Populations and Ecosystems

Question 1

What is a population?

Answer 1

A group of organisms of the same species living in the same habitat

Question 2

What is a habitat?

Answer 2

The part of an ecosystem in which particular organisms live

Question 2

What is a community?

Answer 2

A community is all the populations of different species in the same area at the same time

Question 3

What is an ecosystem?

Answer 3

Ecosystems are dynamic systems made up of a community and the non living components of an environment (biotic and abiotic factors)

Question 4

Can ecosystem range in sizes?

Answer 4

Ecosystems range in sizes, going from very small to very large

Question 5

What is a niche?

Answer 5

An organism’s role within an ecosystem, including their position in the food web + habitat

Question 6

What is the carrying capacity?

Answer 6

This is the maximum population size an ecosystem cna support

Question 6

What are abiotic factors?

Answer 6

These are the non - living conditions of an ecosystem

Question 7

What are biotic factors?

Answer 7

These are the living conditions of an ecosystem

Question 8

Within a habitat, there are smaller units, what are these?

Answer 8

Within a habitat, there are smaller units each with their own microclimate called a microhabitat

Question 8

What cause the size of a population to vary?

Answer 8

The size of a population can vary due to the affects of abiotic factors and the interactions between organisms, intraspecific and interspecific competition and predation

Question 9

What is the effect of limiting factors on population sizes?

Answer 9

As a result of limiting factors, population growth will slow and even may diminish. Limiting factors mean that no population grows indefinitely because certain factors will always limit growth

Question 10

What are the abiotic factors that influence the size of a population?

Answer 10

Temperature
Light
pH level
Water + Humidity

Question 11

How do limiting factors affect the carrying capacity?

Answer 11

Limiting factors determines a population’s carrying capacity

Question 12

How does light intensity affect the carrying capacity of a population?

Answer 12

The rate of photosynthesis increases as light intensity increases, this increased rate of photosynthesis causes plants to grow faster and more seeds to be produced therefore creating a greater carrying capacity

Question 13

How do pH levels affect the carrying capacity of a population?

Answer 13

When the pH level is at an optimum level the population of an organism is larger but smaller or non - existent when the pH level is greater/less than the optimum pH level

Question 14

In warm blooded animals how does temperature affect the carrying capacity?

Answer 14

In warm blooded animals (birds + mammals) constant body temperature is maintained regardless of the external temperature.

The further the temperature of the external environment gets from their optimum temperature, the more energy is required t try and maintain

Question 14

How does the temperature reduce the carrying capacity of a population with plants + cold blooded animals?

Answer 14

When temperatures fall below the optimum level, In plants and cold blooded animals, enzymes tend to work slower with the metabolic rate reducing. Leading to smaller carrying capacities.

Temperatures above the optimum level, will cause enzymes to work less efficiently because denaturation occurs gradually. Again reducing the carrying capacity