ECOLOGY (pg 15)

ECOLOGY: this is the study of the relationships of organisms with each other and their environment.

Habitat: the area in which an organism lives eg pond, swamp

Microhabitat: a very small habitat eg crevice of a rock, roots of a mangrove tree
Species: a group of individuals of common ancestry, that closely resemble each other, that can
interbreed to produce fertile offspring eg the human species.
Niche: the role of an organism within the ecosystem eg a fish would eat algae, release faeces etc.
Population: a group of organisms of the same species which live in a particular habitat eg a population of
fishes in a pond.
Community: all the different organisms or populations which live in the same habitat and interact with
each other eg in a pond, fishes, snails, tadpole interact.
Ecosystem: is made up of a community and its environment. Eg the tropical rainforest, the ocean.

Climatic factors: light, Edaphic (soil) factors: soil pH, texture,

temperature, rainfall
Aquatic factors: salinity,
wave action, dissolved O2
ABIOTIC FACTORS:
non-living (physical and chemical)
factors of the environment.
temp., organic & mineral content
Topographic factors: physical
features of the earth’s surface- eg
angle of slope

Predation: what organisms eat Symbiosis: mutualism, commensalism, parasitism

Competition Disease
BIOTIC FACTORS:
Camouflage deals with activities of the living Food chains, food webs
Pollination organisms Dispersal: spreading of seeds

ABIOTIC FACTORS AFFECTING THE DISTRIBUTION OF SPECIES (pg17-21)

 WATER: organisms living in water must be able to use O2 dissolved in water. This oxygen comes from
air or from aquatic plants during photosynthesis. Oxygen does not diffuse through water very
quickly. At the bottom of deep ponds and lakes, there is little or no oxygen especially if it is too dark
for plants to grow.
a) FRESH WATER: low in salt and minerals eg. lakes, rivers, ponds
b) SALT WATER: high in salt and minerals eg. oceans and seas
c) BRACKISH WATER: this is where salt and fresh water meet eg estuaries (river meet sea)

1
 In oceans, fishes actively excrete salt to the water through their gills. They produce small amounts of
concentrated urine. In freshwater, gills actively absorb salt from the water passing over them. They
produce large amounts of dilute urine.
How the Amoeba survives in freshwater

Plants that live in areas where water is in short supply (known as xerophytes) have special features
which reduce water loss.
 EFFECT OF LIGHT: animals use light to see prey. Plants need light for photosynthesis. The duration
(how long it is available) & intensity of light is important.
 EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE: Hot places with plenty of rainfall have a large variety of plants. Eg.
Tropical rainforest. These provide many habitats and food for animals so the number and variety of
animals increase. Dry or desert areas are either too hot or cold so it is difficult for plants and animals
to live there. They can lose a lot of water by evaporation and they cannot replace it easily.
Eg. Polar bears have thick layers of body fat and fur to keep them warm. Whales have a layer of
blubber.
 EFFECT OF HEAVY METALS: large concentrations of heavy metals are due to human activity. Mercury
affects the brain and nervous system. Lead damages the brain and causes serious mental disorders.
 EFFECT OF SOIL: soil is important to plants as it is an anchor for roots; it holds mineral nutrients and
water which are absorbed by the plant. The type of soil determines which plant can grow.
Soil is also a habitat for many soil organisms eg earthworms, mites, ants, bacteria. For these
organisms to survive the soil must have O2 in it.

BIOTIC FACTORS AFFECTING THE DISTRIBUTION OF SPECIES

Every living organism is affected by others in some way.

 COMPETITION: when two or more organisms need the same thing which is in short supply. Plants
compete for light, root space, water, minerals. Animals compete for food, place to live, mates for
reproduction. Competition between living organisms only happens when their niches or lifestyle
overlap. The more they overlap the more likely they will compete.
 PREDATORS kill prey for food. A predator is an animal which feeds on another living organism, called
its prey. Predators need to be adapted to catch their prey. Prey must be adapted to protect
themselves from predators. Eg. Camouflage: stick insect camouflage as twigs.
 PARASITES harm their host. A parasite is completely dependent on its host. It usually harms the host
but does not kill it. Eg tapeworm (inside host), head louse (outside host).