Key Terms
Biology: Cambridge International A Level, topic 18.1.1
Key Terms - Ecosystems
Studying ecosystems is important to understand how the many different organisms interact with each other and their environment. There are some key terms you should know about ecosystems.
Ecosystems
- An ecosystem consists of all the living things in a particular area together with the nonliving parts.
- When many individuals of the same species occupy the same habitat, they are a population.
- Multiple populations of different species in the same habitat form a community.
- A community and the abiotic conditions (e.g. climate) in the environment together form an ecosystem.
- Ecosystems can be huge (e.g. the Amazon Rainforest).
- Ecosystems can be relatively small (e.g. rock pools).
Conditions
- Abiotic conditions are non-living environmental factors.
- E.g. Climate, shade cover.
- Biotic conditions are living environmental factors.
- E.g. Predation, competition.
Species & niche
- A species is a group of organisms that can reproduce to produce fertile offspring.
- Every species has a specific role in an ecosystem.
- The role is called a niche.
- E.g. Decomposing bacteria have the role of breaking down waste material and dead organisms.
Adaptation
- If an individual is well-suited to surviving in its ecosystem it is said to be adaptive.
- The characteristics of an individual that help it survive and reproduce are adaptations.
Test yourself on Key Terms
Which of these is NOT an example of an ecosystem?