topic 2

linear series of feeding relationships in which there is a transfer of food from one organism to the next

organisms that use light energy from the sun to produce food; also called producers

organisms that obtain energy from the foods they consume; consumers

the role and space that organism fills in an ecosystem, including all its interactions with the biotic and abiotic factors of its environment

potential resources that a species can use in its environment

some habitats and resources are not available because competitors occupy them

two species competing for the exact same limited resources cannot stably coexist

niche is divided so all competing species use the environment differently

plant or animal that plays a unique and crucial role in the way an ecosystem functions

when they are present, sea urchins are limited to small individuals and kelp forests can grow

the size of population that can be supported indefinitely on the available resources and services of that ecosystem

organisms struggle to survive in a habitat with limited resources

predator-prey relationship is balanced between two populations

dependent on population size

space, availability of nutrients, pollution, natural disasters, extreme climatic events

(births +immigration) - (death + emigration)

N = M x n / m

occurs in an ideal, unlimited environment

occurs when environmental pressures slow the rate of growth`

process by which communities of plants and animals colonise an area and then over time are replaced by other more varied organisms

plants grow where no plants have grown before

plants grow where there has been a previous population that were destroyed

harvesting species or resources from the wild at rates faster than the natural population can recover

natural habitats no longer able to support the species present, resulting in the displacement or destruction of its biodiversity