Topic 5 - Ecology And Evolution

species: a group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring

the environment in which a species normally lives or the location of a living organism

a group of organisms of the same species who live in the same area at the same time

a group of populations living and interacting with each other in an area

a community and its abiotic environment

The study of relationships between living organisms and between organisms and their environment

an organism that makes its organic molecules from simple inorganic substances

an organism that obtains organic molecules from other organisms

an organism that eats other organic matter that is living or recently dead.

an organism that ingests non-living organic matter

an organism that lives on or in non-living organic matter, secreting digestive enzymes into it and absorbing the products of digestion

The level at which and organism feeds in a food chain (e.g producers - trophic level 1)

Sun light is the initial energy source for almost all communities.

A feeding relationship between carnivores, herbivores and producers.

is formed of interconnected food chains

Saprotrophic bacteria and fungi (decomposers)

Energy is always lost between one trophic level and the next. The energy is: used (respiration), not absorbed (not digested and passed through the faeces), not consumed - not all organisms at each trophic level are eaten.

Carbon dioxide,
Water vapour,
Oxides of nitrogen,
Methane,
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).

If the effects of human-induced activity would be very large, perhaps catastrophic, those responsible for the change must prove that it will do NO harm before proceeding.

- Loss of habitats and extensive flooding
- increased rated of decomposition of detritus previously trapped in permafrost (releases CO2 and methane)
-changes in the distribution of prey species affecting the higher trophic levels
- increased success of pest species including pathogens

Mortality and emigration

It demonstrate population growth. The three phases are:
1) The exponential growth phase
2) The transitional phase
3) The plateau phase

During exponential growth, there are no great limitations on growth. The rate of natality and immigration exceeds the rate of mortality and emigration. There are adequate nutrients and little waste has accumulated.

The natality rate has started to fall but still exceeds the mortality and emigration rate. Less resources become a limiting factor.

Kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species

Animalia, chordata, mammalia, primates, homindae, homo, sapiens

The genus + species

- No roots or cuticles
- mosses have simple leaf-like structure
- liveworts have a flat leaf structure called a thallus

- they have roots and cuticles
- non-woody stems
- leaves arranged in fronds

- can be shrubs to very large trees
- woody roots and stem
- leaves
- produce seeds

- can be herbaceous plants, shrubs or trees
- contain vascular bundle
- produce seeds
- leaves are elaborate structures with a waxy epidermis and stomata

- no specific body shape,
- lack tissue and organs
- no mouth/anus

- bilaterally symmetric
- single entrance
- body wall is made up of two cell layers

-segmented body
-bilaterally symmetric
-mouth and anus

-soft, flexible boyd with no obvious segmentation,
-many have a single/double shell
-have head, foot and visceral hump

-segmented body
-bilaterally symmetric
-hard exoskeleton
-appendages