Topic 2.1 Species and Population

Environmental Systems and Societies
Topic 2.1 Species and Population

Learning Objectives:
•Define key terms for species and
population
•Explain biotic and abiotic factors ESS
impacting niche
TOK Link
How can we recognize when we have made progress in the search of
knowledge?
Fatima ‫ َفاِط َم ة‬Ma
Turn to Oxford textbook
page 55. and answer all
the multiple choices.

- Independent, International, Innovative
Significant Ideas:
A species interacts with its abiotic and biotic environments,
and its niche is described by these interactions.
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Fatima ‫ِط©َم ة‬Zoe Badcock
Guiding Questions on your worksheet-Part 1

1.Define the terms species and population.
2.Define the terms habitat and niche and give examples of each.
3.Compare the terms fundamental niche and realized niche and provide an
example.
4.Outline the following abiotic factors that can affect a species distribution:
temperature, sunlight, pH, salinity, precipitation. (Briefly )
Command word: Outline means to Give a brief account or summary.

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Ecology
The study of interactions among
and between organisms in their
abiotic environment.
This subtopic is about ecosystems and ecology so a good starting point is: what is
an ecosystem and what is ecology? Ecology comes from Greek and literally
means “house, study of”. So ecology is the study of the interactions between
organisms and the environment in which they live.
Ecologists look at and try to understand various aspects of organisms – how varied
they are (diversity), where they are located (distribution), what they are (species)
how many there are of them (population) and how they interact and adapt. An
ecosystem is a community of interdependent organisms and the physical
environment they interact with. An ecosystem is made up of biotic (living) and
©‫ِط‬Zoe Badcock
‫ َف‬Ma
abiotic (non-living) components. Fatima ‫ة‬ ‫َم‬ ‫ا‬
AnEcosystem
ecosystem :
• A community of interdependent organisms and the physical environment
they interact with.
• Made up of biotic and abiotic components.
The interdependent part means that you can study this section starting
absolutely anywhere – the organisms (biotic), the physical environment
(abiotic) or the interactions between them. This section starts with biotic but
you can jump to the abiotic part if that makes more sense to you. However,
beware - everything is interlinked throughout the topic so there is a lot of
cross-referencing to follow.
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Abiotic Factors/components
The non-living, physical factors that influence
the organisms and ecosystem
— such as temperature, sunlight, pH, salinity,
and precipitation.
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Abiotic Factors/components-Temperature
The biotic elements of the ecosystem interact with the abiotic elements - the non-living
things. Abiotic factors include, temperature, sunlight, pH, salinity and precipitation. These
non-living factors strongly influence the living elements of the ecosystem and can operate
as limiting factors.
Temperature is an important abiotic factor in all ecosystems. It varies seasonally (through
the year) and diurnally (through the day). All organisms have a temperature range within
which they can live and if the temperature deviates too much then they will be stressed
and may die. Humans for instance have a normal body temperature of 37°C, below 35 or
above 42 and we are in trouble. Humans, like other mammals regulate their body
temperature and can therefore tolerate a very wide range of environmental
temperatures.
Ectotherms such as reptiles rely on the environment to regulate their body temperature so
their distribution is strongly controlled by temperature. Water temperature influences the
amount of oxygen the water contains and so is vital to aquatic life. The seasonal and
diurnal patterns of temperature will effect plant life cycles.
© Zoe Badcock
Temperature
Figure 1. Ectotherms like lizards regulate their body temperature from the surrounding environment.
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Abiotic Factor-Sunlight
Sunlight is the base of the vast majority of food chains on earth. Solar energy makes
photosynthesis possible and enables plants to transform light energy into chemical
energy. As with temperature sunlight has diurnal and seasonal fluctuations and this
affect the life cycles of both plants and animals. They determine the length of the
growing season, mating cycles, when flowers bloom and much more.
In aquatic ecosystems sunlight has an even greater impact because water absorbs
light. This means that the deeper you go in a column of water the less light is
available. There comes a point where no sunlight can penetrate, by 200 meters there
is so little light that photosynthesis is not possible. From 1,000 meters down there is
absolutely no light and it is known as the midnight zone. This causes zonation in
aquatic systems.

© Zoe Badcock
Abiotic Factors/Components-Water
Water is essential to all life on earth and
can arrive in an ecosystem as
precipitation, groundwater flow or
overland flow. It is a basic ingredient
of photosynthesis and the medium in
which life’s processes take place. In the
absence of water, plants will wither
and die. Animals become weak and
confused and will die if access to water
is limited for too long. Different
organisms have different levels of
tolerance to lack of water and desert
ecosystems are full of plants and Figure 2. Desert plants are
animals that have evolved to tolerate xerophytes - they survive in low water
low water levels. environments.
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The impact of pH as an abiotic
factor differs between aquatic and Abiotic Factors/Components-PH
terrestrial ecosystems but the general
principals are the same. All
organisms have a tolerance range for
pH within which they thrive.
In freshwater systems the tolerance
range is between pH 6 and 8, above
or below that and the ecosystem will
start to breakdown.
In terrestrial ecosystems the impact
of pH is generally seen in soil and
the tolerance range of soil microbes Figure 3. Minimum
pH Levels for water
is typically pH 6 to 7. system.
© Zoe Badcock
PH Value for Soil
Figure 4. pH Value for

top soil for a local
ecosytem and on a
global scale.
© Zoe Badcock
As with all - other abiotic
Independent, factors
International, Innovative all organisms
have a range of tolerance to salinity. In Abiotic Factors/Sanlinity

terrestrial ecosystems the impact of salinity is
generally seen in the soil and salinization of
the soil causes many problems for agriculture.
All aquatic ecosystems are sensitive to changes
in salinity, though some organisms (estuarine)
have a very wide range of tolerance. Open
ocean ecosystems have a salinity of 32 to
37 ppt (parts per thousand, or 35g for every
Kg) whilst freshwater ecosystems have an
average salinity on 0.5 ppm. The Dead Sea has Figure 5. Salt encrusted rocks of
a salinity of 250 ppt – that is why species the Dead Sea.
present are limited to only micro-organisms

and there no fish or aquatic plants. ‫ َفا‬Ma
Biotic factors/components
The biotic element of the ecosystem is
anything that is living and any interactions
between the living components. That includes
all the organisms (plants and animals),
anything that they consume or that consumes
them and human influences. The biotic
components includes:
•Producers – the plants that convert energy
into matter.
•Consumers – animals that eat plants or other
animals.
•Decomposers – organisms that breakdown
waste into component parts for reuse.
•Interactions that happen between the living
components – predation, herbivory, parasitism,
mutualism, disease and competition.
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Ecosystem Video Summary
Check out the following video to see how biotic and abiotic
factors make an ecosystem.
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Species
A species is a group of organisms that
share common characteristics and that
interbreed to produce fertile offspring.
The important point here is the fertile offspring,

similar organisms can interbreed but the offspring
they produce are infertile. For example the liger is
a cross between a male lion (Panthera leo) and a
female tiger (Panthera tigris). Parents are of the
same genus (Panthera) but different species
(leo and tigris). The liger is not considered a
species because they are genetically or physically
Mule is not a species because it can’t produce
sterile and unable to produce offspring of their offspring.
own. Another case is 骡子 © Zoe Badcock
Theory of Knowledge-Essay Titles Discussion

Prescribed Title #3, May 2017: Should key events in the historical
development of areas of knowledge always be judged by the standards
of their time? To what extent do you agree with this statement?
As you consider this prescribed title and its connections to this portion of
the ESS syllabus, discuss the debate regarding the following claim:
“Humans do (not) have the right to create new species.” Why do you
think this topic and others that merge science and ethics can be so
controversial socially and/or politically?
You do not need to answer this question, but I would like you share with
me in person next time in class.
© Zoe Badcock
Biologists and ecologists classify and name all organisms

accordingly, this means that anyone anywhere has the same
name for the organisms they are studying. The taxonomic
rank has a hierarchy that starts at the very specific (species)
and goes to the very general (kingdom). © Zoe Badcock
Exam tip
When explaining concepts use examples of organisms. You must be as specific as possible
- do not just give generic names. For example instead of giving tree, silver birch is more
specific; fish is very general, rainbow trout is better.
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Populations
Populations
Species do not exist on their own; they live together in groups called
populations.
Definition
A population is a group of individuals of the same species living in the same
area at the same time.
Populations may be close together or a long way from each other. Take for
example the Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris). There are 23 subspecies
spread across Europe and Siberia (Figure 2 next page). Adjacent populations
maybe separated by a road or river; whilst they are technically close enough to
meet to interbreed it is unlikely, hence they are considered separate
populations. The further apart the populations the less likely they are to
interbreed and this has led to the development of the numerous subspecies.
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Population-Red Squirrel- Sciurus vulgaris
Figure 6. Distribution of Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris). Fatima ‫ِط©َم ة‬Zoe
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Badcock
Population Size
Population size is determined by:
• Births and immigration – which increase
population size.
• Deaths and emigration – these decrease
population size.
Births + immigration > deaths and emigration
(population growth)
Births + immigration < deaths and emigration
(population decline)
Births + immigration = deaths and emigration
(population is in dynamic equilibrium)
How populations interact and maintain themselves
is discussed in "
Population dynamics and limiting factors."
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Kognity page,which will be discussed next
Habitat - Independent, International, Innovative
Definition Habitat
A habitat is the environment in which a species
usually lives.
The habitat of an organism is the natural environment
around it. It has the physical and biological resources
that an organisms needs – it is the place where it can
find food, water shelter (for itself and its offspring)
and mates. In most habitats the physical environment
includes soil, moisture, temperature and sunlight
whilst the biological environment is the food, mate
and predators that are around. The habitat of the Red-
eyed tree frog (Agalychnis calidryas) is the lowland
rainforests of Central America close to water bodies. Figure 7. Red-eyed tree frog in it's habitat.
This habitat provides the insects it eats (mostly
crickets) and other tree frogs to mate with. It also
provides the water for drinking and for its tadpoles to
live in. ‫ َفا‬Ma
The example of a habitat
- Independent, given here
International, Innovative
is an actual location – the Habitat
rainforests of Central America.
However, habitat is a very broad
term and it may not be a
geographic location.
If the organism is a parasite its
habitat is the hosts body. For
example, the head louse (Pediculus
humanus capitis) is a wingless
insect, whose habitat is the human
head. Giardia is a gut parasite that
spends part of its life cycle in the
small intestine of vertebrates
(including humans).
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Niche
A niche describes the particular set of

abiotic and biotic conditions and
resources to which an organism or
population responds.
The niche is a diverse concept; it is very broad and encompasses

many aspects. Another simple definition follows:
Definition
The niche is the role an organism plays and the position it holds in
the environment. It includes all the interactions the organism has
with the abiotic and biotic environment. ‫ َفا‬Ma
Niche
The niche is the smallest unit of the habitat and it refers to the way an
organism fits into the ecosystem, where it lives and what it does. It describes
how the organism survives and reproduces.
We have discussed the habitat of the Red-eyed tree frog (Agalychnis calidryas)
so what is its niche, what is its role. They are carnivorous, eating moths,
flies, crickets and smaller frogs; this means their “job” is to prevent over-
population of these organisms. They are small so they also provide a food
source for bats, birds, snakes, and tarantulas.
A distinction is made between the fundamental and realised niche. As
discussed in Population dynamics and limiting factors - all organisms have a
tolerance range for the abiotic factors in their environment. This range forms
the fundamental niche. The realised niche is the part of the fundamental
niche that the species actually occupies, usually defined by competition.
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Fundamental and Realised Niche
The fundamental niche describes the

full range of conditions and resources in Fundamental Niche
potential idealised
which a species could survive and
reproduce.
The realized niche describes the actual
conditions and resources in which a Realised Niche
species exists due to biotic interactions. Actual – may be same

as fundamental niche
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Niche
In Figure 2 the area bottom
left shows where competition
is highest. In this area if
species A out-competes
species B then species B’s
realised niche will be the
smaller green area on the
right, which is smaller than
its fundamental niche. On the
other hand species A will
have a realised niche that is
the same size as the
fundamental niche. Figure 8. Fundamental and realised niche.
Click the picture for more detailed explanation of niche
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Competition leads to Resource Partitioning
The green anole is native to Florida and the brown anole is an introduced, non-native
species to the area. The fundamental niches of these two species overlapped and through
competition the green anole developed a narrower realized niche. The Resources have
been partitioned.
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Fundamental vs Realized Niches
G
r
Green Brown e
Anole Anole e
n B
Competition
r
A o
n
o Aw
l nn ‫ َفا‬Ma
Compare and Contrast
- Independent, Habitat
International, Innovative and Niche-Click the picture for a video summary
Right click the

picture to find
video for the
similarities and
differences for
these two terms.
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Task 1 Different Types of Ecosystems
Looking at the larger systems that species inhabit, we can recognise three main types of
ecosystem:
Marien systems
Freshwater systems
Terrestrail systesm
Each of these ecosystems has abiotic/biotic factors which are crucial to the stystesm
and may vary with time.
Please use the information from p.53 on your Cambridge textbook and create a poster
to introduce these different ecosystems. (Both digital and paper format will be
accepted)
• Create a system model (including input/output/stores,etc) and identify if this system
is an open/closed or isolated system.
• Covering the biotic/abiotic factors in your poster
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• Include species for this sytem.
Task 2 Niches-3 Cases
In the next 3 activities, you are supposed to identify different species and their niches. You are also
supposed to describe how competition leads to resource partitioning in the following graphic
organizer. Feel free to add an illustration for the niches. –Handwritten on your notebook.
Species Describe esource

partitioning Descriptions.
Describe fundemental and
realised niches for each case
Niche(bioatic factors)
Niche (abioatic factors)
Niche(other factors, such as

time)
© Zoe Badcock
In order to explore this

concept further, we are going
to look at some case studies
of species.
Your task is to produce a
graphical summary of an
example from the resources
provided.
Remember to use annotations
which will aid understanding.
Resource1:Niche
Partitioning and Species
Coexistence HHMI with
Prof. Rob Pringle of
Princeton University ‫ َفا‬Ma
In order to explore this

concept further, we are
going to look at some case
studies of species.
Your task is to produce a
graphical summary of an
example from the
resources provided.
Remember to use
annotations which will aid
understanding.
Resource 2
The Phylogenetic Tree of
Anole Lizards — HHMI
BioInteractive Video
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Activity
Resource3
In order to explore this concept Resource Partitioning and Why It Matters
further, we are going to look at some http
case studies of species. ://www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/libr
Your task is to produce a graphical ary/resource-partitioning-and-why-it-matter
s-17362658
summary of this example from the
resources provided.
Remember to use annotations which
will aid understanding.
© Zoe Badcock
Check your understanding Questions
Question 1 Multiple choice question

Which one of the following statements is accurate?
1.Births + immigration < deaths and emigration causes population growth.
2.Births + immigration = deaths and emigration results in dynamic
equilibrium.
3.Births + immigration > deaths and emigration causes a population
decline.
4.None of these are correct.
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Question 1- Independent,
Multiple choice
International, question
Innovative
Which one of the following statements is accurate?

1.Births + immigration < deaths and emigration causes population growth.
Answer #1 is incorrect because if births and immigration are less than deaths and emigration the
population has less inputs than outputs so the population will decline not grow.
2.Births + immigration = deaths and emigration results in dynamic
equilibrium. Answer #2 is correct because if births and immigration are equal to deaths and
emigration the population has as many inputs as outputs which means the population will neither
grow nor decline.
3.Births + immigration > deaths and emigration causes a population decline.
Answer #3 is incorrect if births and immigration are greater than deaths and emigration the
population has more inputs than outputs therefore the population will grow.
4.None of these are correct.
© Zoe Badcock
Equilibrium: a state of balance that exists between the different parts of any system. There are different types of equilibrium
for a system. - Independent, International, Innovative
Type of Definitioin Systemes Examples
Equilibrium
steady-state The kind of equilibrium Natural systems are open • Regulation of body temperture in mamals ：
equilibrium or that has fluctuations in the and most are in steady- If the temperature of a mammal rises above
dynamic system, but these are state equilibrium(which is 37 degrees, processes occur in the body to
equilibrium within narrow limites and also dynamic equilibrium). return the temperature to normal. If the
the system usually returns temperature falls, the processes are reversed
to its original state after to enable the body to warm up.
being disturbed.
• A population of animals/ human beings
remains approximately the same size. There
are always births/deaths, but if the birth and
death rates are equal, there is no net changes
in the population size.
Static A state of system when Closed or isolated system. A rock formation where the rocks do not move
euqilubrium systems are not living and the position or change their state over a certain
they remian unchanged for period of time.
a long peirods of time. Sofa or armchair which is not moving.
In question 1 Births + immigration = deaths and emigration results in dynamic equilibrium. Is true since this is exactly a
dynamic equilibrium should be: input=output. It can not be a static equilibrium since there are changes in terms of natality and
mortality, immigration and emigration. These two concepts can be confusing. © Zoe Badcock
Equilibrium: a state of balance that exists between the different parts of any system. There are different types of equilibrium
for a stystem. - Independent, International, Innovative
Type of Equilibrium Definitioin Systemes Examples
Stable equlibrium Siutations in a system where Open/closed/isolated A pendulum swigining-if it is pushed to the
change occurs the system side, it will return to its original position.
tends to return to the same
equlibrium after a
disturbance.
Unstable A state of equilibrium in Open/closed/isolated A ruler balanced vertically on a finger is in

equilibrium which a small disturbance unstable equilibrium. When it is disturbed, it
produces a large change and a will fall and continue to fall unti it hists the
new and different ground, creating a new and different
equilibrium. equilibrium.
Developing steady- This is steady-state equlibrium Usually Open Systems Ecocystems in succession. If there is a
state equlibrium that is developing over time. disturbance to the statedy-state ecosystems,
such as a natural event like a storm, the
system will be disturbed but will return to its
equlibrium.
Sucession taking place in a newly colonised
area.
© Zoe Badcock
- Independent, International, Innovative Check your understanding Questions
Question 2
Multiple choice question
Which of the following statements is accurate and complete?
1.A population is a group of individuals of the same species living in the same
area.
2.None of the other statements are accurate.
3.The biotic elements of the ecosystem is anything that is living.
4.Abiotic elements of an ecosystem are the things that interact with the biotic
elements.
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Question 2
Which of the following statements is accurate and complete?
1.A population is a group of individuals of the same species living in the same
area.
2.None of the other statements are accurate.
3.The biotic elements of the ecosystem is anything that is living.
4.Abiotic elements of an ecosystem are the things that interact with the biotic
elements.
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Question 3
Which of the following statements defines species?
Species is a group of organisms with common characteristics that can
interbreed to produce fertile offspring, e.g. Panthera leo.
Species is a group of organisms that can interbreed to produce
fertile offspring, e.g. Panthera leo.
Species is a group of organisms with common characteristics, e.g. Panthera
leo.
None of these are correct.
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Question 3
Which of the following statements defines species?
Species is a group of organisms with common characteristics that can
interbreed to produce fertile offspring, e.g. Panthera leo.
Species is a group of organisms that can interbreed to produce
fertile offspring, e.g. Panthera leo.
Species is a group of organisms with common characteristics, e.g. Panthera
leo.
None of these are correct.
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Question 4
A habitat is the geographical location in which a species usually lives.
Answer true or false.
False
Explanation The statement is inaccurate because habitat
is not necessarily a geographical location – if the organism
is a parasite the habitat could be the body of a host.
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Question 5- Independent, International, Innovative
Short text question
The fundamental niche is the area with its associated environment and resources in
which an organism could live, if there was no competition.
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Short text question
The fundamental niche is the area with its associated environment and resources in
which an organism could live, if there was no competition.
Accepted answers True

Explanation All organisms have a tolerance range for the abiotic factors
in their environment and it is this that forms the fundamental niche - the
area an organism could occupy if there was no competition. This is not
usually the area it does occupy which is the realised niche - the part of the
fundamental niche that the species actually occupies where there is
competition.
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Question 6 - Independent, International, Innovative
Multiple choice questionThe figure below shows
the fundamental niche of species A and species
B.
Which of the following statements describes the
fundamental niche of species A?
Species A is tolerant of a wide range of
temperatures and a small range of light
intensities.
Species A is tolerant of a narrow range of
temperatures and a large range of light
intensities.
Species A competes with species B in areas with
high light intensity.
high temperatures. ‫ َفا‬Ma
The figure below shows the fundamental niche of
species A and species B.
Which of the following statements describes the
fundamental niche of species A?
Species A is tolerant of a wide range of
temperatures and a small range of light
intensities.
Species A is tolerant of a narrow range of
temperatures and a large range of light
intensities.
high light intensity.
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high temperatures.
The graph below shows the niches
of two species within an
ecosystem.
State which area would have the
highest competition for niches
where light intensity and
temperature are important to
both species.
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The graph below shows the niches of
two species within an ecosystem.
State which area would have the highest
competition for niches where light
intensity and temperature are
important to both species.
Area 2
Explanation The area where both species are competing for the same
conditions will be the area with highest competition. In area 2 both species are
tolerant of low light intensity and low temperatures.
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Topic 2.1 Species and Population

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Environmental Systems and Societies

Topic 2.1 Species and Population

Fatima ‫ َفاِط َم ة‬Ma

Guiding Questions on your worksheet-Part 1

Command word: Outline means to Give a brief account or summary.

Fatima ‫ َفاِط َم ة‬Ma

Figure 4. pH Value for

have a range of tolerance to salinity. In Abiotic Factors/Sanlinity

present are limited to only micro-organisms

The important point here is the fertile offspring,

Theory of Knowledge-Essay Titles Discussion

Biologists and ecologists classify and name all organisms

A niche describes the particular set of

The niche is a diverse concept; it is very broad and encompasses

The fundamental niche describes the

species exists due to biotic interactions. Actual – may be same

Right click the

Species Describe esource

Niche (abioatic factors)

Niche(other factors, such as

In order to explore this

In order to explore this

Question 1 Multiple choice question

Which one of the following statements is accurate?

Type of Equilibrium Definitioin Systemes Examples

Unstable A state of equilibrium in Open/closed/isolated A ruler balanced vertically on a finger is in

Accepted answers True

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