Population size and ecosystems (C1) Flashcards
Ecology definition
the study of living organisms within a habitat and their interactions with both biotic and abiotic factors
Ecosystem definition
a characteristic community of interdependent species interacting with the abiotic components of their habitat
Habitat definition
the place in which an organism lives
- often contains a community of organisms
Population definition
a group of interbreeding organisms of the same species occupying a particular habitat
Community definition
interacting populations of two or more species within a particular habitat
i.e populations of different species living within the same habitat
Biotic factors
living factors within the environment including…
- competition for recourses
- predators
- disease/ pathogens
Abiotic factors
non living factors including…
- light intensity
- water/nutrients/o2 availability
- temperature
Niche definition
the specific role and position a species plays within a particular ecosystem
Random sampling
method of sampling when abiotic factors are uniform
Systematic sampling
method of sampling when there is a change is abiotic factors
What are population numbers dependent on?
population numbers will fluctuate, this is dependent on various factors, including…
- birth rates/cell division
- death rates
- immigration
- emigration
Name the shape of the graph of a usual pattern of growth of an equilibrium species
S-shaped
sigmoidal
What are the phases of the population growth curve for an equilibrium species and what happens?
*draw the graph
- LAG - slow rate of reproduction, cellular activity but not growth, a period of intense metabolic activity like enzyme synthesis i.e reaching sexual maturity in animals, time taken for yeast to hydrate in nutrient broth
- LOG/EXPONENTIAL - rapid increase in population, no factors limiting growth
- STATIONARY - birth rate/cell division is equal to death rate, factors are limiting further growth, pop has reached carrying capacity
- DEATH/DECLINE - environmental factors result in death rate greater than birth rate/cell division i.e glucose depleted in nutrient broth or yeast producing toxic waste ethanol
Carrying capacity definition
the maximum number of individuals a population can sustain within a particular environment
(the actual number fluctuates around the carrying capacity in response to environmental changes)
Where is environment resistance and where does it start to occur?
- any factors that may limit the growth of a population
- end of log phase