1.7b Ecological relationships and energy flow

Question 1

What type of organism is a fungus

Answer 1

A saprophyte

Question 2

What is a saprophyte

Answer 2

An organism eg fungi or bacteria that decompose dead material

Question 3

Fungi use extracellular digestion. what does this mean?

Answer 3

They secrete enzymes from the cells, break down the dead material and absorb the smaller molecules

Question 4

What is the name of the mineral rich substance produced by decomposers

Answer 4

Humus

Question 5

What 3 conditions are needed for decomposition

Answer 5

Water
Oxygen
Warmth

Question 6

In the Carbon cycle what process will remove Carbon dioxide from the atmosphere

Answer 6

Photosynthesis in plants

Question 7

In the Carbon Cycle what do plants produce with the carbon dioxide absorbed by them

Answer 7

Carbohydrates e.g. starch and cellulose,
proteins
fats

Question 8

How do plants put carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere

Answer 8

Respiration

Question 9

Plants are eaten by animals and the carbon is passed onto the animals. WHat form of Carbon is found in animals

Answer 9

Glycogen
Fat
Protein

Question 10

Plants and animals die. They are broken down by organisms - what are they called

Answer 10

Decomposers - include saprophytic microorganisms eg fungi, bacteria

Question 11

Animals and decomposers all use carbon compounds for energy . WHat process do they all do

Answer 11

Respiration

Question 12

If dead animals and plants do not decay what happens to them

Answer 12

Fossilisation

Question 13

How do fossil fuels contribute carbon to the atmosphere

Answer 13

When burnt (combustion) they releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere

Question 14

In the nitrogen cycle what are the bacteria called that convert nitrogen in the air to nitrates

Answer 14

Nitrogen fixing bacteria

Question 15

The nitrates formed are used by plants to make what

Answer 15

Proteins

Question 16

Dead plants and animals are broken down by decomposers. WHat are the N substances converted to by the decomposers

Answer 16

Ammonia

Question 17

Ammonia is not able to be used by plants but must be converted to nitrates - what is the name of the process that is involved in this process and what is the process called

Answer 17

Nitifying bacteria
process called Nitrification

Question 18

If soil becomes waterlogged why is this a problem

Answer 18

There is no oxygen available for the aerobic bacteria eg decomposers and nitrifying bacteria

Question 19

What happens to nitrates in water logged soil

Answer 19

It is broken down to Nitrogen by Denitrifying bacteria in a process called denitification.

Question 20

What is Magnesium needed for in plants

Answer 20

To make chlorophyll

Question 21

What is calcium needed for in plants

Answer 21

To produce cell walls

Question 22

What is nitrogen needed for in plants

Answer 22

To make nitrates to produce proteins

Question 23

Minerals are taken up from the soil by plants - how is the root hair cell adapted

Answer 23

It has a large surface area for absoption

Question 24

Minerals are taken up by Active Uptake (active transport)
What is this

Answer 24

Uses energy from respiration to move minerals from a low concentration (in soil) to an area of high concentration (inside the root)

Question 25

What is eutrophication

Answer 25

Pollution of waterways by sewage or fertilisers

Question 26

What are the main steps of eutrophication

Answer 26

Fertilisers washed into rivers/lakes
Causes algal bloom
These block out light from plants underneath
Algae use up the nutrients in water so have nitrate depletion
Plants and algae die
Decomposers have lots of dead material - the decomposers increase in numbers rapidly
Decomposers respire - use up the oxygen in the water
oxygen depletion in water causes living organisms (vertebrates and invertebrates) to die