B16 Flashcards
(12 cards)
what is an ecosystem
a unit that contains all the biotic and abiotic factors in an area all interacting
what is interdependence
if one species is removed from a community it can affect the whole community
what is a stable community
one in which all the species and environmental factors are in balance so the population sizes stay fairly constant
what are abiotic factors that may affect communities
amount of light
temperature
availability of water
pH of the soil
what are some biotic factors that may affect communities
availability of food
new predators arrive
new pathogens
what is a quadrat and what is it used for
square frame which can be used to obtain random quantitative samples
what is a transect
where a line is made between two point and place the quadrat along there
it is not random
what are adaptations
special features of an organism which allow them to survive in a particular habitat
what are extremophiles
organisms, usually microorganisms that are adapted to live in conditions where most enzymes cannot work
what are the types of adaptations
structural (shape)
behavioural (migration)
functional
why do large animals find it hard to cool down?
bigger animals have small surface area to volume ratio so they can conserve energy easier making it harder to cool down
