The place where an organism lives, feeds
and reproduces at a given time is it's
habitat.
Range
The geographic area where all of the habitats
of a species are indicates the range (or
distribution) of the species. Within a range the
species may be limited or ample; a large range
doesn't mean a common species and a small
range doesn't mean rare species. A species
range is usually shown on an inset map.
Migration
Migration is the term used for movement between habitats.
Some species will move predictably annually to very seperate
habitats (like birds) and some will move once in their lifetime.
Animals that do this are 'migratory'.
Diapause
Diapause is due to a low metabolism, mainly during winter months,
and is a state of 'low-energy-use'(like hibernation).
Niche
Niche is also known as 'the way of life,
of a species'. A species 'niche' is
usually described with; where it lives,
where it feeds and what it feeds on and
when it feeds and environmental
conditions it can stand. Niche overlap
is when two or more species are in the
same niche, in one way or another.
Generally speaking two species cannot
occupy the same niche for an extended
period of time. This is because the
species will be in direct competion with
each other and over time the species
that can use the niche more efficiently
will remove the other species from the
bahabitat.
Environmental factors
Biotic
Living factors that relate to
other living organisms;
predator, competition between
members of a species
Abiotic
Nonliving factors relating to
aspects of soil, water,
temperature; light intensity,
slope of land, rainfall.
Leaching
Over time mineral nutrients are
dissolved and washed out of soil, this
process is known as leaching.
Drought
When the rainfall in an area
fails, even if it is usually an area
of low rain fall, a drought exists.
Transpiration
The loss of water vapour from a moist
area in a plant by evaporation.
Dormancy
A condition of extreme inactivity due to lowering
metabolism in an organism
POPULATIONS
Organisms of
species live
together in
populations.
form a
COMMUNITY
All living organisms in a habitat
interacting with each other.
Different types of populations.
interact with biotic and abiotic factors to form a
ECOSYSTEMS
A community of organisms interacting
with each other in a particular place at a
particular time together with their physical
surroundings, largely self-sustaining.
TYPES OF ECOSYSTEMS
Fresh water; ponds, lakes etc.
Marine ecosystem
Arad/terestrial ecosystem
Habitat's
Habitat limits
All organisms have tolerance limits within which they can
survive, when conditions move beyond these limits the organism
can't survive. If a requirement i in short supply it can affect the
survival and reproduction of an organism, this is called a limiting
factor. An example of this is a humans optimum temperature
being between 23 and 28 degrees celcius.
Microhabitats
In a habitat, each species will occupy
and use a different part of the habitat
in a different way. This localised part
of the habitat where an organism lives
is called a 'micro habitat'.
Extreme Environments
Living spaces that, in
human perception, would
be considered hostile are
extreme environments.
The location, size and range of a habitat differs
greatly for different species; the white shark's
ocean to the parasites bird skin.
Different habitats; Terestrial,
freshwater, marine, estuarine.
Habitat's provide resources that are
essential for life including food, water,
shelter and places for breeding.
A species absence from a region can
be because of limiting factors, it can
also be because of geographical
barriers and competition or predators.
Niche
Definition: 'the way of like, of a species' A specie's 'niche' is
usually described with; where it lives, where, when and what
it feeds on and environmental conditions it can stand.
Niche overlap is when two or more species share
parts of their niche, in one way or another.
Generally speaking two species can't occupy the same niche or an
extended period of time, this is because they will be in direct
competition with each other and over time the species that can use the
niche more efficiently will remove the other species from the habitat.
Lot's of species are capable of
occupying a larger niche than they do,
but they don't because of competition.
Environment
Is made up of the physical, biological and
chemical conditions that exist in a habitat.
A collective term for conditions
in which an organism lives.
Influenced by environmental factors;
biotic and abiotic factors.
Environment of a habitat is produced by the action and
interaction of a few environmental factors.
Environmental conditions described with qualitative
(words like warm, cold, hot, dry) and quantitative
(numbers; temperature is 23 degrees celcius) terms.
Micro Environment
Many micro environments can be found within an
environment. (Someone standing at a thermometer says it's
23 degrees, this doesn't apply for everywhere in the habitat.
Australia is very hot and dry!
This means all plants and animals have to learn to survive in these harsh conditions.
Seeds for survival that can complete
their life cycle in 2 weeks.
Transpiration prevention using the
stomata in plants in different ways!
Maximise water uptake through 'water tappers';
plants that have really deep roots to take up
water from deep down in the earth.
Australian animals have many adaptations, specific
to the conditions of their habitat and what they need.