IB Study Guide 1: Communities and Ecosystems
Biology
IB Study Guide 1: Communities and Ecosystems
5.1 Communities and Ecosystems (Core)
5. 1. 1 Define species, habitat, population, community, ecosystem, and ecology. Species – A species is a group of organisms with similar characteristics, which can interbreed and produce viable, fertile offspring. Habitat – A habitat is the environment in which a species normally lives or the location of a living organism. Population – A population is a group of organisms of the same species, who live in the same area at the same time. Community – A community is a group of populations living together and interacting with each other in an area. Ecosystem – An ecosystem is a community and its abiotic environment. Ecology – Ecology is the study of relationships in ecosystems – both relationships between organisms and between organisms and their environment.
5. 1. 2 Distinguish between autotroph and heterotroph. Autotrophs are organisms that synthesize their own organic molecules (food) from simple inorganic substances. More commonly known as producers, autotrophs make their own food. In most communities these producers create their own food through the process of photosynthesis. Meanwhile heterotrophs are organisms that obtain organic molecules (food) from other organisms. There are three different types of heterotrophs. The heterotrophs are represented by the consumers in a community, and can be found on the top of the food chain with the tertiary consumers.
5. 1. 3 Distinguish between consumers, detrivores, and saprotrophs.
There are three types of heterotrophs including consumers, detrivores, and saprotrophs. Consumers are organisms that ingest organic matter that is living or recently killed. Consumers are also split into three categories: primary, secondary, and tertiary consumers. Primary consumers directly ingest producers. Secondary consumers consume primary consumers as well as producers. Tertiary consumers are at the top of the food web and
IB Study Guide 1: Communities and Ecosystems
5.1 Communities and Ecosystems (Core)
5. 1. 1 Define species, habitat, population, community, ecosystem, and ecology. Species – A species is a group of organisms with similar characteristics, which can interbreed and produce viable, fertile offspring. Habitat – A habitat is the environment in which a species normally lives or the location of a living organism. Population – A population is a group of organisms of the same species, who live in the same area at the same time. Community – A community is a group of populations living together and interacting with each other in an area. Ecosystem – An ecosystem is a community and its abiotic environment. Ecology – Ecology is the study of relationships in ecosystems – both relationships between organisms and between organisms and their environment.
5. 1. 2 Distinguish between autotroph and heterotroph. Autotrophs are organisms that synthesize their own organic molecules (food) from simple inorganic substances. More commonly known as producers, autotrophs make their own food. In most communities these producers create their own food through the process of photosynthesis. Meanwhile heterotrophs are organisms that obtain organic molecules (food) from other organisms. There are three different types of heterotrophs. The heterotrophs are represented by the consumers in a community, and can be found on the top of the food chain with the tertiary consumers.
5. 1. 3 Distinguish between consumers, detrivores, and saprotrophs.
There are three types of heterotrophs including consumers, detrivores, and saprotrophs. Consumers are organisms that ingest organic matter that is living or recently killed. Consumers are also split into three categories: primary, secondary, and tertiary consumers. Primary consumers directly ingest producers. Secondary consumers consume primary consumers as well as producers. Tertiary consumers are at the top of the food web and