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Define species
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A group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring. they have a common gene pool
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Define habitat
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The environment in which a species normally lives or the location of a living organism
e.g tree branch, cliff face, seashore |
Define population
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A group of organisms of the same species which live in the same area at the same time
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Define community
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A group of populations living and interacting with each other in an area
e.g the soil community in a forest or the fish community in a river |
Define ecosystem
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A community and its abiotic environment
refers to where a group of interacting populations live instead of where a single species lives (habitat) e.g forest, pond, ocean |
Define ecology
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The study of the relationships between living organisms and between organisms and their environment
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What four components make up the environment
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Hydrosphere - water
atmosphere - gases lithosphere - rocks biosphere - all living organisms |
Give 5 examples of abiotic components in an environment
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Light, heat, minerals, oxygen, humidity
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What is an example of a heterotroph feeding on an autotroph?
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A sheep feeding on grass
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What are autotrophs?
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Organisms capable of making their own molecules as a food source
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How do autotrophs synthesise their own organic molecules
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They use light energy from the sun and combine it with inorganic substances to obtain chemical energy in the form of organic compounds
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What are 4 examples of autotrophs
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Grass, trees, algae, cyanobacteria
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What must heterotrophs do?
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Obtain organic molecules from other organisms
they do this by ingesting organic matter that is living or has recently been killed |
What are 4 examples of heterotrophs
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Zooplankton, fish, sheep, insects
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What are detritovores?
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Organisms that eat non-living matter
e.g dead leaves, faeces or carcasses |