3.1 Ecosystems

Biodiversity

The total variety amongst all living things on earth

Ecosystem

All the organisms living in a particular area and the non-living components with which they interact

Species

A group of genetically similar organisms that can interbreed to produce fertile offspring

Population

A group of organisms of one species living in an area

Community

All of the plants and animals that are living in one area

Habitat

The place where an organism lives

Niche

The role that an organism plays in a community

Producer

Green plants that are able to produce their own food by converting light energy from the sun into chemical energy by photosynthesis

Consumer

Obtain their own energy by consuming other plants or animals

Carnivore

An animal that only eats meat

Herbivore

An animal that only eats plants

Omnivore

An animal which eats both plants and animals

Food chain

Begins with a green plant (the producer) It shows a relationship where one organism feeds on the previous one.

Each arrow indicates the flow of energy

Food web

A more complex relationship and is composed of several inter-related food chains

Competition

Occurs when a particular resource is in short supply

Green plants compete for

Light, water, nutrients

Animals compete for

Water, food, mates, nesting sites

Interspecific competition

Occurs amongst individuals of different species competing for one or a few of thr resources they require

Intraspecific

Occurs amongst individuals of the same species competing for all required resources

Which is more competitive and why

Intraspecific because they compete for all the same resources