Topic 8 - Ecosystems and Biodiversity

Question 1

what is a habitat?

Answer 1

the place where an organism lives

Question 2

what is a population?

Answer 2

all the organisms of one species in a habitat

Question 3

what is a community?

Answer 3

all the different species in a habitat

Question 4

what is an ecosystem?

Answer 4

all the organisms living in a particular area and all the abiotic conditions

Question 5

how do abiotic factors affect communities?

Answer 5

1. environmental conditions affect the abundance and distribution of organisms (e.g. rise in average temperature, light intensity for plants, moisture level and soil pH)
2. toxic chemicals - pesticides can build up in food chains through bioaccumulation, so top predators receive a toxic dose

Question 6

how do biotic factors affect communities?

Answer 6

1. food availability
2. number of predators
3. competition