Topic 7A Ecology

• What is the definition of abiotic factors?

  The non-living part of the environment
• What is the definition of biotic factors?

  The living factors in an environment
• What are some examples of abiotic factors?

  • Soil pH
  • Soil moisture
  • Temperature
  • Light intensity
  • Wind intensity and direction
  • Water oxygen concentration
  • Carbon dioxide levels
  • Soil mineral content
• How is soil moisture measured?

  By weighing the wet soil, drying it in an oven, then weighing the dry soil
• How is temperature measured in the environment?

  Using a thermometer
• What instrument is used to measure light intensity?

  A light meter
• What are the two types of competition in biotic factors?

  Interspecific and intraspecific competition
• What is interspecific competition?

  Competition between species
• What is intraspecific competition?

  Competition within a species
• What is a population in ecological terms?

  The number of individuals of the same species
• What is a community in ecological terms?

  The number of individuals of two or more species
• What is a habitat?

  The place an organism lives
• What is an ecosystem?

  The interactions of all the abiotic and biotic factors in an environment
• What does interdependence mean in ecology?

  Where one organism relies on the presence of another organism to survive
• What characterizes a stable environment?

  An ecosystem where the population remains constant from one year to the next
• What is adaptation in ecological terms?

  A feature that helps an organism to be successful in a specific environment
• What do animals compete for?

  • Food
  • Territory (space/habitats)
  • Mates
• What do plants compete for?

  • Light
  • Water
  • Minerals (e.g., nitrates, potassium)
• Why is it important for samples to be random in ecological studies?

  To avoid bias
• Why does the sample size need to be large in ecological studies?

  To be representative and accurate