability & rainfall
what are biotic factors?
▪ Living components of the ecosystem
− availability & abundance of food
− number of predators
− number of competitors
− number of mating partners
− diseases
what are selection pressures?
Selection pressures are factors (abiotic/biotic) in the environment that affects the survival and reproduction of an individual within a population.
Selection pressures drive evolution by determining which organisms survive and reproduce to pass on their beneficial traits to the next generation.
If the environment and selection pressures change rapidly, many species cannot adapt and may become extinct.
