NOT FINISHED Flashcards
ecosystem
the interaction of a community of living organisms with the abiotic parts of their environment
abiotic
non-living
biotic
living
what do organisms require to survive and reproduce
materials from their surroundings
interdependence
each species depend on another species, if one species is removed it can affect the whole community
a stable community
this is one where all the species and environmental factors are in balance so that population sizes remain fairly constant
examples of abiotic factors
light intensity, temperature, moisture levels, soil pH and mineral content, wind intensity and direction, carbon dioxide level for plants, oxygen availability for aquatic animals
examples of biotic factors
availability of food, new predators arriving, new pathogens, new competitors
how can we determine the abundance and distribution of species in an ecosystem
transects and quadrats
what do animals compete for
food, territories and mates
what do animals and plants have that make them successful competitors
adaptations
what do plants compete for
light, space, water and mineral ions from the soil
what are extremophiles
organisms that survive in extreme conditions
what adaptations do extremophiles have
ability to survive in areas with extreme conditions of salt, temperature and pressure
types of adaptations
structural, functional, behavioural
