Unit 2 Flashcards
tolerance curves
bell shaped
ecological niche
multi-dimensional summary of the tolerances and requirements of a species
Fundemental niche
A niche where an organsim occupies in the abscence of any interspecific competition
Realised niche
A realised niche is a where the organsim ocupies due to their response of the interspecific competition
competitive exclusion
as a result of interspecific competition, niches are too siilar which leads to a decline in one or local extinction because they cannot co-exist
resource partitioning
where two organisms with the same realised niche can co-exist. birds and bats living at different times
parasitism
a symbiotic relationship between a parasites and it host. parasite gains benefit in terms on nutrients at the expense of its host
parasitism vs predator-prey
unlike predator to prey the parasite does not kill its host. the reproductive potential of the parasite is greater than that of the host.
parasites niche
a parasite has a very narrow niche (specialised) as they are very host specific. As the host provides so many of the parasites needs many parasites re degenerte, lacking in structures and organs found in other organisms. Its tolerance is tailored to its host conditions.
Faculatitive parasite
Is a parasite that is not host dependent and can live without
Obligate parasite
Relies on the host to stay alove
Ectoparasite
An ectoparasite lives on the surface of the host e.g. ticks and lice.
Endoparasite
An endoparasite lives inside their host e.g. malaria
Definitive host
the host on or in which the parasite reaches sexual maturity
Intermediate host
may be required for the parasite to complete its lifecycle. the parasite may carry out asexual reproduction within its intermedite host to increase its numbers quickly.
Vector
the term used for the organsim that plays an active role in teh transmission of a parasite from one host to another. It may also be a host
Cause of Malaira
Type of Protozoan known as Plasmodium.
How is Malaria spread
By a female mosquito that bites an infected human and then another. it passes on parasites into the bloodstream
1st stage -Life cycle of Plasmodium
- An infected mosquito, acting as a vector, bites a human
2nd stage - Life cycle of Plasmodium
plasmodium enters the human bloodstream
Where does asexual reproduction of plasmodium occur?
In the Liver and then in the red blood cells
what happens to the red blood cells during Malaria transmission
They burst and release the gameocytes into the bloodstream
How does Malaria spread after
A mosquito bites the infected humnand the gameocytes enter the mosquito
What happens to the gameocytes inside the mosquito
they mature nto male and female gametes, allowing sexual reproduction to now occure
What is a virus
A virus is a parasite that can only replicate inside a host cell
Viruses contain two basic parts, What are they?
They contain DNA or RNA packeaged in a protective protein coat.
What are some viruses surrounded by and what are they derived from
Viruses are surrnounded by phospholipid membrane derived from host cell materials.
How are they not detected by the host cell.
they are not detected by the host cell due to antigens on the outer surface which may not be detected as foreign.
