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97 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Ecosystem
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A reasonably self-contained area together with all its living organisms.
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Habitat
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The physical or abiotic part of an ecosystem, i.e. a defined area with specific characteristics where the organisms live, e.g. oak forest, deep sea, sand dune, rocky shore, moorland, hedgerow, garden pond, etc.
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Community
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The living or biotic part of an ecosystem, i.e. all the organisms of all the different species living in one habitat.
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Biotic
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Any living or biological factor.
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Abiotic
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Any non-living or physical factor.
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Population
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The members of the same species living in one habitat.
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Species
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A group of organisms that can successfully interbreed
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Producer
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An organism that produces food from carbon dioxide and water using photosynthesis. Can be plant, algae, plankton or bacteria.
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Consumer
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An animal that eats other organisms
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Herbivore
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A consumer that eats plants (= primary consumer).
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Carnivore
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A consumer that eats other animals (= secondary consumer).
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Top carnivore
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A consumer at the top of a food chain with no predators.
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Omnivore
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A consumer that eats plants or animals.
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Vegetarian
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A human that chooses not to eat animals (humans are omnivores)
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Autotroph
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An organism that manufactures its own food (= producer)
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Heterotroph
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An organism that obtains its energy and mass from other organisms
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Plankton
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Microscopic marine organisms.
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Phytoplankton
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“Plant plankton” i.e. microscopic marine producers.
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Zooplankton
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“Animal plankton” i.e. microscopic marine consumers.
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Predator
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An animal that hunts and kills animals for food.
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Prey
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An animal that is hunted and killed for food.
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Scavenger
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An animal that eats dead animals, but doesn't kill them
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Detritus
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Dead and waste matter that is not eaten by consumers
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Carrion
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Alternative word for detritus
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Decomposer
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An organism that consumes detritus (= detrivores + saprophytes)
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Detrivore
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An animal that eats detritus.
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Saprophyte
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A microbe (bacterium or fungus) that lives on detritus.
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Symbiosis
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Organisms living together in a close relationship (mutualism).
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Mutualism
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Two organisms living together for mutual benefit.
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Commensalism
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Relationship in which only one organism benefits
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Parasite
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An organism that feeds on a larger living host organism, harming it
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Pathogen
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A microbe that causes a disease.
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Ecosystem
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An ecosystem is a group of biotic components that interact with one another, as well as with abiotic components to maintain a balance.
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Species
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A group of similar organisms that interbreed successfully, producing fertile offspring
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Populations
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A group of potentially interbreeding individuals of a single species living in one habitat
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Communities
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All the biotic components of the ecosystem, a group of populations of plants and living animals living in the same habitat
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Habitat
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The physical environmental living place of an organism, which provides for most of its needs
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Biosphere
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The part of the Earth containing living organisms, the soil, water bodies, and atmosphere
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Biomass
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The amount of organic matter in the organism
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Pyramid of Biomass
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Amount of organic matter at each biophic level, which decreases up the food chain
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Ecological Efficiency
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The percentage of energy transferred from one trophic level to the next varies between 5% and 20%. An average figure of 10% is often used.
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Toxicity
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How poisonous it is to target and non-target organism
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Biomagnification
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Other chemicals are long lived, which means that they remain in the environment for a long time. These may be pesticides, radioactive isotopes, heavy metals, pharmaceuticals and industrial chemicals. They become more concentrated as they move up through the food chain. They are not excreted and remain in the fatty tissue of the organism.
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Ecological Niche
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The functional position of a species in its ecosystem; how it responds to the distribution of resources and how it , in turn, alters those resources for other species.
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Fundamental Niche
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The full range of environmental conditions (biological and physical) under which an organism can exist.
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Mesophytes
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Plants adapted to a habitat with adequate water
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Xerophytes
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Plants adapted to a dry habitat
-Smaller fatter leaves, shiny waxy cuticle -Cactuses, desert grasses -Small leaf surface area –less surface area for evaporation -Low stomata density -Sunken stomata- so not as much water gets lost(maintains humid air around stomata) -Stomatal hairs (trichomes) – maintains humid air around stomata -Rolled leaves – maintains humid air around stomata -Extensive roots – maximized water uptake |
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Halophytes
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Plants adapted to a salty habitat
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Hydrophytes
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Plants adapted to a freshwater habitat
-Used to a lot of water, ether partially or fully submerged. Leaf undersurface of the tree fern… E.g. Water lily • Reduced root system as can obtain nitrogen and phosphorus from water • Thin leaves and flat to increase surface area for photosynthesis • Thin or absent cuticle |
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Decomposer
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Play a crucial role in breaking down (decomposing) and recycling nutrients in the ecosystem
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Factors affecting survival
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Biotic Factors
• Predation • Disease • Competition • Collaborators Abiotic Factors • Climate • Weather • Substrate or medium e.g. soil or water |
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Autotrophs/Autotrophic feeders
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Can produce their own food. They are the producers in the food chain. All autotrophs take simple inorganic molecules (e.g. H2O) and turn them into complex organic molecules such as carbohydrates, proteins and lipids(fats).
There are two main types of autotrophs Photosynthetic Using the process of photosynthesis to produce their food. Plants and some bacteria use the sun’s energy and chlorophyll to produce glucose. 6CO2 + 12H2O + solar energy → C6H12O6 + 6O2 + 6H2O Chemosynthetic Using chemical reactions to produce their food e.g. anaerobic bacteria. |
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Heterotrophs/ Heterotrophic Feeders
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dependent on other organisms. Heterotrophs take in organic mater that has been produce by other organisms, because of this they can be called consumers. They consume a producer directly or indirectly. They rely on other organisms for food.
Types are: carnivore, parasite, herbivore, omnivore, scavenger, detritivore, decomposer. |
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Bioaccumulation
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• When one organism eats another all the chemicals, not just the nutrients are consumed
• Sometimes harmful substances are present in an environment and these can enter the food chain |
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Stomata
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Tiny little openings on the surface of plants which allow it to take in and excrete things e.g. water, (co2 -> Oxygen)?
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Adaptions
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Anything that helps an organism survive in its environment is an adaptation.
3 main kinds STRUCTURAL A structural adaptation refers to the shape or size of the body or body structures e.g. -teeth -body coverings -movement -protective coloration FUNCTIONAL/PHYSIOLOGICAL These relate to the way an organisms body functions - e.g. sweating, production of urine, patterns of blood flow etc. e.g. -production of concentrated urine when water is scarce (and vica versa) -sweating and shivering BEHAVIOURAL These relate to how an organism responds to stimuli e.g. -burrowing in the sand when hot -sitting in the sun when cold 5 types: mimicry, social, protective, migration, hibernation |
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Mimicry
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Mimicry allows one animal to look, sound, or act like another animal to fool predators into thinking it is poisonous or dangerous.
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Social
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Social-animals may live alone or in groups
may be learnt or instinctive |
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Protective
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Protection- possums play dear, rabbit freezes
the way in which an animal behaves to protect itself. may be learnt or instinctive |
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Migration
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This is when behavioural adaptation involves an animal or group of animals moving from one region to another and then back again. animals migrate for different reasons e.g.
better climate beter food safe place to live safe lace to raise young go back to the place they were born |
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Hibernation
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This is a deep sleep in which animals body temperature drops, body activities are slowed to conserve energy, living off body fat. e.g. bats, woodchucks, and bears.
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List and explain the 3 roots of mangroves
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Prop roots
Descend from the trunk supplement the oxygen uptake from the pneumatophores and act like buttresses, providing additional support fro the tree in the soft mud. Cable roots Radiate from the trunk, about 20-30 cm below the surface. Growing off these radial roots are fine feeding roots which create a stable platform Pneumatophores Pencil like breathing roots, extending 25-30cm above the surface of the mud. They arise from the cable roots. The inside of the root is composed of spongy tissue filled with air from the lenticels(pits) in the waterproof bark. Oxygen diffuses through the spongy tissue and spreads to the rest of the plant. |
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List some adaptions of mangroves
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Low oxygen content in soil- pneumatophores get to the more oxygenated areas of the soil, water or stick out into the air
•High salinity: 1. Specialised tissues that allow water in but not salts 2. Salt builds up in the leaves, leaves drop off 3. Excrete salt out of glands in the leaves |
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Symbiosis
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In symbiosis at least one member of the pair benefits from the relationship. The other member may be
• injured = parasitism • relatively unaffected = commensalism • may also benefit = mutualism |
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Parasitism
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a parasite is an organism that lives on or in the body of another organism (the host) from whose tissues it gets its nourishment, and to whom It does some damage
one benefits, the other is harmed |
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Commensalism
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Commensalism means two animals work together having no impact on one another. One benefits, other is unaffected.
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Mutualism
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Both organisms benefit from this interaction
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Cooperation
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Both benefit but not essential for survival
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Ammensalism
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One organism inhibits the growth of the other
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Competition
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Where two individuals of groups compete for the same resource (food, space, water)
• Interspecific competition Competition between different species. Less common form of competition as different species find their own niche When two species share a similar niche, or they cross over, competition occurs. A common cause is due to the introduction of foreign species. E.g. Vulture and hyena over carcass, lions and cheetah over prey • Intraspecific competition Competition between the same species Most common Most populations can grow in size until they reach their carrying capacity, where the resources get limited and competition is common. Food, water, space, mates |
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Predation
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Predator – prey relationships are interspecific mostly
Many adaptations to both parties, predators to catch the prey, prey to avoid or escape the predator |
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Itinerant Community (transient)
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A moving community often based on a resource e.g. food, shelter
-Animals around a water hole |
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Stable community
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When the physical conditions remain constant over a period of time, the same species of organisms are likely to be found e.g. rainforest
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Aggregation
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A grouping that is temporary and based on a resource. The group disappears once the resource is used up.
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Colony
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A grouping based on physical links where the individuals are organized and co-operative e.g. corals, algae and jellyfish
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Advantages and disadvantages of a society or social group
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These groups may be simple( a pair of birds nest building and rearing young) or complex (bees in a hive)
Advantages Reproduction is easier Cooperation Mutualism Hunting- packs make it easier Protection Disadvantages Work harder so they can provide for the whole society Shared food source-more competition Competition or aggression over mates Competition for space One has to be a leader –aggression |
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list the 4 types of Social behavior
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Is concerned with the organization of the society. It inevitable involves the actions and reactions of individuals as in:
Aggressive behavior; including defense of territories, establishment of dominance Cooperation including rearing of young, division of labor Passive competition food and shelter Communication |
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Organization
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In the society is directed to help the individuals or the society survive
Factors in social organization include: -Spacing -Division of labor -Communication |
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Spacing
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Individuals tend to occupy their own niche within the area either for living or moving or contributing e.g. work drones in a bees hive are not found everywhere in a hive
Home range- the wider area over which an animal or group of animals may roam, hunt and sleep. A home range is undefended. |
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Territory
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is the area regularly inhabited by an individual (or group) as with the home range- but the territory will be a smaller area which is defended
Territorial behavior may extend over a lifetime or it may be seasonal. It may be over a fairly large area or merely a space for reproduction. It may include food supply. Territorial defense may be aggressive or ritualistic or a combination of both. Territorial boundaries are not always fixed, they are subject to continual interactions between opposing groups. Individuals are also expelled when the group become too large to be sustained by available resources. |
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Division of labor
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Where different individuals perform specific tasks there is a division of labor
This may be based on sex castes where individuals are of several different structural and behavioral types hierarchies where the behavior of individuals is based on dominance relationship within the group leaderships |
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Communication
(4 types) |
There are various types of signals:
Pheromones- are chemical signals that are produced by individuals that affect the behavior of others of the same species e.g. ant trails, territory marking. Sounds often produced by a particular animal under particular circumstances e.g. warning call, mating call, territorial defense calls Touching e.g. grooming Visual Signals courtship dances, round dance in bees |
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What are influences of population size?
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: ratio of males to females, fertility, age structure (amount of organisms of different ages).
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Population distribution
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the location of, and how the animals are spread out in that area
Even: penguins Clumped: animals that live near water holes Random: animals that live alone |
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What is Carrying Capacity and what happens when it is exceeded?
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The maximum number of individuals that a particular area can hold (sometimes called the saturation level).
When carrying capacity is exceeded, overcrowding results and the competition for resources increases. This can result in rapid decline in population due to disease, less frequent mating, less parental care and build up of wastes. |
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Population change can be calculated by:
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(births + immigration) – (death + emigration) per unit time
r = (B+I) – (D+E) r= rate of population growth in an increasing population, the births and immigration number is greater than death and emigration number. In a decreasing population, births and immigration number is lower than death and emigration number. In a stable/equilibrium population the births and immigration number is the same as death and emigration number. |
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What is population size limited by?
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Density dependant factors:
-disease -competition -predators -parasites -food -crowding -the greater the population, the greater effect these factors have Density-independent factors -volcanic eruptions/natural disasters -temperature -storms -floods -drought -chemical pesticides -major habitat disruption -most abiotic factors |
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List 6 facts about the carbon cycle
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-found in living things and the atmosphere, rocks, shells, fossil fuels
-plants and trees use it in photosynthesis -animals and humans give it out when they breathe -transformation transportation decomposition photosynthesis respiration -levels of carbon increase due to deforestation and burning of fossil feuls, as more carbon is released than the land and water can absorb. -Contributes to climate change. |
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Human activity- introduced species
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Are often better adapted or more tolerant of conditions than native species. Many introduced species were predators and in the absence of them their own natural enemies flourished. Introduced species lead to vigorous competition for resources and the extinction of native species.
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Human impacts-Over Grazing
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Leads to erosion and the ‘selecion’ of less favored plants- noxious weeds
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Human impacts- Dammed Rivers
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And/or artesian bores ensure water supple for domestic animals. This led to an increase in some natural species, and introduced species because there was a greater accessibility to water. Increased irrigation without regard for salination
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Human impacts- Failure to replace minerals
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Minerals are extracted by the plants and then shipped out of the ecosystem- Especially in the production of grain crops. Little use of crop rotation and extensive use of artificial fertilized. In agricultural ecosystems there is considerable input (fertilisers) and considerable output (crops) but relatively little recycling
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Human impacts- Used of persticides
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Has led to resistant strains and indiscriminately killed no target species. It has also led to biological magnification (accumulation).
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Human impacts- Hunting
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Some species are hunter for food, pelts, and control to protect domestic livestock. This has lead to extinction or drastically reduced numbers as to put the species at risk.
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Human impacts- Urban ecosystems
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- are essentially greater users of energy
- there is little natural input – and a huge input from other ecosystems (mainly agricultural) - there is a huge output- much of it to other ecosystems e.g. sewerage into marine ecosystems - much of the output is potentially lethal to organisms - there is little recycling of matter and a huge use of energy - the accumulation of non-biodegradable materials threatens the biosphere |
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Ecological succession
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a fundamental concept in ecology, refers to more or less predictable and orderly changes in the composition or structure of an ecological community.
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Define succession and explain it
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The progressive replacement of one dominant type of species or community by another in an ecosystem until a stable climax community is established.
Succession may be initiated either by formation of new, unoccupied habitat (e.g., a lava flow or a severe landslide) or by some form of disturbance (e.g. fire, severe windthrow, logging) of an existing community. Succession that begins in areas where no soil is initially present is called primary succession, whereas succession that begins in areas where soil is already present is called secondary succession. |
