F - Genetics, populations, evolution and ecosystems

what are the differences between abiotic and biotic

abiotic - non living factors of an ecosystem (rivers, geology, biomes)

biotic - living components of an ecosystem (plants, animals, and microorganisms.)

what are the animal collections in decreasing size order

biosphere (LARGEST)

biome

ecosystem

community

population

habitat (SMALLEST)

What is a biosphere

the living part of the earth and its immediate atmosphere that supports life, including all ecosystems and living organisms.

Everything on earth is within one biosphere

what is a biome

• subunits of the biosphere

• around 40 on earth

• aquatic and terrestrial

• defined by the living organisms and their interactions with their environment

• eg. rainforests, deserts, tundras, grasslands.

what is an ecosystem

*stable community of multiple organisms interacting with each other and their environment (abiotic factors)

*stable - can be self-sufficient and survive without any external interactions

what is a community

all populations sharing the same habitat.

Communities can vary in size and complexity, containing diverse species relationships such as predation, competition, and symbiosis.

what is a population

a group of individuals of the same species living in a particular area.

what is a habitat

the natural environment where organisms live, providing resources such as food, water, and shelter.

‘non-living surroundings’

what is meant by NICHE

• The area of a habitat that is occupied by one species

• as well as what a species eat

• what predators the species have

• governed by the adaptations of the species

‘the role of a species in its ecosystem, encompassing its interactions with other organisms and the environment.

what is meant by the competitive exclusion principle

two species CANNOT have the same exact niche in one habitat and stably coexist.

the more similar two species’ niches are, the less able they are to coexist as they will compete for the same resources.

what are the biotic components of an ecosystem

• intra/inter specific competition

• disease

• predation

• mutual relationships

• commensal relationships

• parasitic relationships

intra vs inter specific competition

inter - competition between different species

intra - competition within the same species for resources.

what is predation

is a biological interaction where a predator feeds on its living prey, impacting the population dynamics of both species.

what is mutualism

Mutualism is a symbiotic relationship between two species in which both parties benefit, enhancing survival and reproduction for each organism involved.

what is commensalism

Commensalism is a type of symbiotic relationship where one species benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed, allowing for coexistence without direct competition.

what is parasitism

Parasitism is a symbiotic relationship in which one organism, the parasite, benefits at the expense of another organism, the host, often harming it in the process.

what are abiotic components of an ecosystem

• climate factors

• edaphic factors

• topographical factors

• aquatic factors

what is a limiting factor

A limiting factor is an environmental condition that restricts the growth, abundance, or distribution of an organism or a population within an ecosystem.

eg. availability of resources, such as food or water, and environmental conditions like temperature and light.

what is carrying capacity

The carrying capacity is the maximum population size of a species that an environment can sustain indefinitely without degrading the habitat, considering factors such as resources and competition.