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Effects of environmental change on communities

Ecology • Adaptations, interdependence and competition

Key concepts

What you'll likely be quizzed about

  • Abiotic factors are the non-living parts of the environment, including light intensity, temperature, water availability, soil pH, and dissolved oxygen.
  • A limiting factor restricts the rate of a biological process or the size of a population; for instance, low light limits photosynthesis or low oxygen restricts aquatic life.
  • Population size responds to the most limiting factor at any given moment.
  • Multiple limiting factors may interact, causing one factor to become more limiting if another is altered.
  • Farmers manipulate limiting factors like light and temperature to maximize crop yield, as growth depends on the most restrictive condition.

Flashcards

Test your knowledge with interactive flashcards

How does removal of a top predator affect a community?

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Removing a top predator allows prey populations to increase, often leading to resource depletion and declines in plant populations and other dependent species.

Key notes

Important points to keep in mind

Abiotic factors are non-living; biotic factors are living.

Limiting factors control growth until changed.

Producer changes cascade through the food web.

Predator-prey relationships often produce cyclical patterns.

Invasive species and diseases can cause lasting community changes.

Temperature and water shifts lead species to migrate or decline.

Human activities alter abiotic and biotic conditions, reducing biodiversity.

Ecological sampling supports accurate distribution and abundance assessments.

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