Ecology - questions 1-20

What is a population?

A group of organisms that are the same species and live in the same area.

What is a community?

The different organism in an ecosystem that depend on each other.

What is meant by the term ‘stable community’?

Where the species ans environmental factors in a habitual are in balance, so the population remains stable.

What is a habitat?

The place where an organism lives.

What is an ecosystem?

The interaction of a community of living organisms (biotic) with non living (abiotic) parts of their environment.

What is interdependence?

Within a community, each species depends on other species for survival. If one species is removed, it can affect the whole community.

What do the arrows in a food chain represent?

The transfer of energy between organisms.

What is a producer?

A green plant that makes food for the rest of the food web by photosynthesis.

What is a primary consumer?

An animal that eats producers.

What is a secondary consumer?

An animal that eats primary consumers.

What is a tertiary consumer?

An animals that eats secondary consumers.

What term is given to an animal that is hunted and eaten by others?

Prey.

What term is given to an animal that hunts ans eats another animal?

Predator.

Name 3 biotic factors that can affect a community.

Availability of food, predators, pathogens.

Name 3 abiotic factors that can affect a community.

Light intensity, temperature, moisture levels.

What do animals compete with each other for?

Food, mates and territory.

What do plants compete with each other for?

Space, light water and mineral ions.

What is an extremophile?

Organisms that can tolerate extreme conditions.

Name 3 adaptations animals living in cold environments have.

Small SA:V ratio (reduce heat loss), small ears (reduce heat loss), thick fur (layer of insulating air, reduce heat loss).

Name 3 adaptations animals have to deter predators.

Horns (defence), colouring (camouflage/appear poisonous), large ears (hear predators better).