Module 4- Ecosystem Dynamics ( Part 1)

Pregunta	Respuesta
Abiotic Factors	Non-living components that influence on parts of an environment and the functioning of their ecosystems
Common Abiotic factors	Climate, soil type, altitude, latitude and oxygen.
Anemometer	Measures wind speed
Thermometer	Measures temperature
Barometer	Measures atmospheric pressure
Rain Gauge	Measures falling rain
pH Meter/ Litmus paper	Measures pH ( alkaline/ acidic)
Dissolved Oxygen content	Dissolved oxygen content
Biotic factors	Are living, or once living organisms in an ecosystem
Examples of Biotic factors	Human influence, pathogens and disease outbreaks
Distinguish between biotic and abiotic factors	Biotic factors- Any living component that effects another organism, an ecosystem or a population. Abiotic factors- Any non living components that impact an organism in an ecosystem.
Predator vs. Prey	The predator kills or eats an organism ( aka. the prey)
Example of predator-prey relationships in nature ( Both species present.)	The wooly aphid ( a pest in apple trees) American Wasp introduced
Predator efficiency at catching prey	It is detrimental that predators stay efficent so that the population of their prey remains stable.
Amensalism ( - / 0 )	Two species- one is harmed while the other species is unaffected.
Examples of Amensalism	Competition and Antibiosis ( aka. Allelopathy )
Competition	Organisms or species attempt to comepete for a share of limited resources
Meaning of 'competition for resources'	A struggle for a particular resource
Short vs. long term effects of competition	Short term: Changes in abundance and distribution Long term: Endangered or extinction
Allelopathy ( Antibiosis)	Discretion of a chemical substance to inhibit the growth and survival of another.
Types of organisms that use Allelopathy	Casuarina and Black walnut trees ( plants), fungi, bacteria, coral and algae.
Commensalism ( +/ 0)	A symbiotic relationship where one organisms benefits while the other is unharmed.
Examples of commensalism	Shark + Remora fish: Fish gets a food source and shark is unaffected Barnacles found on the shell of molluscs: The barnacles adhere to the shell + finding a habitat + food source. The Invertebrate animals are unharmed.
Mutualism ( +/+)	Both organisms benefit.
Examples of Mutualism	Oxpeckers + Zebra: Birds eat parasites that live on skin= pest control Plants + Insect pollinator: Pollinators help complete the plant reproductive cycle = food.
How do root nodules aid the survival of many Australian plants?	Bacteria living in the root nodules provide nitrogen to the plant.
Parasitism (+/-) / Parasite/ Host	Parasitism is when one species benefits and the other is harmed. eg. Ticks and fleas on dogs
Ectoparasite	Lives off the outside of the host feeding on hair, feather, scales, skin or blood. Eg. Crab louse
Endoparasite	Lives internally in digestive or respiratory tracts or tissues. eg. Hook worm
Intraspecific Competition	Competition between members of the same species. eg. Bulls defending their territories and resources.
Interspecific Competition	Competition between members of different species eg. Lion and tigers compete for same prey
Decomposer	Are organisms that obtain energy by breaking down dead bodies of other organisms or the waste.
Groups of decomposers	Bacteria and fungi
Role of decomposers	Breakdown waste, plants and dead animals
Consumers ( Heterotrophs)	Obtain energy from other organisms or their organic matter.
Producers ( Autotrophs)	Produce their own energy ( glucose) through photosynthesis
Niche	Biotic and abiotic resources within its environment. It is parts of an environment which conditions are suitable for species to live.
What determines a niche?	Abiotic and climate factors as well as what an organism eats, how and where it gets its food and the living organisms in which it competes.
Fundamental Niche	Total range of environmental conditions to survive and reproduce. ( abiotic factors)
Realised Niche	The actual mode of existence by the species, which results from its adaptation and competition with other species. ( Biotic factors)
Realised vs. Fundamental niche	Realised niche... is the actual mode of existence, which results from its adaptation and competition. Fundamental niche is the total range of environmental conditions needed without interactions.
Resource partitioning	The allocation of resources ( usual food) between two species living in a similar niche within a habitat in order to avoid competition
Competitive exclusion principle	Two different species can not coexist in the same place if they are competing for the same limited resource.
What happens if two species try to occupy the same niche?	If two species try to occupy the same niche then the competition will eventually show one species to have a competitive advantage. This species will reproduce and multiply. The other will either become extinct or natural selection will lead to changes in the species. ( eg. occupy a different ecological niche- adaptive radiation)
Disease	A disease is a condition that impairs or interferes with the normal functioning of the body.
Infectious disease	An infectious disease is caused by pathogens which invade the body. Can be contagious and passed down from one host to another. Transfer can be direct or indirect.
Pathogen	Is an microrganism that lives on its host. They can be microscopic or macroscopic and are found in air, water, oil and any contaminated articles.
Human disease caused by viruses	Measles, Rubella, chickenpox and AIDS
Example of how viruses can affect animals beside human populations	Devil facial tumor disease ( DFTD)
Bacterial diseases that affect Australian animals	Chlamydia in koalas and bird, beak and feather disease and jaw disease of macropod marsupials.
Outline Consequences of interactions
Abundance	The abundance determines how many members of that species live throughout that ecosystem.
Distribution	The distribution of a species describes the range of a species; the geographical area in which a species can be found
How is distribution measured	Distribution is measured by transects that are commonly used in large areas to give scientists an idea f the variation that may occur.
Explain the quadrat method for sampling abundance	The percentage cover method uses quadrats ( usually 1m x 1m) to cover randomly selected areas and gain an estimate of the total number of organisms of a specific species in an area.
What sorts organisms are suitable for quadrat sampling	Organisms that can't move or that are slow are suitable for number testing to count.
What is the process for calculating abundance using quadrats?	The process requires randomly plotting a number of quadrats, finding the percentage cover and then finding an average.
How is abundance of highly mobile species recorded?	It is recorded using a sampling technique called the mark-release-recapture method.
The process for calculating abundance via. capture-mark-recapture sampling	Animals are captured, sample animals are tagged and released. Then these animals are given time to mix again, recaptured and the number tagged on sample counted.
Assumptions that can be made when using this sampling method?	1.There is no population change through migration, births or deaths between the sampling periods 2.All animals are equally able to be caught (individuals are not ‘trap happy’ or ‘trap shy’) 3.Marked animals are not hampered in their ability to move and mix freely with the rest of the population
Example of Quadrat sampling technique	Image: Recap (binary/octet-stream)
Extinction	The end of a species or a group of organisms.
Extinctions role in revolution	The disappearance of species has opened opportunities and ecological niches for new species.
Low level extinction vs. mass extinction	Low level extinction is the normal extinction rate while Mass extinction is the loss of species on a global scale
Some causes of extinction	Habitat destruction, climate change, human activities and introduction of species to an area
Mass extinctions affects on biodiversity	A mass extinction accelerates evolution as survivors diversify to fill vacant ecological niches.
Recent extinction event in Australia ( including likely causes)	The Australian Megafauna were large animals that went extinct about 20,000 years ago. Some likely causes were changing environmental conditions, and less food for the megafauna caused them to go extinct.

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