Ecology

• What is a habitat?

  the place where an organism lives
• What is an ecosystem?

  the interaction of a community of living organisms (biotic) with the non-living (abiotic) parts of their environment.
• What do plants compete for?

  light, space, water and minerals
• What do animals compete for?

  space, food, water, mates
• What is interdependence?

  when species rely on each other for resources needed for survival
• Why is interdependence important?

  any change can have a knock-on effect and impact other species
• What is a stable community?

  where all the species and environmental factors are in balance so that population sizes remain fairly constant.
• What is abiotic?

  non-living
• What is biotic?

  living
• What are the abiotic factors which can affect a community?

  • light intensity

  • temperature

  • moisture levels

  • soil pH and mineral content

  • wind intensity and direction

  • carbon dioxide levels for plants

  • oxygen levels for aquatic animals
• What are the biotic factors which can affect a community?

  • availability of food

  • new predators arriving

  • new pathogens

  • one species outcompeting another so the numbers are no longer sufficient to breed.
• What are the 3 types of adaptation?

  structural, behavioural, functional
• Examples of structural adaptations

  • Arctic fox - white fur
  • allows them to camouflage and avoid predators
  • Cold environment animals - fat and low surface area : volume ratio
  • to retain body heat
  • Hot environment animals - thin layer of fat and high surface area : volume ratio
  • encourages heat loss
• What is a structural adaptation?

  A physical feature or behaviour that helps an organism survive in its environment.
• What is a behavioural adaptation?

  The way an organism behaves to help it survive in its environment
• what is a functional adaptation?

  the processes which occur in an organism to help it survive
• Example of a functional adaptation

  • Camels - hump
  • stores fat to reduce body temperature
• What is an extremophile?

  organisms that live in environments which are very extreme, such as at high temperature, pressure, or salt concentration.
• photosynthetic organisms are the producers of biomass for life on Earth
• What is the role of the producer in the energy flow shown in the image?

  Converts sunlight and carbon dioxide into energy-rich organic compounds
• What are the key functions of decomposers?

  • Recycling materials
  • Making space for new life
• What do decomposers break down?

  Dead plants and animals
• What are the key differences between herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores?

  • Herbivores: Only eat plants
  • Carnivores: Only eat animals
  • Omnivores: Eat both plants and animals
• How do producers create their own food?

  Using sunlight through photosynthesis
• How do producers benefit from decomposers?

  They use released nutrients to grow
• What is the process called that producers use to convert light energy?

  Photosynthesis
• How do consumers and producers interact in an ecosystem?

  Consumers rely on producers for energy
• What are the main components of the energy flow shown in the image?

  • Sun
  • Carbon dioxide
  • Producer (e.g. plant)
  • Primary consumer (e.g. rodent)
  • Secondary consumer (e.g. snake)
  • Tertiary consumer (e.g. bird)
  • Decomposer (e.g. mushroom)
• How do decomposers interact with producers and consumers?

  • They work together in a continuous cycle
  • Decomposers recycle nutrients for producers
  • Consumers rely on producers for energy
• What do omnivores consume?

  Both plants and animals
• What are the three types of consumers?

  • Herbivores: eat only plants
  • Carnivores: eat other animals
  • Omnivores: eat both plants and animals
• What are producers in an ecosystem?

  Organisms that create their own food
• What do carnivores eat?

  Other animals
• What role do producers play in ecosystems?

  • Create their own food via photosynthesis
  • Serve as the energy source for consumers
  • Form the base of the food chain
• What is the cycle of energy and materials in the food web?

  • Producers create energy
  • Primary consumers eat producers
  • Secondary consumers eat primary consumers
  • Tertiary consumers eat secondary consumers
  • Decomposers break down dead organisms
  • Nutrients return to soil for producers
• What do decomposers release back into the ecosystem?

  Nutrients
• What is the source of energy in the image?

  Sun
• What do herbivores eat?

  Only plants
• What do all consumer types rely on for energy?

  Producers
• How do producers convert sunlight into energy?

  Through the process of photosynthesis