On the Wild Side Flashcards
Define ecosystem
A community of living organisms (biotic) and their physical environment (abiotic) in an area, which is self sustaining.
Define habitat
The environment with a distinct set of conditions where a species or a group of species live.
Define community
Populations of living things interacting with each other in a habitat or ecosystem.
Define population
A group of interbreeding organisms of the same species living together in the same area at the same time.
Define abiotic
Non-living factors
Define biotic
Living factors
List abiotic factors.
- Oxygen concentration
- soil pH
- Temperature
- soil texture
- light intensity
- Catastrophes: fire, disease, volcanic eruption
List biotic factors.
- Animals
- Plants
- Fungi
- Bacteria
- Grazing
- Intraspecific competition
- Predation
- Grazing
What are anthropogenic factors?
Changes due to human influence which can be biotic or abiotic factors arising from human activity. e.g. deforestation, grazing.
Define niche.
The role that an organism plays in a habitat. If two individual species share the same niche they will compete until one out-competes the other.
Define succession.
A gradual sequence of changes in a community/ ecosystem or in organisms/ species/ plants over a period of time.
Define climax community.
The final stage of succession which is self sustaining and stable, usually with one dominant species. It remains stable if there are no changes in abiotic or biotic conditions.
When does primary succession take place?
In a newly formed habitat where there has never been a community before.
Describe the pioneer phase in primary succession.
Describe the development stage in primary succession.
