Life processes in the biosphere Flashcards
Abiotic factor
Non-living
e.g wind, light intensity, pH, nutrient availablity
Biome
A large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna
Biotic factor
Living
E.g plants, animals, invertebrate
Carrying Capacity
The number of organisms which a region can support without environmental degradation
Climax community
Final stage of ecological succession
Stable community
Community of species
Group or association of populations of 2+ different species occupying the same area at the same time
Deflected succession
A community that is only stable due to human influence that stops the local ecosystem reaching a stable climax community
Density dependant factor
Population growth rates are regulated by population density
Ecological niche
The position of a species within an ecosystem describing both the range of conditions necessary for persistence and its ecological rate
Ecosystem
Consists of all the organisms and the physical environment with which they interact
Hydrosere
Plant succession which occurs in an area of freshwater
Inter-species-relationship
Interaction between different species
k-selection
Theory that combinations of traits in an organism that trade of between quantity and quality of offspring
Lithosere
Plant succession which begins life on newly exposed rock surface
Pioneer Species
The first species to colonise barren environments
Plagioclimax
An altered or reduced climax of a plant ecosystem caused by human activity
Population
All inhabitants of a particular place
Primary succession
Begins in barren areas
First set of organisms
Range of Tolerance
The upper most and lower range of an abiotic factor that an organism that can survive
R-selection
A form of selection that occurs in an environment with plentiful resources
Secondary succession
Second wave of organisms that colonise a barren area
Species
Classification and taxonomic rank of an organism
Symbiosis
Several living organisms working together in an arrangement
Taxon
A taxonomic group
List some abiotic factors
Examples - Water availability Temperature fluctuations Turbulence Nutrient levels Light levels
List some biotic factors
Food
Shelter
Reproduction
Why is it good to have a wide range of tolerance?
Fluctuating environmental changes push less tolerant species out and their populations decline.
How do detritivores and decomposers work together?
Detritivores - animals that eat dead organisms that they didn’t kill
Decomposers - Release enzymes to breakdown that matter and then consume it
What is parasitism?
A relationship where one species benefits at the expense of another
e.g - tapeworms, ticks, leeches
What is symbiosis?
A relationship where both species benefit.
e.g hippos and barbell fish
alligators and birds
What is pollination/seed dispersal? (sexual/asexual reproduction)
Pollination - male and female sex cells in plants enabled to meet due to being carried by organisms, e.g bees
Seed dispersal - transported to a new suitable location either benefits the animal too, e.g sqirrels, wind, feces
What is habitat provisions/modifying abiotic factors?
Some species may modify the habitat and abiotic factors in a way that suits the development of a new species
e.g plants release oxygen
What are feeding relationships?
The relationship between organisms eating and being eaten (and the knock effect this may have
predator
prey
consumer
