Ecological niches?

Ecological niche?

The role and position a species has in the environment including abitoc and biotic factors

3 abiotic factors influencing species niches?

• Water availability

• Temperature

Autotrophs?

Organisms that produce their own food through photosynthes

Heterotrophs?

Organisms that consume other organisms for energy

Niche?

The ecological role of an organism in its envrioment

Multidimensional niche?

The combination of all abiotic and biotic factors that define a species role and positon in an ecosystem

3 biotic factors that influence species niches?

• Predation

• Competition

• Symbiosis

Generalist?

Broad range of tolerance to food

Specialist?

Small range of tolerance for food

Obligate aerobes?

Oxygen must be continuously available through aerobic respiration

Oblique anaerobes?

Conditions must not have oxygen (breath anaerobic or aerobic)

Thylakoid membranes?

Flattened membrane sacs within chloroplasts where light dependent reactions occur

Holozic nutriton

Organisms ingest, digest and absorb solid food

5 stages of holozoic nutrition?

• Ingestion

• Digestion

• Absorption

• Egestion

How omnivores carnivores and herbivores adapt for Holozic nutriton

• Herbivores- long digestive tracts

• Carnivores - Sharp teeth and claws

• Omnivores - Versatile dentine

Autotrophic nutrition?

Producing their own food

Suprotrophic nutrition?

Nutrients absorbed from decaying matter

Mixitrophy?

Nutritional strategy where organisms use both autotrophic and heterotrophic methods

Facultative mixtrophs?

Switching between autotrophic and heterotrophic modes depending on environmental conditions

Obligate mixotrops?

Can switch between autotrophic and heterotrophic modes

Saprotrophs?

Organisms that feed on dead or decaying organic matter through external digestion and absorption

Characteristics of Saprotrophs nutriton?

• External digestion- Secreting enzymes out of cell

• Nutrient absorption - Nutrients absorbed as simple molecules

• Decomposer role - Convert complex organic compounds into simpler forms to be used by other organisms

Archaea?

Unicellular organisms consisting of a single cell

Applications of Saprotrophs?

• composting

• Bioremealtion

• Industrial fermentation

Archaea metabolic pathways?

• Phototropic - Pathways that capture light energy

• Chemotropic - Pathways that derive energy from inorganic chemicals

• Heterotrophic - Pathways that obtain energy from organic compounds

Hominade?

A family of primates including great apes and humans

How does and organisms teeth help us understand them?

• Better understanding of ecological roles

• Better understanding of evolutionary pressures

• Better understanding of social behaviors

Hominade adaptations to teeth?

• Herbivores - Large flat molars for grinding, reduced canines robust jaw structures

• Omnivores - Sharper incisors and canines, flat molar and moderate jaw strength

Secondary metabolism?

Chemical compounds produced by plants that not essential for basic metabolism

What are plants defenses against herbivores?

• Spines and thorns

• Smooth waxy surfaces

Detoxification mechanisms?

Enzymes that herbivores use that neutralize toxic compounds in plants

What are structural adaptations for predators and prey?

Changes to psychical structures

What are chemical adaptations for predators and prey?

Chemical adaptations that subdue prey

What are behavioural adaptations for predators and prey?

Diffrent strategies to hunt and defend

What strategies do plants use to obtain light in difficult ecosystems?

• Dominant leading shoots for rapid growth

• Lianas climbing trees for support

• Thin leaves to reduce the distance light travels

• Understory plants adapt to low light conditions through large thin leaves high chlorophyl

Fundamental niche?

The full range of environment conditions and resources an organism can theoretically use without competing

Realized niche?

The actual set of conditions and resources a species uses in the presence of competiton

Competitive exclusion?

The concept that two species competing for the same limited resources cannot co-exist

Resource portioning?

When species evolve to use different parts of their fundamental niche to reduce competition