Ecosystem L2 Flashcards
Define the term Biome
A large ecological area with distinct climate, vegetation, and wildlife, such as deserts, forests, and grasslands.
Define the term biosphere
The global sum of all ecosystems, including land, water, and atmosphere, where life exists.
Define the term organism
An individual living entity, such as a plant, animal, or microorganism, capable of growing, reproducing, and responding to its environment.
Define the term producers
Organisms, usually plants or algae, that produce their own food through photosynthesis and serve as the base of the food chain.
Define the term population
A group of individuals of the same species living and interacting in a specific area
Define the term community
A group of different species living and interacting in the same area.
Define the term Consumers
Organisms that rely on other organisms for food, including herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores.
Explain five reason why biodiversity is important
Creates resilience in the ecosystem to fires, floods, climate change
Capitalizes on more potential than found on the same species (sum > whole concept)
Increases adaptability and number of community interactions, which can buffer external change
Can lead to greater productivity (not always)
Guardianship of natural resources for future generations (sustainability, kaitiakitanga)
Define the term carrying capacity
limited growth to maximum
Define the term Doubling rate
period of time required for a quantity to double in size or value at a constant growth rate
Define the term symbiosis
long-lasting physical relationship between two species, where predation benefits
Define the term mutualism
one organism uses another’s resources and both benefit e.g. flowering plant requires birds and bees for pollination while birds & bees need nectar
Define the commensalism
one organism lives on another but doesn’t affect the host e.g. barnacles attach to whale skin, epiphytes on trees.
Explain what the Lotka-Voleterra equations are used to model
When comparing two species i.e. predators vs prey model
List three important points about this predator-prey model output.
Equilibrium point (where the predator and prey population reaches balance)
Predators become locally extinct and prey increase rapidly
Prey find refuge and predators leave, predator return as prey numbers increase
Differentiate four factors between the Exponential and Logistic Population growth models.
Growth rate, carrying capacity, shape of growth curve and resource limitations
what is the difference in growth rate between exponential and logistic
exponential growth rate remains constant, however, Logistic growth rate decreases as it reaches the K
what is the difference in carrying capacity between exponential and logistic
exponential has no carrying capacity, so it grows with no limit. However, logistic there is limit K(carrying capacity)
What is the difference in shape of growth between exponential and logistic
exponential has a J-shape and no carrying capacity, but Logistic has a s-shaped and rapid growth phase followed by a levelling off at the carrying capacity
What is the difference in resource limit between exponential and logistic
For exponential we assume that there is no limitation (no carrying capacity) however, for logistic we say that there are resource limitations and the growth slows down as it reaches the carrying capacity(K)
