UNIT 2: ECOLOGY

Question 1

species

Answer 1

a group of organisms that share common characteristics and are capable of interbreeding to produce fertile offspring

Question 2

ecosystem

Answer 2

community of interdependent organisms and the physical environment they interact with
made up of biotic and abiotic components

Question 3

biotic components

Answer 3

• producers
  plants that convert energy into matter
• consumers
  animals that eat plants or other animals
• decomposers
  organisms that breakdown waste into parts able to be reused
• interactions between living components
  predation, herbivory, parasitism, mutualism, disease and competition

Question 4

populations

Answer 4

number of species/individuals same place and time

Question 5

abiotic components

Answer 5

temperature
sunlight
pH
salinity
precipitation

Question 6

habitat

Answer 6

natural environment around the organism
has the physical and biological resources an organism needs to survive

Question 7

niche

Answer 7

smallest unit of a habitat:
Refers to the role or function of a species within its ecosystem

Question 8

fundamental niche

Answer 8

The full range of environmental conditions (such as temperature, food, and habitat) and resources it could potentially use if there were no competition or limiting factors.

Question 9

realized niche

Answer 9

The actual environmental conditions and resources it uses in the presence of competition, predators, and other limiting factors.

Question 10

J-shaped growth curve

Answer 10

exponential population growth
- ideal conditions, plenty of resources and limited competition

Question 11

predation

Answer 11

one predator hunts and kills the prey to gain energy for survival and reproduction

Question 12

herbivory

Answer 12

consumption of plant material by an animal

Question 13

parasitism

Answer 13

when a parasite takes nutrients from the host
- parasites can live inside or outside the host

Question 14

mutualism

Answer 14

two organisms of different species exist in a mutually beneficial relationship

Question 15

competition

Answer 15

organisms compete for a limited resource
intraspecific, same species
interspecific, different species

Question 16

bioaccumulation

Answer 16

The build-up of toxic substances (e.g., pesticides, heavy metals) in the tissues of an organism over time.

Question 17

Biomass

Answer 17

The total mass of living organisms in a specific area or ecosystem, measured as dry weight.

Question 18

Biome

Answer 18

A large geographic region defined by its climate, flora, and fauna.

Question 19

Case Study: New Zealand’s Temperate Forest Biome

Answer 19

Location: North and South Islands.
Climate: Mild temperatures, high rainfall.
Flora: Evergreen trees (beech, kauri).
Fauna: Kiwi, tuatara, and unique native species.
Topography: Southern Alps create diverse ecosystems with rain shadow effects.

Challenges:
Habitat loss from deforestation and agriculture.
Invasive species threatening biodiversity.

Conservation Efforts:
Canterbury Regional Biodiversity Strategy.
Sustainable forest management practices.

Question 20

Density-Independent Factors

Answer 20

can significantly
impact population size and include natural
disasters, climate change and human activities

Question 21

Community

Answer 21

A community is a group of different species that live in the same area and interact with each other.

Question 22

CRBS Overview:New Zealand’s effort

Answer 22

CRBS Overview:

Initiation: Established in 2008 to protect and enhance Canterbury’s natural heritage.
Guiding Principle: Prioritizes protecting existing biodiversity before restoring lost aspects.
Progress: Recent funding allocated to high-value projects, such as improving fish passage into Muriwai o Whata/Coopers Lagoon.

Challenges: Significant biodiversity loss over two centuries, with less than 10% of indigenous plant cover remaining on the Canterbury Plains.

Question 23

S Curve

Answer 23

where a population grows rapidly at first but slows as it approaches the carrying capacity due to limiting factors like food, space, and competition.

Question 24

Carrying Capacity

Answer 24

maximum population that an environment can support sustainably, based on available resources like food, water, and space.