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A Level Geography (CP,GG,Ec) > 3.2.2: The structure and functioning of ecosystems > Flashcards

3.2.2: The structure and functioning of ecosystems Flashcards

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1
Q

Input

A

Material or energy moving into the system from outside

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2
Q

Output

A

Material or energy moving from the system to the outside

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3
Q

Energy

A

Power or driving force behind the system

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4
Q

Stores/components

A

The individual elements or parts of a system

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5
Q

Flows/transfers

A

The links or relationships between the components

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6
Q

Positive feedback

A

A sequence of events that amplifies or increases a change, promotes environmental instability, spirals out of control

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7
Q

Negative feedback

A

A sequence of events that dampen or reduce the effects in a system promoting dynamic equilibrium

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8
Q

Dynamic equilibrium

A

This represents a state if balance within a constantly changing ecosystem

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9
Q

Biotic components

4

A

Animals/birds
trees/plants
bacteria
insects

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10
Q

Abiotic components

6

A 
rocks
soil
air
water
climate
light
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11
Q

Food chains

A

Trace single routes of pathways from one organism to another

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12
Q

Example of a food chain in deciduous woodland

A

plant > insect > toad > snake > fox

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13
Q

Food web

A

Interconnecting web of food chains which are linked

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14
Q

Needed for growth, movement and reproduction?

A

biological molecules and vitamins

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15
Q

Examples of biological molecules

3

A

fats, carbohydrates and proteins

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16
Q

Consumers

A

Organisms that eat plants or other animals

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17
Q

Example of a food web

A

marine or aquatic ecosystems illustrate food webs well

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18
Q

Why are marine or aquatic ecosystems good examples of food webs
4 reasons

A
  • the sea provides the basic requirements for life,
  • there are more favourable conditions for organic production in the sea than on land,
  • water and oxygen are abundant and carbon dioxide is readily available,
  • temperature variations are less extreme than on land.
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19
Q

Basic requirements for life

4

A

water
nutrients
heat
light

20
Q

Trophic level

A

Position an organism occupies in a food web

21
Q

Producers

A

self-feeding autotrophs that produce energy through photosynthesis

22
Q

Examples of producers

3

A

grass, oak leaf, phyloplankton

23
Q

Primary consumers

A

vegetarian herbivores eat plants

24
Q

Examples of primary consumers

3

A

earthworms, caterpillars, zooplankton

25
Q

Secondary consumers

A

meat eating carnivores eat animals

26
Q

Examples of secondary consumers

3

A

house sparrow, blue tit, fish

27
Q

Tertiary consumers

A

Top predators (omnivores) eat small animals

28
Q

Examples of tertiary consumers

3

A

tawny owl
hawk
great white shark

29
Q

Gross primary productivity

A

total energy fixed by green plants

30
Q

GPP

A

gross primary productivity

31
Q

NPP

A

net primary productivity

32
Q

Net primary productivity

A

Energy from GPP after respiratory losses, produced new biomass

33
Q

NPP equation

A

NPP = GPP - R

34
Q

Most productive ecosystem

A

tropical rainforest

35
Q

Secondary productivity

A

animal productivity

36
Q

Primary productivity

A

plant productivity

37
Q

What is vital for sustaining life in an ecosystem

A

constant recycling of nutrients

38
Q

Stores in an ecosystem

3

A

biomass, soil and litter

39
Q

Inputs into an ecosystem

2

A

rainfall and weathering of parent rock

40
Q

Ouputs out of an ecosystem

2

A

surface runoff and leaching

41
Q

Transfers in an ecosystem

3

A

littering, decomposition and plant uptake

42
Q

Factors that influence the rate of weathering and therefore nutrient availability
2

A

temp and moisture

43
Q

Factors that influence the rate of photosynthesis

3

A

water, availability of sunlight and temp

44
Q

Optimum temperature for metabolic activity

A

15-25 degrees C

45
Q

Units for primary productivity

A

grams of carbon per metre3 per year

gCm-3yr-1

46
Q

Tropical rainforest primary productivity

A

2000 gCm-3yr-1

47
Q

Tundra primary productivity

A

140 gCm-3yr-1

A Level Geography (CP,GG,Ec) (26 decks)

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