Population and Ecosystems

Question 1

Define Population

Answer 1

All the organisms, of a particular species, in a particular location at one time

Question 2

Define community

Answer 2

All of the organisms, of all species, living in one location at one time

Question 3

Define Ecosystem

Answer 3

A characteristic community of interdependent species and their habitat

Question 4

Define Habitat

Answer 4

The location in which an organism lives

Question 5

Define Niche

Answer 5

The role of a particular species in its ecosystem, including its microhabitat, feeding and breeding behaviour etc.

Question 6

Define Ecology

Answer 6

The study of how living organisms interact with each other and their environment

Question 7

Define Environment

Answer 7

The physical and biological conditions under which an organism lives

Question 8

Define Biotic

Answer 8

The biological components of an ecosystem

Question 9

Define Abiotic

Answer 9

The non-biological components in an ecosystem.

Question 10

What varies in an ecosystem?

Answer 10

.Size
.Species composition
.Successional Change
.Population size
.Biological cycles
.Energy flow

Question 11

What do Population numbers depend on?

Answer 11

.Birth Rate
.Death Rate
.Immigration into the population
.Emigration away from the population

Question 12

If birth rate and immigration is greater than death rate and emigration what happens to population?

Answer 12

Population increase

Question 13

What are the seven limiting factors for a population?

Answer 13

1. Predation
2. Parasitism
3. Disease
4. Overcrowding
5. Food availability
6. Toxic waste accumulation
7. Climate

Question 14

What are the four density DEPENDANT factors?

Answer 14

1. Disease
2. Parasitism
3. Accumulation of toxic waste
4. Food Supply

Question 15

What do density DEPENDANT factors result in?

Answer 15

Slow down of population growth

Question 16

Give an example of a density INDEPENDANT factor?

Answer 16

Freezing
Flood
Fire

Question 17

What do density INDEPENDANT factors cause?

Answer 17

Population crash

Question 18

What are the seven biotic factors?

Answer 18

1. Parasitism
2. Food Availability
3. Nesting site availability
4. Predation
5. Disease
6. Territory availability
7. Shelter

Question 19

What are the six abiotic factors?

Answer 19

1. Soil pH
2. Light
3. Temperature
4. Water pH
5. Mineral nutrient
6. Oxygen

Question 20

What are the four phases of the sigmoid population growth curve?

Answer 20

1. Lag
2. Log
3. Stationary
4. Death

Question 21

Describe the Lag phase of the sigmoid population growth curve?

Answer 21

This phase has slow growth due to a shortage of reproducing individuals

Question 22

Describe the Log phase of the sigmoid population growth curve?

Answer 22

This phase has the fastest population growth, Birth rate exceeds death rate

Question 23

Describe the Stationary phase of the sigmoid population growth curve?

Answer 23

This phase the birth and death rate are balanced, the ecosystem is at carrying capacity.

Question 24

Describe the Death phase of the sigmoid population growth curve?

Answer 24

Limiting factors come into play and population decreases. Death rate exceeds birth rate.

Question 25

Define Carrying Capacity

Answer 25

The maximum population size that can be maintained/ sustained over a period of time in a particular habitat/ environment.

Question 26

Why does population fluctuate?

Answer 26

If population rises above the carrying capacity a limiting factor affects the population. If the population falls below the carrying capacity then environmental resistance is decreased leading to an increase in birth rate.

Question 27

What are the two types of competition?

Answer 27

Inter-specific | Intra-specific

Question 28

Define INTER-specific competition

Answer 28

Competition between individuals of different species, as two species cannot occupy the same niche

Question 29

Define INTRA-specific competition

Answer 29

Competition between individuals of the same species

Question 30

What can effect the extent of INTER-specific competition?

Answer 30

The more the niches overlap the greater the competition

Question 31

What are the 5 points that species compete over when niches overlap?

Answer 31

1. Food 2. Oxygen 3. Carbon Dioxide 4. Nutrients 5. Nesting/ Dwelling sites

Question 32

What four things do plants compete for?

Answer 32

1. Light 2. Water 3. Space 4. Mineral ions

Question 33

What four things do animals compete for?

Answer 33

1. Food and Water 2. Shelter 3. Space 4. Reproductive partners

Question 34

What is abundance?

Answer 34

A measure of how many individuals exist in a habitat.

Question 35

How can plant abundance be measured?

Answer 35

Using quadrats

Question 36

How can animal abundance be measured?

Answer 36

1. Capture-mark-recapture | 2. Kick sampling

Question 37

What is distribution?

Answer 37

The area or volume in which the organisms of species are found in

Question 38

How is distribution measure in animals?

Answer 38

By observation or faecal deposists

Question 39

How is distribution measure in plants?

Answer 39

Line transects with quadrats

Question 40

What does a line transect show?

Answer 40

Shows the variety of species that lie on a line, at measured intervals.

Question 41

What does a belt transect involve?

Answer 41

It involves laying a tape through the area of study and sampling the population with quadrats positioned at regular intervals alongside the tape.

Question 42

What is Sophie not getting till december?

Answer 42

Dick