Ecology

• What is a habitat?

  Place where an organism lives
• What is a population?

  All the organisms of one species living in a habitat
• What is a community


  The populations of different species living together in a habitat
• What is an ecosystem?

  The interaction of a community of living organisms (biotic) with the non-living (abiotic) parts of their environment
• What do organism need to survive and reproduce

  Require a supply of other materials from their surroundings and the other living organisms there
• What do plants compete for?

  Light

  water

  mineral ions from soil

  space
• What do animals compete for?

  Food, mates and territory
• What is interdependence?


  When species rely on each other for food, shelter, pollination, seed dispersal etc
• What is a stable community?

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

  nonliving factors
• Examples of abiotic factors

  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 biotic factors?

  living things
• Examples of biotic factors

  availability of food

  new predators

  new pathogens

  One species outcompeting another so the numbers aren't sufficient to breed
• What are the different types of adaptations

  structural, behavioral, functional
• What are structural adaptations

  Physical features of an organism that help them survive in their environment
• What are behavioural adaptations

  Ways the organisms behave
• What are functional adaptations

  Processes inside an organism

  E.g. metabolism and reproductive system
• What are extremophiles?


  Organisms that can live in extreme conditions such as high pressure, high salt concentration, or high temperatures
• What is an example of an extremophile

  Bacteria living in deep sea vents

  Archaea
• What is the first member of a food chain

  Producer
• What is a producer

  photosynthetic organism
• What do producers do?

  Synthesises molecules whihc makes glucose by photosynthesis
• What is the second part of a food chain

  Primary consumer - eats producer
• What is the third part of a food chain

  Secondary consumer - eats primary consumer
• What is the fourth part of a food chain

  Tertiary consumer - eats secondary consumer
• What happens in a stable community

  The numbers of predators and prey rise and fall in cycles
• What does the carbon cycle do

  Returns carbon from organisms to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide to be used by plants in photosynthesis
• What does the water cycle do

  Provides fresh water for plants and animals on land before draining into seas

  Water is continuously evaporated and precipitated
• Which material are recycled in the environment

  Mineral ions

  Water

  Nitrogen

  Oxygen

  Carbon