Describe the grouping of organism in an ecosystem
Answers
biotic factor - A living, biological factor that may influence an organism or ecosystem, such as producers-plants,consumers-animals etc
abiotic factors – A non-living or physical factor that may influence an organism or ecosystem. For example, precipitation, wind, sunlight, soil, temperature, pH, salinity, light, temperature. Understanding the interaction of the biotic and abiotic factors in an ecosystem can help us to see why particular human activities may be a problem for human survival.
Example: The loss of ozone in the stratosphere increases the quantity of UV radiation on the surface of the planet. In the same way that humans experience sunburn from too much sun exposure, so do plants. Excessive UV may damage or destroy plant protein and DNA, killing the plant.
Trophic level - The position that an organism occupies in a food chain, or a group of organisms in a community that occupy the same position in food chains. And is mainly considered as feeding level.
Producers/Autotrophs - Organisms that make their own food. Usually plants through photosynthesis.
Primary consumers - Organisms that consume producers.
Secondary consumers - Organisms that consume primary consumers.
Herbivores - Organisms that eat plants, but no meat.
Carnivores - Meat-eaters.
Omnivores - Organisms that eat both plants and meat
Saprotrophic - Decomposers
species - A group of organisms that interbreed and produce fertile offspring.
population - A group of organisms of the same species living in the same area at the same time, and which are capable of interbreeding.
community - A group of populations living and interacting with each other in a common habitat.
ecosystem - A community of interdependent organisms and the physical environment they inhabit.
habitat - The environment in which a species normally lives.
niche - A species' share of a habitat and the resources in it. An organism's ecological niche depends not only on where it lives but on the role it plays in the ecosystem.
fundamental niche - The part of the habitat in which a species can live in the absence of competitors and predators
realized niche - The part of the habitat that the organism actually occupies.
biome – large, relatively distinct terrestrial region characterized by similar climate (temperature and precipitation), soil, and organisms.
competition – [– ,–] Two species (interspecies competition) or two populations of the same species (intraspecies competition) compete for the same resources. Both sides are harmed.
symbiosis – biological interaction where two different species are in direct contact with each other.
commensalism – [0 , +] One species benefits, the other is unaffected
mensalism – [0 , –] One species is harmed, the other is unaffected
mutualism – [+ , +] Both species benefit
predation – [+ , –] One species benefits, the other is harmed. The prey is usually killed quickly.
parasitism – [+ , –] One species benefits, the other is harmed. The host is killed slowly if at all.