genetics (ecosystems)

Question 1

what is a habitat?

Answer 1

the place where an organism lives

Question 2

what is a population?

Answer 2

all of the organisms of one species in a habitat

Question 3

what is a community?

Answer 3

populations of different species in a habitat

Question 4

what is an ecosystem?

Answer 4

a community plus the abiotic conditions

Question 5

what are biotic conditions?

Answer 5

living features of the ecosystem, eg the presence of predators or food

Question 6

what are the abiotic conditions?

Answer 6

non living features of an ecosystem

eg) temperature and water availability

Question 7

what is a niche?

Answer 7

the role of a species within its habitat, can only be occupied by one species

Question 8

what is an adaptation?

Answer 8

features that increase an organism’s chance of survival and reproduction

Question 9

what are the three types of adaptation?

Answer 9

physiological
behavioural
anatomical

Question 10

what is a physiological adaptation?

Answer 10

processes inside their body

Question 11

what is a behavioural adaptation?

Answer 11

the way an organism acts

Question 12

what is an anatomical adaptation?

Answer 12

structural features of an organisms body

Question 13

what is population size?

Answer 13

the total number of organisms of one species in a habitat

Question 14

what is the carrying capacity?

Answer 14

maximum stable population size

Question 15

why does carrying capacity vary?

Answer 15

due to biotic and abiotic factors

Question 16

what are the three biotic factors that cause variation in population size?

Answer 16

interspecific competition

intraspecific competition

predation

Question 17

what is interspecific competition?

Answer 17

competition between different species for the same resources

Question 18

what is intraspecific competition?

Answer 18

competition within a species for the same resources

Question 19

what is predation?

Answer 19

where a predator kills and eats its prey

Question 20

how does temperature affect population size?

Answer 20

further away from optimum temperature means they are less likely to survive

Question 21

how does light affect population size?

Answer 21

increased light increases the rate of photosynthesis which increases population size as the carrying capacity is increased

Question 22

how does pH affect population size?

Answer 22

optimum pH has the largest population size

Question 23

how does water affect population size?

Answer 23

where water is scarce there is a smaller population size, only those who are adapted survive

Question 24

how does humidity affect population size?

Answer 24

affects transpiration rate in plants and evaporation of water in animals/humans, those who are best adapted survive

Question 25

what is succession?

Answer 25

the process by which an ecosystem changes over time

Question 26

what is primary succession?

Answer 26

succession on land that has been newly formed/exposed, no soil or organic matter to begin with

Question 27

what is secondary succession?

Answer 27

succession on land that has been cleared of plants but where soil remains

Question 28

what is the first species to colonise an area called?

Answer 28

the pioneer species

Question 29

what are the stages of primary succession?

Answer 29

abiotic conditions are harsh so only the pioneer species can grow pioneer species changes the abiotic conditions, as they die a basic soil is formed makes the conditions less hostile, which means that organisms with different adaptations can grow these die/are decomposed so the soil is deeper and richer in minerals larger plants can grow so the soil can maintain more water new species compete, and change the environment

Question 30

what is the final stage of succession called?

Answer 30

the climax community

Question 31

what are the features of a temperate climate?

Answer 31

plenty of water mild temperatures little change between seasons large trees

Question 32

what are the features of a polar climate?

Answer 32

little water available low temperatures big changes between the seasons only has shrubs/herbs

Question 33

what is an artificial climax community called?

Answer 33

plagioclimax

Question 34

what is conservation?

Answer 34

the protection and management of a species/habitat in a sustainable way