Ecology Part 1

Ecology is the study of living organisms, their interactions with each other and their abiotic
environment 

Habitat is the place where an organism lives and to which it is adapted (its “address”). 

A population is a group of individuals of the same species living and breeding in the same
habitat  

Community is the populations of different species living and interacting with each other in the
same habitat 

Ecosystem is a community of organisms and their abiotic environment. 

Large ecosystems include temperate deciduous forest, grassland, freshwater pond, seashore, hot
desert, tropical rain forest. 

Biosphere is that part of the Earth (air, water, soil) inhabited by living organisms. 

Species is a group of organisms of common ancestry that closely resemble each other and are
normally capable of interbreeding to produce fertile offspring.

Community is all the population of different species living together in a particular habitat

Niche the position or role of an organism within an ecosystem

. 

 Environmental factors affecting living organisms. 

Biotic factors 

the effect of other living organisms of the same or other species. 

Plants affect other organisms because they are a food source. Plants also influenced by
herbivores 

 and indirectly by predators of herbivores. 

Animals affected by others that feed on them and by pathogenic m/o. 
Bacteria and fungi influence plant growth by recycling carbon, nitrogen and mineral nutrients. 
Plants compete for light, water, mineral nutrients, pollinators and seed dispersers. 
Animals compete for food, space, water and reproductive mates. 
There are several living factors that may affect the study site. Some biotic factors are natural,
such as  
 competition, parasitism and predation. Other factors are human in origin and may be
detrimental to  

an ecosystem. These include presence of pollutants, burning, deforestation, invasive species,  

mowing/overgrazing by animals, etc. 

Abiotic factors are non-living environmental factors that influence the community. 

Non-living factors include pH, temperature (air and ground or aquatic), light intensity, water
current, air current, dissolved oxygen, mineral content, percentage air in soil, percentage water in
soil, percentage humus, salinity, degree of exposure, slope. 

Climatic factors refer to the effect of the weather over a long period e.g. temperature, light
intensity and day length, rainfall, humidity, prevailing wind direction, atmospheric pressure. and
seasonal variations of these factors . 

Edaphic factors the effect of soil conditions on the community e.g. pH, soil type (sandy, clay,
loam), soil water, air content, humus content, porosity and mineral content of soil. 

Need to know examples from terrestrial and aquatic habitat of each factor. 

Abiotic factors: 

Factor  Effect   Example 

Altitude  Higher altitudes are cooler, Trees cannot live at very
wetter, windier than lower high altitudes. 
altitudes 
Aspect (i.e. direction a North-facing slopes are More plants grow on south-
surface faces)  cooler and darker than facing slopes. 
south-facing slopes. 
Steepness  Steep slopes lose water Conifers can grow on steep
quickly and soils are washed slopes (because their leaves
away.  lose very little water). 

Climatic factors: 

Factor  Effect  Example 

Temperature  Affects the rate of reactions Higher temperatures cause
in living things.  rapid plant growth in
summer.  

Lower temperatures cause

hibernation in hedgehogs
and frogs in winter. 
Humidity (amount of High humidity reduces Woodlice are restricted to
water vapour in the air)  evaporation.  the humid conditions within
decaying leaves. 
Day length  Affects plant flowering and Many plants produce flowers
germination along with due to the longer days in
migration, hibernation and spring. 
reproduction in animals. 
Swallows migrate due to
shorter autumn days. 
Light intensity  Affects the rate of Trees grow tall to get more
photosynthesis.  light.  
Wind  Causes physical damage.  Trees exposed to wind grow
better on the sheltered side
Increases evaporation.  and appear to lean away
from the wind. 

Helps spread spores and

some pollen and seeds. 

Edaphic factors: 

Factor  Effect  Example 

Soil pH  Plants and animals are Acid soil (e.g.bogs) have a
adapted to specific pH pH less than 7, and support
values.  bog moss and heather. 

Neutral soils have pH values

close to 7, and are preferred
by most plants. 

Alkaline soils have pH

values greater than 7, and
are preferred by lime-loving
plants e.g. birdsfoot trefoil
and bee orchid. 
Soil type (determined by    
particle size) 
(a)  sand (large particles)  Good drainage and air Few earthworms in sand (no
content.  humus to eat). 

Low mineral and water

content. 
(b)  clay (small particles)  Impermeable to water and Plants do not grow well, as
air.  the soil is too wet and
difficult for roots to
Easily waterlogged.  penetrate. 
Organic matter (humus)  Decaying organic mater Vital to plant life. 
(humus) provides food,
helps bind soil particles, Provides food for organisms
retains water and minerals  such as earthworms. 
Water content  Absorbed by roots.  Plants need to absorb water
for transpiration,
photosynthesis, and general
metabolism.  Minerals
dissolve in water and are
absorbed by roots. 
Air content  Provides oxygen for roots, Lack of oxygen in soil
microorganisms, and prevents plant and animal
animals.  growth. 
Mineral content   Needed by plants.  A lack of mineral causes
stunted growth and
yellowing of leaves –
chlorosis. 

Aquatic habitats have special problems compared to terrestrial habitat. These problems
include: 

 Light penetration.  Plankton grow best in the upper layers of water due to higher
light intensity. 
 Currents move organisms.  Plants & animals are washed away. Need for
attachment (e.g. limpets and many seaweeds). 

 Wave action moves and damages organisms 

 Salinity.  Salt content means organisms adapt to freshwater or saltwater. Causes
problems with water moving in or out of organisms and their cells. Limpets live in
seawater, not freshwater.  Organisms in seashore ponds must be able to withstand
changes in salinity (due to rainfall and evaporation). 
 Oxygen in lower concentration. 
 Tides – length of time organisms are exposed or submerged.  Shore plants lose
water when tide is out.  Organisms on shores have shells or mucilage to retain water.