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Populations and Ecosystems (The structure of ecosystems (Trophic levels…
Populations and Ecosystems
The structure of populations
Geographic distribution
Limiting factor
One factor that determines the health of the plant
Local geographic distribution
Random distribution
No obvious, identifiable pattern
Clumped distribution
Spacing between plants is large or small, not average
Uniform distributions
All individuals are evenly spaced
Age distribution: demography
Affected byow a population responds to various factors in its habitat
Two factors affect the rate of population growth
Generation time
Intrinsic rate of natural increase
r- and K- selection
r-selection
Population growth is limited by the species' own biotic potential
r-related species
Annuals or small shrubby perennials
K-selection
Population growth is governed by the carrying capacity of the ecosystem
K-related species
Conifers such as redwoods, Douglas firs, and bristlecone pines
The structure of ecosystems
Physiognomic structure
Physical size and shape of organisms
Distribution in relation to one another
Physical environment
Temporal structure
Changes that an ecosystem undergoes with time
Species composition
Number and diversity of species that coexist in an ecosystem
Depends on 3 things
Mild or stressful climate
Rich or poor soil
Broad or narrow tolerance ranges
Trophic levels
Feeding levels
Primary producers
Autotrophs, who make their own food
Primary consumers
Heterotrophs, who eat the autotrophs
Secondary consumers
Carnivores, who eat the herbivores
Decomposers
Bacteria and fungi
Energy flow/carbon flow
Flow of energy and carbon through the feeding levels
Plants in relationship to their habitats
Abiotic components of the habitat
Climate
Extreme temperatures
Growing season
Moisture
Soil factors
Pioneers
First plants to invade a new soil
Thick soil has three layers
A horizon
Uppermost
B horizon
Middle layer
C horizon
Lowest layer
Latitude and altitude
Disturbance
Phenomena
Fires
Landslides
Snow avalanches
Floods
Biotic components of the habitat
The plant itself
Other plant species
Mutualism
Interaction is beneficial for both organisms
Competition
Interaction is disadvantageous
Competitive exclusion
A species less adapted will be excluded by superior competitors
Organisms other than plants
Frugivores
Seed dispersal by fruit-eating animals
Browsing
Grazing
Herbivores
Habitat
conditions in which an organism completes its life cycle
Operational habitat
Part of habitat that affects the plant
Concepts
Population
Individuals of the same species
Community
Many populations
Ecosystem
Many populations + the physical nonliving environment