9.1 & 9.2

• What does an ecosystem include?

  All of the living things in the area interacting with each other and their non-living environments
• What is the biotic component of an ecosystem?

  The living component of an ecosystem
• Give an example of a biotic component.

  Trees
• What does abiotic refer to in an ecosystem?

  The non-living components of an ecosystem
• Provide an example of an abiotic component.

  Water
• What is a population in ecological terms?

  One group of individuals belonging to the same species living in a specific area at the same time
• Give an example of a population.

  Human population
• What is a community in an ecosystem?

  The sum of the different species inhabiting a specific habitat at one time
• What is a habitat?

  The environment or area where an individual or species lives within an ecosystem
• Provide an example of a habitat.

  Tropical rainforest
• What does genetic diversity refer to?

  The range of different inherited traits within a population of a species, or an entire species
• Why is genetic diversity important for a population?

  It allows a population to adapt to changing environments
• How can genetic diversity arise?

  Through changes to an individual’s DNA called mutations
• What are mutations?

  Changes to an individual’s DNA that can contribute to genetic diversity
• What happens to most mutations?

  Most mutations are either harmful or have no impact at all
• What is a good mutation?

  A mutation that provides an advantage, such as pesticide resistance in insects
• How does pesticide resistance illustrate genetic diversity?

  Some insects survive due to mutations that provide resistance, passing this trait to their offspring
• What is the danger of low genetic diversity?

  It limits the variety of alleles for genes within a species, reducing adaptability
• What can cause low genetic diversity?

  Habitat loss
• What can happen if genetic diversity gets too low?

  Species risk becoming extinct due to inbreeding and failure to adapt
• How can a population be saved from low genetic diversity?

  By introducing new alleles
• What does competition in an ecosystem arise from?

  Limited resources
• What resources do organisms compete for in an ecosystem?

  Food, water, shelter, and mates
• What is meant by 'survival of the fittest'?

  It refers to the competition for survival among organisms with advantageous adaptations
• What is an adaptation?

  A feature of an organism that increases its chances of survival in its environment
• What are the three types of adaptations?

  • Structural adaptations: anatomical or physical features (e.g., color, size, shape)
  • Physiological adaptations: internal body functions (e.g., metabolic rate, urine concentration)
  • Behavioural adaptations: how an organism behaves (e.g., being nocturnal, courtship rituals)
• What do structural adaptations concern?

  Anatomical or physical features of an organism
• What do physiological adaptations involve?

  Internal body functions
• What do behavioural adaptations concern?

  How an organism behaves or acts