Ecology

Cards (9)

  • An ecosystem is the interaction of a community of living organisms with the non-living parts of their environment
  • 4 levels of organisation
    Individual organism: a single member of a species
    Population: a number of individuals of the same species living in the same area at the same time
    Community: multiple populations of different species living and interacting in the same area
    Ecosystem: the interaction of a community of living organisms with the non-living parts of their environment
  • Competition: The struggle for the same limited resources between a group of organisms.
    Can be between members of the same species or between members of different species
  • Adaptation: If an organism has certain features, behaviours or other characteristics that help it to survive and reproduce in its habitat, its said to be adapted to its habitat
  • Examples of ecosystems
    • A garden pond
    • A woodland
    • A coral reef
    • A desert
  • Interactions within an ecosystem
    In order to survive and reproduce, organisms need certain resources from their surroundings
    This means members of a species will often interact with members of its own species or other species
    Examples of these interactions:
    • Predators eating prey
    • Herbivores eating plants
    • Plant species being pollinated by bees
  • Examples of competition in Plants
    • Light - photosynthesis in order to get energy for growth
    • Space - require space above soil so leaves can absorb maximum sunlight, and under soil so leaves can absorb water and mineral ions
    • Water from soil- essential for photosynthesis and plant growth
    • Mineral ions from soil - such as nitrate ions for making proteins and magnesium ions for making chlorophyll
  • Examples of competition in animals
    • Food - provides energy required for growth and reproduction
    • Mates- to produce offspring
    • Territory - providing animals with shelter, food, water and mates
  • Interdependence
    Within a community, each species depends on other species for food, shelter, pollination and seed dispersal
    If one species is removed it can affect the whole species - interdependence
    A stable community is one where all the species and environmental factors are in balance so that the population sizes remain fairly constant