7: Ecosystems

Question 1

Habitat definition?

Answer 1

The place where an organism lives

Question 2

Population definition?

Answer 2

All the organisms of one species in a habitat

Question 3

Community definition?

Answer 3

Populations of different species in a habitat make up a community

Question 4

Ecosystem definition?

Answer 4

A community and all the non-living conditions in the area in which it lives

Question 5

Niche definition?

Answer 5

The role of a species within its habitat - its biotic and abiotic interactions

Question 6

Adaptation definition?

Answer 6

A feature that members of a species have that increases their chance of survival and reproduction

Question 7

3 types of adaptation?

Answer 7

Behavioural, physiological, anatomical

Question 8

Population size definition?

Answer 8

the total number of organisms of one species in a habitat

Question 9

Carrying capacity definition?

Answer 9

the maximum stable population size of a species that an ecosystem can support

Question 10

Interspecific competition definition?

Answer 10

Competition between different species

Question 11

Intraspecific competition definition?

Answer 11

Competition within a species

Question 12

Total population size equation using mark release recapture?

Answer 12

Total population size = (number caught in 1st sample * number caught in 2nd sample) / number marked in 2nd sample

Question 13

What is the first species to colonise a new land surface called?

Answer 13

Pioneer species

Question 14

Primary succession stages?

Answer 14

Abiotic conditions are hostile - only pioneer species can grow
Change the abiotic conditions - die and microorganisms decompose the dead organic material (humus) forming a basic soil
Conditions less hostile - larger plants can grow
Each new species outcompetes the last to become the dominant species in the ecosystem
As the ecosystem becomes more complex, new species move in alongside the others - increasing biodiversity
Until climax community reached

Question 15

Climax community definition?

Answer 15

the largest and most complex community that an ecosystem can support

Question 16

Climatic climax definition?

Answer 16

the climax community for a particular climate

Question 17

Conservation definition?

Answer 17

the protection and management of ecosystems in a sustainable way

Question 18

Plagioclimax definition?

Answer 18

when succession is stopped artificially

Question 19

Sustainable definition?

Answer 19

enough resources are taken to meet the needs of people today without reducing the ability of people in the future to meet their own needs