Module 7 (Population, Evolution, Inheritance) Revision Notes
What is a species? group of organisms with similar characteristics that can interbreed to produce
fertile offspring
What is a population? all the individuals of a particular species in a particular place
What is a community? all the population of different species in a particular place
What is a habitat? the place where an organism lives
What is an ecosystem? a mix of different communities and habitats and how they interact based on
abiotic and biotic factors
What is ecological niche? an organisms role/position in an ecosystem – in terms of its interaction
with abiotic and biotic factors
Why can 2 different species not occupy the same ecological niche? interspecific competition will
take place for the limiting factors/resources (abiotic & biotic factors) – better adapted species will
out compete the other = competitive exclusion principle
How to sample plant species over a large area?
obtain a map of the area
divide the map into grids
select a large number of coordinates using a running mean
select a random set of coordinates using a random number chart
in each coordinate place a quadrat
measure abundance of the plant species in each quadrat = frequency or percentage cover
calculate average for the whole area
How to sample plants species along a path?
use a transect
place a tape along the path, count number of plants touching tape (Line Transect)
or
place a tape along the path, at regular intervals along the tape place a quadrat, measure
abundance within the quadrat (Belt Transect)
How to sample animal species in an area?
mark-release-recapture technique
set a trap
capture the animal species [Sample 1]
mark them (tag or fluorescent marker – ensure its non-toxic and not harmful)
release them
after some time (sufficient time for them to mix with the whole population), replace the
trap
count number in 2nd set [Sample 2] and count the number marked
estimate population size by: number in sample 1 x number in sample 2
marked in sample 2
What is a species? group of organisms with similar characteristics that can interbreed to produce
fertile offspring
What is a population? all the individuals of a particular species in a particular place
What is a community? all the population of different species in a particular place
What is a habitat? the place where an organism lives
What is an ecosystem? a mix of different communities and habitats and how they interact based on
abiotic and biotic factors
What is ecological niche? an organisms role/position in an ecosystem – in terms of its interaction
with abiotic and biotic factors
Why can 2 different species not occupy the same ecological niche? interspecific competition will
take place for the limiting factors/resources (abiotic & biotic factors) – better adapted species will
out compete the other = competitive exclusion principle
How to sample plant species over a large area?
obtain a map of the area
divide the map into grids
select a large number of coordinates using a running mean
select a random set of coordinates using a random number chart
in each coordinate place a quadrat
measure abundance of the plant species in each quadrat = frequency or percentage cover
calculate average for the whole area
How to sample plants species along a path?
use a transect
place a tape along the path, count number of plants touching tape (Line Transect)
or
place a tape along the path, at regular intervals along the tape place a quadrat, measure
abundance within the quadrat (Belt Transect)
How to sample animal species in an area?
mark-release-recapture technique
set a trap
capture the animal species [Sample 1]
mark them (tag or fluorescent marker – ensure its non-toxic and not harmful)
release them
after some time (sufficient time for them to mix with the whole population), replace the
trap
count number in 2nd set [Sample 2] and count the number marked
estimate population size by: number in sample 1 x number in sample 2
marked in sample 2
