Semester 2 Exam Year 11 Flashcards
Define Abiotic
Abiotic factors are non-living chemical and physical parts of the environment that affect living organisms and the functioning of ecosystems.
Define Biotic
Biotic factors are the living components of an ecosystem. They are sorted into three groups: producers or autotrophs, consumers or heterotrophs, and decomposers or detritivores
How do Abiotic factors effect distribution and Abundance
Abiotic factors affect the distribution and abundance through the climate (how hot, cold, rainy humid it is), topography/geography (how rocky the ground is, how high above sea level is it) seasons, location on globe (hotter the closer we get to the equator) and desertification (deserts growing bigger and bigger)
How do Biotic factors effect distribution and Abundance
Biotic factors affecting the distribution and abundance through the biome (the distribution of vegetation, levels of pests, predators and prey, the water availability)
Define Symbiotic Relationships
A special type of interaction between species. Sometimes beneficial, sometimes harmful, these relationships are essential to many organisms and ecosystems, and they provide a balance that can only be achieved by working together
Define Mutualism
This is when both organisms benefit from the relationship, for example sharks and the parasite feeding fish that clean them. The shark benefit from being cleaned and the fish get the sharks left overs.
Define Parasitism
Parasitism is a relationship between two things in which one of them (the parasite) benefits from or lives off the other, like fleas on your dog
Define Commensalism
An association between two organisms in which one benefits and the other derives neither benefit nor harm. For example, the relationship between cattle egrets and cattle.
Define Interspecies/ Interspecific
Interspecific competition is a form of competition in which individuals of different species compete for the same resource in an ecosystem for example food or living space
Define o Intraspecies / Intraspecific
Intraspecific competition is an interaction whereby members of the same species compete for limited resources. This leads to a reduction in fitness for both individuals.
What are Adaptations
An inherited characteristic that helps an organism to survive long enough to reproduce more successfully in its changing environment and can either be structural or behavioural
What are Behavioural Adaptations
Ways an organism act to help them survive in their environment. For example, migration, hibernation, warning calls, mating dances, hunting in packs
What are Structural Adaptations
Actual body parts or coloration that help an organism survive in their environment. For example, camouflage, mimicry, bent hind legs, sharp teeth and claws, body structures
What are the Behavioural Adaptations of Animals
Migration Hibernation Living in a Group Tool Use Playing Dead Calling Threatening Gestures
What are the Structural Adaptations of Animals
Camouflage/ Colouration Mimicry Bent hind legs Eyes Teeth
What are the Behavioural Adaptations of Plants
Tropism
Dormancy
Phototropism
Gravitropism
Explain Tropism
movement of a plant toward or away from a stimulus. Toward is called positive, away is called negative.
Explain Dormancy
Many plants go dormant in the winter. Fall is the time of year when plants are preparing for dormancy
Explain Phototropism
When the plant senses light and the shoots (stems & leaves) grow toward the light source. This is a positive tropism because the plant is growing toward the stimulus
Explain Gravitropism
When growth of a plant changes in response to direction of gravity