populations and ecosystems

Question 1

ecology

Answer 1

the study of the inter-relationships between organisms and their environment

Question 2

abiotic components

Answer 2

non-living chemical and physical factors in the environment which affect ecosystems

Question 3

biotic components

Answer 3

living components that affect an ecosystem

Question 4

examples of abiotic components

Answer 4

• temperature
• rainfall
• pH levels
• air
• sunlight
• minerals

Question 5

example of biotic components

Answer 5

• animals
• plants
• funghi
• bacteria

Question 6

ecosystem

Answer 6

an ecosystem is made up of all the interacting biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) features in a specific area

Question 7

two major processes in an ecosystem

Answer 7

• the flow of energy through the system

- the cycling of elements within the system

Question 8

example of an ecosystem

- fresh water pond or lake

Answer 8

• it has its own community of plans to collect the necessary sunlight energy to supply the organism within it
• nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates are recycled within the pond or lake
• there is little to no loss or gain of the nutrients between it an other ecosystems

Question 9

population

Answer 9

is a group of interbreeding organisms of one species in a habitat

Question 10

community

Answer 10

all the populations of different species living and interacting in a particular place, at the same time

Question 11

habitat

Answer 11

the place where a community of organisms live

Question 12

microhabitats

Answer 12

a smaller part of the habitat that possesses specific physical conditions that are favourable for an organism

Question 13

ecological niche

Answer 13

• a niche refers to where an organism lives and what it does in that area
• it includes biotic and abiotic conditions required for an organism to survive, reproduce and maintain a viable population
• different species occupy different niches in terms of their habits and different aspects of behaviour