Populations In Ecosystems Flashcards
What is ecology
The study of inter relationships between organisms and their environment
Name the abiotic factors of an ecosystem
Light
Temp
Soil PH
water availability
How does light affect an ecosystem
Affects rate of Photosynthesis and so plant growth and so food availability as biomass is affected
More energy available for spore and seed formation with more light
How does temperature affect an ecosystem
Affects rate of Respiration and Photosynthesis due to enzymes.
Affects water availability
Affects body temp so energy used to regulate temp not growth and reproduction
Cold blooded= enzymes denature
Warm blooded= less energy for reproduction so mature slower
What biotic factors are there in an ecosystem
Food availability
Predation
Disease
Competition
How do predators affect an ecosystem
Kill organisms so reduce population
How does food availability affect an ecosystem
Competition
Starvation
How does competition affect an ecosystem
Some will starve and die reducing population
Not enough supply to support all
How does disease affect an ecosystem
Makes more succeptible to predation so may fall prey
May die from disease
Define population
All individuals of same species in same place at the same time
Define ecosystem
Habitat and the community of organisms within it
Define community
All populations of different species living at the same place at the same time
Define habitat
Place where an organism normally lives
Define ecological niche
Where an organisms lives and what it does
the biotic and abiotic factors its adapted to
Define the competitive exclusion principle
No two species can occupy the same ecological niche because they will outcompete one another
Define carrying capacity
The maximum size of the population able to be supported by an ecosystem
Describe the growth curve
Slowth then rapid and then fluctuations
Why is a logarithmic scale used
To clearly show the rate of growth
How does PH affect a population
Alter enzyme activity
Decreased Respiration and Photosynthesis so reduced carrying capacity
How does water and humidity affect a population
More humid = lower WP gradient= reduced transpiration and water loss
Less water = only adapted organisms survive
What are the two types of competition
Intra and inter
What does intraspecific competition occur for
Light water mates
What does interspecific competition occur for
Habitat light water food
How are predators adapted
Camouflage
Faster movement
Better sense to detect prey
How are prey adapted
Camouflage
Concealment behaviour
Spines (protective features)
Why might lab results be different in terms of predator prey relationships
Prey will go extinct as no other source of food or refuges