Week 4: Lead Lessons
Ecology
Niche
Role of an organism in the habitat in which it lives
e.g. Central American Rainforest
Jaguars = top predator
Tree dwelling monkey species = omnivore
Agouti = herbivore
IF ANOTHER ORGANISM TRIES TO OCCUPY SAME NICHE => COMPETITION
Affect distribution and abundance of organisms
Evolution of ecosystems
Known as succession
Primary or secondary
PROCESS BY WHICH THE COMMUNITITES OF ANIMALS AND PLANTS COLONISE AN AREA AND OVER
TIME ARE REPLACED BY OTHER MORE VARIED COMMUNITITES
Why is the greatest biodiversity just before climax community?
Larger trees in climax community outcompete other species
Light and water
, Primary succession
Growth of a PIONEER SPECIES (algae/fungi/lichen) on an EMPTY INORGANIC SURFACE on a
previously UNINHABITATED AREA [newly exposed rock after glacial movement]
Rock starts to be broken down – cracks created – traps organic particles – break down into
humus – forms soil
Grasses/ferns can establish roots
Decay of these adds to soil = allows for larger plants to establish = biodiversity increases
Leads to a CLIMAX COMMUNITY
Climax community
Biodiversity and species range is constant
Primary succession only found in few places in modern day
CLIMATE is a major factor in determining climax community
Ecology
Niche
Role of an organism in the habitat in which it lives
e.g. Central American Rainforest
Jaguars = top predator
Tree dwelling monkey species = omnivore
Agouti = herbivore
IF ANOTHER ORGANISM TRIES TO OCCUPY SAME NICHE => COMPETITION
Affect distribution and abundance of organisms
Evolution of ecosystems
Known as succession
Primary or secondary
PROCESS BY WHICH THE COMMUNITITES OF ANIMALS AND PLANTS COLONISE AN AREA AND OVER
TIME ARE REPLACED BY OTHER MORE VARIED COMMUNITITES
Why is the greatest biodiversity just before climax community?
Larger trees in climax community outcompete other species
Light and water
, Primary succession
Growth of a PIONEER SPECIES (algae/fungi/lichen) on an EMPTY INORGANIC SURFACE on a
previously UNINHABITATED AREA [newly exposed rock after glacial movement]
Rock starts to be broken down – cracks created – traps organic particles – break down into
humus – forms soil
Grasses/ferns can establish roots
Decay of these adds to soil = allows for larger plants to establish = biodiversity increases
Leads to a CLIMAX COMMUNITY
Climax community
Biodiversity and species range is constant
Primary succession only found in few places in modern day
CLIMATE is a major factor in determining climax community
