Theory question 108
Ecosystem and Ecological Factors(a) Write short notes on the following:
(i) habitat; (ii) ecological niche
(b) (i) List three instruments used in the measurement of different ecological factors
(ii) Briefly state what each instrument listed in (b) (i) above is used for.
(c) Name; (i) three plants; (ii) two animals found in savannah vegetation.
Show the model answer
(a)(i) Habitat: the natural place where an organism lives, e.g. a pond, the soil, a forest; it provides food, shelter and breeding sites.
(ii) Ecological niche: the role an organism plays in its habitat – what it eats, what eats it, where it lives and how it affects other organisms; no two species share exactly the same niche.
(b) Any three, each with its use: thermometer – temperature; rain gauge – rainfall; hygrometer/wet-and-dry bulb – relative humidity; wind vane – wind direction; anemometer – wind speed; Secchi disc – turbidity of water; light meter/photometer – light intensity; pH meter/indicator – acidity; quadrat – plant population; hydrometer – density/salinity of water.
(c)(i) Any three: elephant grass, guinea grass, shea butter tree, locust bean (Parkia), baobab, acacia, Isoberlinia, Daniellia.
(ii) Any two: lion, antelope, giraffe, zebra, elephant, grasshopper, termite, cattle egret.
Pair each instrument with the factor it measures.