3.5 population size and ecosystems Flashcards
population definition
the total number of organisms of a single species interbreeding within a habitat
what is the population size equation?
population size = birth size + immigration - death rate + emigration
the number of individuals in a population changes over time
immigration definition
the movement of individuals into a population
what happens to the number of organisms in the lag phase?
- there is a period of slow growth
(in sexually reproducing organisms e.g rabbits, this represent the time taken to reach sexual maturity and gestating young)
what happens to the number of organisms in the log phase?
- (growth phase)
- numbers increase logarithmically as there are no factors limiting growth
- this cannot be maintained indefinitely as environmental resistance reduces growth (e.g biotic + abiotic factors)
biotic factors definition
- a living factor that can influence the population
- e.g a predator or pathogen
abiotic factors definition
- a non-living factor which can influence the population
- e.g oxygen availability or air temperature
what are some examples of biotic factors that limit growth?
- predation
- competition
- parasitism
- disease
what are some examples of abiotic factors that limit growth?
- soil pH
- light intensity
- temperature
what happens to the number of organisms in the stationary phase?
- birth and death rates are equal
- the population has reached its maximum size/carrying capacity
- numbers will fluctuate around this in response to environmental changes
- this is often due to predator-prey relationships, where negative feedback regulates, i.e no. of prey decreases so there is less food so no. of predators decrease, which reduces predation, so prey number increases, and so on.
- these fluctuations exist over months, even years as population responses are slow
what happens to the number of organisms in the death phase?
- factors that have reduced population growth become more significant and the population size decreases
- death exceeds birth
- when writing about population growth, it is important to consider the organism
- bacteria are not born, mammals are
- the death phase in bacteria occurs largely due to build up of toxic waste products; which cannot be said about a population of rabbits
carrying capacity definition
- the maximum size/number/density of a population
- that can be sustained/maintained (indefinitely) by a particular environment
- (varies depending on biotic and abiotic factors)
negative feedback definition
- occurs in an equilibrium where the corrective mechanism is in the opposite direction to the direction change
- e.g if population numbers increase, negative feedback results in a decrease and vice versa
what is a log scale used for?
- used to show very large numbers which a linear scale would be unable to do
- with log10, the scale increases by a factor of ten times each time
what are density-dependent factors? examples?
- factors that have an increased effect on larger population sizes (denser population)
- are biotic factors
- e.g predation and disease. in larger populations, disease is more easily spread, and a predator can find more prey more easily
what are density-independent factors? examples?
- abiotic
- their effect is the same regardless of the population density
- e.g light intensity, temperature, fire
what is the abundance of a species?
- a measure of how many individuals exist in a habitat
- physical features like soil type, pH and temperature will influence the range of organisms that can live there
- where conditions are optimal, e.g warm, good rainfall, high sunlight intensity, then many plants will be found supporting many other animals
why should sampling be at random?
to eliminate sampling bias
(can be done by creating a square grid and generating random coordinates)
what are some methods to estimate the number of individuals of each species in a given area?
- mark-release-recapture
- kick sampling + simpson’s index
- quadrats + transects
what type of species does the mark-release-recapture technique work on?
terrestrial animals
what is the method for mark-release-recapture (lincoln index)?
- animals are captured and marked (important that they are not harmed or made more visible to predators) and then released
- once animals have had chance to reintegrate with the population, e.g 24hours, the traps are reset
- the total population size can be estimated using the number of individuals captured in sample 2, and the number in the sample that are marked (i.e caught before)
- pop size = (no. in sample 1 x no. in sample 2) / no. marked in sample
- have to assume that no births/death/immigration/emigration, have occurred during the time between collecting both samples
what is the equation to determine population size using the capture-recapture method?
population size = (no. in sample 1 x no. in sample 2) / no. marked in sample
what do you have to assume when doing the capture-recapture technique?
- that no births/deaths/immigration/emigration have occurred during the time between collecting both samples
what type of species does kick-sampling and Simpson’n index work for?
freshwater invertebrates
what is the method for kick-sampling?
- collect and identify invertebrates from a given area using a quadrat and a net
- kick or rake the area e.g 0.5m^2 for a set period e.g 30seconds, and collect invertebrates in a net downstream
- release invertebrates carefully
- use simpson’s index to calculate diversity
what type of species does quatrats and transects work for to estimate population size?
plants
what is the method for using quadrats and transects to estimate population size?
- estimate % area cover of different plants using a quadrat divided into 100 sections
- measure plant density by counting number of plants in a quadrat e.g 1m^2
- a transect is a tape measure that is used to measure intervals along an environmental gradient e.g distance from a woodland, along which quadrats can be placed
ecosystem definition
- a community in which energy and matter are transferred in complex interactions between the environment and organisms, involving biotic and abiotic elements
what are some examples of ecosystems?
- tropical rainforest
- temperate deciduous forest
- tundra
- desert
the abiotic and biotic features vary from ecosystem to ecosystem
what does a food chain represent?
the energy flow through an ecosystem
what is the ultimate source of energy for a food chain?
what is it converted into? by what?
sunlight
- which is converted into chemical energy by producers via photosynethesis
most of the energy available at each trophic level is released in _____ and incorporated into other molecules or into electrochemical gradients
respiration
- this means that often less than 10% is incorporated into biomass and is availability to the next trophic level, which ultimately limits the length of food chains
producer definition (food chain)
- the autotrophic organism at the start of a food chain converts light energy into chemical energy
trophic level definition
the feeding level within a food chain and shows the number of times that energy has been transferred to successive organisms along a food chain
biomass definition
the mass of biological material in living, or recently living organisms
what does a typical food chain look like?
SUN —> producer —> primary consumer —> secondary consumer —> tertiary consumer (all consumers —> detritivores and decomposers)
what are primary consumers?
- herbivores and feed on producers
what do secondary and tertiary consumers include?
- carnivores and feed on the trophic level below
what are food webs?
- more complex energy flow diagrams
- as some tertiary consumers feed at more than one trophic level
what are detritivores?
- organisms that feed on detritus (the remnants of dead organisms and fallen leaves)
- e.g earthworms and woodlice
- decomposition involves detritivores, which feed on detritus and decomposers, that feed via external digestion (saprotrophism) completing the process started by the detritivores
- they therefore feed on all trophic levels
- when decomposers die they are fed on by other decomposers
what are some examples of decomposers?
- bacteria
- fungi
the majority of light falling on a plant (60%) may not be absorbed by the pigments within the chloroplasts because it is:
- the wrong wavelength
- reflected by the leaf surface
- transmitted through the leaf without striking a chlorophyll molecule
roughly what % of energy from sunlight is available to the next trophic level as biomass?
0.5%
how can photosynthetic efficiency be calculated?
efficiency = (quantity of light energy fixed by plant / quantity of light energy falling on plant ) x100
gross primary productivity (GPP) definition
- the rate of conversion of light energy into chemical energy (by producers/by photosynthesis)
- measure in kJ m^-2 year^-1r
- is the total energy/CO2 transferred/fixed by plant
net primary productivity (NPP) definition
- the energy in the plant’s biomass which is actually available to primary consumers
- the total energy minus the energy lost in plant respiration
what equation can represent the NPP (net primary productivity)
NPP = GPP - R
where R = respiration
does the NPP (net primary productivity) vary according to the ecosystem?
yes
- tropical rainforests have a very high NPP due to plentiful rainfall, high light intensity and warm temperature
- tundra has a much lower NPP due to the environment being cold, with much lower light intensities
only part of the NPP in an ecosystem is transferred to the primary consumers due to low conversion efficiency
the transfer of energy in the form of biomass from one trophic level to the next is relatively low at around ___% or less
10% or less
in a primary producer, how is energy typically lost?
- in excretion and egestion (urine and faeces)
- lost as heat in respiration
what is the secondary production?
- the proportion of chemical energy of food which consumers convert into biomass
why is the secondary production (proportion of chemical energy of food which consumers convert into biomass) much higher in carnivores)
- due to the fact that they can digest their protein-rich diet more efficiently
what is the equation to calculate the % efficiency of energy transfer?
% efficiency = ( energy produced as biomass / energy available to next trophic level ) x100
only a pyramid of ____ shows true energy flow through an ecosystem
energy
(not pyramid of numbers or biomass)
pyramid of numbers info:
adv/disadv?
- relatively easy to construct
- shows the energy flow through a food chain: as energy is lost at each stage, fewer individuals can be supported
- but doesn’t take into account the size of organisms e.g a few wheat plants can support large numbers of greenfly, and so the pyramid inverts at this trophic level
- when dealing with very large numbers e.g aphids, it is difficult to draw the bars to scale
pyramid of biomass info:
adv/disadv?
- more accurate than pyramid of numbers
- but difficult to measure
- pyramids may also be inverted, which can happen when organisms have a rapid life cycle and so numbers are replenished very quickly e.g phytoplankton, where total biomass over a year is considerably higher than at any given time
- pyramids also difficult to calculate (e.g how do u measure the mass of tree roots)
pyramid of energy info:
adv/disadv?
- most accurate way of representing feeding relationships
- show more clearly the energy lost at each level
- but are difficult to calculate
however, no pyramid can show that some organisms operate at several trophic levels
succession definition
- the change in the structure and species composition of a community over time
ecosystems are dynamic and subject to change over time. the change in the composition of a community over time is referred to as succession, and occurs over tens to thousands of years depending upon the starting point
what is each stage in succession known as?
- a seral stage
- where different communities dominate as they outcompete pre-existing species as conditions are more favourable for them
when does primary succession occur?
- when organisms invade spaces that did not previously support life
- e.g bare rocks, sand dunes, volcanic flows
(where an area previously devoid of life is colonised by pioneer species)
what changes as succession progresses?
- soil depth increases
- nutrient content increases
- humus content increases ∴ water content increases
- species diversity increases
- stability of community increases
what is secondary succession?
the reintroduction of organisms into a habitat previously occupied by plants and animals
- soil is present
- disrupted from succession by event such as fire/flooding/cultivation
climax community definition
a stable community that undergoes no further change
pioneer species definition
- the first species to colonise a new area in an ecological succession
- e.g mosses and lichens in primary succession
primary succession from bare rock example:
- weathering creates small cracks in the rocks and small particles
- mosses and lichens begin to colonise. organic matter builds up slowly
- legumes begin to grow as they are able to fix atmospheric nitrogen to supplement the poor nutrient soil. as they die soil becomes enriched
- grasses and ferns start to grow, sheltering the soil from the elements. soil, and its moisture content increases
- large shrubs and small trees colonise. leaf litter greatly increases fertility and humus content of the soil. habitats created for nesting birds and soil invertebrates so diversity increases
- climax woodland is reached. this is usually oak, beech, hazel or lime species but is largely deciduous in southern UK. ground flora includes bracken, shrubs and bluebells
when does a deflected or disclimax arise?
- when the climax community is not reached due to practices such as monoculture, or grazing i.e human intervention
- heather moors are managed to increase grouse numbers routinely burning large areas every twelve years to remove old growth and encourage new pioneer species which provide food for grouse
comparison of primary and secondary succession:
primary vs secondary
- surface is bare vs soil present
- pioneer organisms are lichens and mosses vs pioneer organisms are typically small weedy plants
- takes a long time to reach climax community bc soil must be created through physical and biotic interactions vs quicker to reach climax community
niche definition
the role and position a species has in its environment including all interactions with the biotic and abiotic factors
mutualism definition
- an interaction between organisms of two species from which both derive benefit
- two species in a relationship that is beneficial to both
commensalism definition
- an interaction between organisms of two species from which one benefits but the other is not affected
- the immigration of spores and seeds into an area are important in the recolonisation of an area
- as new species are introduced, competition exists for resources at all the seral stages because, e.g legumes can outcompete mosses as the soil content increases
what does competition exist between?
- different species (interspecific competition) where each may occupy a different niche
- individuals of the same species (intraspecific competition) which is density dependent in.e competition increases with population size
can two species occupy the same niche?
no
- when two species occupy the same habitat, one will out-compete the other
what is an example of commensalism?
- the small fish that attach themselves to larger fish for locomotion and food scraps
microorganisms are important in the recycling of a number of nutrients e.g. carbon and nitrogen, which cycle between the biotic and abiotic components of an environment
how is carbon (+carbon dioxide) absorbed in the carbon cycle?
- carbon is absorbed from the atmosphere during photosynthesis
- carbon dioxide is dissolved in aquatic ecosystems as HCO3 - ions
(and undergoes similar processes as in the atmosphere, except that it forms calcium carbonate in mollusc shells and arthropod skeletons. when these organisms die, and their shells settle on the ocean bed, compression over millions of years forms chalk, limestone and marble, from these carbonates which act as a longer-term store (or sink) for carbon
how is carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere in the carbon cycle?
- returned to the atmosphere during respiration
- during combustion of fossil fuels, but decreasing amounts are being removed by photosynthesis as large area of forests are being deforested, resulting in unprecedented rises in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels
- detritivores and decomposers feed on every trophic level, and as they respire, CO2 is returned to the atmosphere
- erosion of these rocks made from shells of organisms that contain co2 return carbon dioxide back to the atmosphere
what are some human impacts on the carbon cycle?
- deforestation
- burning of fossil fuels
how has deforestation impacted on the carbon cycle?
- it significantly reduces volume of carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere through photosynthesis
how has the burning of fossil fuels impacted on the carbon cycle?
- increase in carbon dioxide emissions over recent decades has led to an enhanced greenhouse effect
carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas which absorbs ____ radiation and re-radiates it back towards the earth’s surface rather than allowing it to escape into space
- infrared radiation
why do we need a natural greenhouse effect?
or temperatures would fluctuate too widely to support life
what are some other gases that act as strong greenhouse gases?
- methane
- nitrous oxide
- ozone
- water vapour
- CFCs
the process of photosynthesis (increases/decreases) CO2 levels?
decreases
the process of respiration (increases/decreases) CO2 levels?
increases
the process of combustion (increases/decreases) CO2 levels?
increases
the process of deforestation(increases/decreases) CO2 levels?
increases
desertification definition
the process by which fertile land becomes desert as it loses water, vegetation and wildlife
rising carbon dioxide levels lead to:
- global warming
- climate change
what happens to the earth as global temperatures rise?
- polar ice melts, resulting in sea levels rising and coastal flooding
- higher temperatures increases the incidence of forest fires, and lead to desertification
climate change is a consequence of ____
global warming
- as changes to regional climate patterns, average temperature, wind patterns and rainfall become more noticeable, and extreme weather conditions e.g drought and hurricanes, become more frequent
how is the earth affected by climate change?
- as the climate changes, plants and animals may not be able to adapt or migrate and many will become extinct
- there is a risk from both global warming and the associated change in climate that many areas will suffer crop yield reductions and failed harvests, unless farming practices are changed e.g through use of drought-tolerant crops
- acidification of oceans due to increased dissolved co2 will affect many aquatic organisms: fish gills produce mucus in response to increasing acidity which reduces gas exchange, and crustaceans lose calcium carbonate from their exoskeletons as it is soluble in acid
what does the carbon footprint represent?
the equivalent amount of carbon dioxide produced in one year by an individual or activity
how does agriculture induce a carbon footprint?
- whilst removing co2 via photosynthesis, energy is needed to produce insecticides and fertilisers, fossil fuels power farming machines and produce needs to be transported to markets
how can we reduce energy consumption and hence our carbon footprint?
- reduce use of products
- reuse products more
- recycling
what does the nitrogen cycle involve?
- the flow of nitrogen atoms between the atmosphere and inorganic and organic nitrogen compounds in the soil or water
why is nitrogen needed by plants?
to synthesise nucleic acids and proteins
why must nitrogen gas be absorbed by plants in some other form?
- because nitrogen gas is inert
- usually nitrate ions in solution via their roots
how do animals obtain a source of nitrogen?
by digesting plant and animal proteins
what are the 4 main processes in the nitrogen cycle?
- ammonification (putrefaction)
- nitrification
- denitrification
- nitrogen fixation
what is ammonification in the nitrogen cycle?
- bacteria and fungi digest extracellularly dead organisms, faeces and urine
- proteases hydrolyse proteins to amino acids and deaminases reduce the amino groups to ammonium ions (NH4 +)
(by decomposers)
what is nitrification in the nitrogen cycle?
- the addition of nitrates to the soil by the conversion of ammonium ions to nitrites by Nitrosomonas bacteria and then the conversion of nitrites to nitrates by Nitrobacter bacteria
- the first reaction involves the loss of hydrogen atoms and both result in the gain of oxygen, meaning both reactions are oxidation and require aerobic conditions
what is denitrification in the nitrogen cycle?
- the loss of nitrate ions from the soil by anaerobic bacteria Pseudomonas, to atmospheric nitrogen gas
what is nitrogen fixation in the nitrogen cycle?
- the reduction of atmospheric nitrogen molecules to ammonium ions
- this is accomplished by two genera of bacteria:
• Azotobacter free living in the soil accounts for most nitrogen fixation
• Rhizobium is a mutualistic bacterium found in the root nodules of leguminous plants e.g pea and clover. nitrogen gas diffuses into the nodules where nitrogenase enzyme produced by the bacteria reduces nitrogen (N2) to ammonium ions (NH4 +) in an anaerobic process. the ammonium ions are converted to organic acids and amino acids for the bacteria, and some enter the phloem for use by the plant
nitrogen-fixing bacteria reduce ______ to _____ in an anaerobic process
- atmospheric nitrogen (N2) to ammonium ions (NH4 +)
human impact on the nitrogen cycle:
- to maximise yields, farmers use pesticides to reduce damage to crops, and use nitrogen-based fertilisers e.g ammonium nitrate, to improve plant growth
- farmers regularly plough and drain soils to increase soil aeration, which favours the aerobic processes of nitrogen fixation and nitrification, whilst inhibiting denitrification, which is anaerobic
- (this also allows air to reach the roots of plants, as nitrates and other minerals are taken up by active transport, which requires ATP)
- manure and slurry are also added to soils to improve soil structure and nitrogen content
- major consequence of using water-soluble nitrate fertilisers is that they can be washed off (leached) into water courses - eutrophication
- phosphates used in washing powders entering the water course further compound the problem
- the increase in nitrates and phosphates lead to an algal bloom which blocks out light to aquatic plants
- as plants and algae die, they form detritus, which is decomposed aerobically, using up dissolved oxygen in the water, which cause other aerobic organisms e.g fish, to die, further adding to the detritus
- eventually all the oxygen is used up and only anaerobic bacteria survive, releasing ammonia, methane and hydrogen sulphide into the water creating an environment toxic to most aerobic organisms
what is biological oxygen demand (BOD)?
- the amount of dissolved oxygen needed by organisms to break down organic material present in a given water sample at certain temperature over a specific time period
- when this is high, microorganisms are respiring aerobically depleting the dissolved oxygen in the water
what can farmers do to reduce fertiliser run-off?
- apply fertilisers when plants are actively growing. this increases their uptake reducing build up in the soil
- not apply fertilisers within 10 meters of watercourses
- dig drainage ditches to collect any run off
ecology definition
the study of the relationships among organisms and their environment
community definition
all of the populations of different species living together in a habitat
what is a habitat?
- the region where an organism normally lives
what do population numbers depend on?
- birth rate
- death rate
- immigration
- emigration
birth rate definition
the number of offspring born per thousand of population per year
death rate definition
the number of deaths per thousand of population per year
what is emigration?
the number of individuals leaving a region per thousand of population per year
when do population sizes increase?
when births and immigrants are greater than deaths and emigrants
what is distribution?
the spread of living organisms in an ecosystem
suggest different ways abundance can be quantified:
- percentage area cover
- percentage frequency
- density
what is systematic sampling?
- sampling technique used to determine the abundance and distribution if organisms along an area at periodic intervals e.g along a belt transect
- commonly used in ecosystems where some form of gradual change occurs
what is biomass? how is it transferred? how can we measure this?
- total weight of living matter in a certain area
- transferred up trophic levels through consumption
- measured in terms of mass of carbon, or dry mass of tissue
why is some energy never taken in at each trophic level?
- some parts of food arent consumed
- some parts of food are indigestible
- plants cant use all light energy as some is the wrong wavelength
summarise the process of primary succession:
- pioneer species colonise the area
- they die, decompose and add nutrients to the ground
- over time, this allows more complex organisms to survive
what are seres?
- various intermediate stages in succession in an ecosystem progressing towards a climax community
how does succession affect species diversity and the stability of a community?
succession increases species diversity and the stability of the community
describe extracellular digestion by saprotrophs
- they release enzymes which catalyse the breakdown of dead plant and animal material into simpler organic matter
describe the stages of the carbon cycle:
- photosynthesising plants remove CO2 from the atmosphere
- eating passes carbon compounds along a food chain
- respiration in plants and animals returns CO2 to the atmosphere
- organisms die and decompose. saprotrophs break down dead material and release CO2 via respiration
- combustion of materials (e.g wood, fossil fuels) releases CO2
what is the greenhouse effect?
- the increase of global temperatures caused by the trapping of solar heat by gases in the atmosphere
how might global warming affect the natural world?
- temperature, rainfall, light levels etc all affect survival
- habitats may be destroyed by deforestation or flooding
- species may need to change their habitat, or face extinction
how do plant roots take up nitrogen?
- taken up via active transport and facilitated diffusion as ammonium (NH4 +) and nitrate ions (NO3 -)
name the four types of bacteria involved in the nitrogen cycle
- nitrogen-fixing bacteria
- nitrifying bacteria
- denitrifying bacteria
- decomposers
give some examples of nitrogen-fixing bacteria
- azotobacter - lives freely in the soil
- rhizobium - lives inside the root nodules of leguminous plants
name the 2 types of nitrifying bacteria and state their functions
- nitrosomonas - oxidises ammonium compounds into nitrites
- nitrobacter - oxidises nitrites into nitrates
what are denitrifying bacteria?
- anaerobic microorganisms
- found in waterlogged soils
- responsible for the reduction of nitrate ions to nitrogen gas
describe the economic importance of the nitrogen cycle
- maximises plant growth and crop yield, increasing food production
how can farmers increase the nitrate content of soil?
- ploughing and drainage to aerate the soil
- application of fertilisers
- growing legumes
what are fertilisers?
natural or artificial materials that are added to soils to provide essential nutrients and improve plants growth
give some example of natural fertilisers
- manure
- compost
- treated sewage
give an example of an artificial fertiliser
ammonium nitrate
what is eutrophication?
- the process by which pollution by nitrogen-containing fertilisers results in algal blooms and subsequent oxygen level reduction in bodies of water
describe how fertilisers can cause eutrophication
- fertilisers run-off into rivers and lakes
- nutrients buildup in water
- algal bloom blocks sunlight
- aquatic plants cannot photosynthesise therefore less oxygen produced
- they die and decompose
- decomposers further deplete oxygen levels
- animals can no longer respire aerobically so die
how does digging drainage ditches affect habitats?
- habitat loss
- reduced biodiversity
- may lead to eutrophication
in areas of malaysia large-scale deforestation is taking place.
explain how this deforestation could increase the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere in the area [2]
- less CO2 used in photosynthesis
- more CO2 produced in combustion
- more decomposition so more CO2
in areas of malaysia large-scale deforestation is taking place.
explain how this deforestation could decrease the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere in the area [1]
- less respiration by (plants/animals/decomposers)
ants of the genus Philidris live inside these pods. the ants stored dead insects and rear their young inside the pods. the ants and dead insects contribute to the nutrients available to these leaves
- the main source of carbon for these leaves is from the air inside the pod, not the atmosphere.
- describe how carbon inside the pod is made available for use by these leaves [4]
- carbon in the (molecules) of dead insects/ant faeces
- reference to role of decomposers/decomposed by (bacteria/fungi)
- carbon dioxide released
- from respiration
ants of the genus Philidris live inside these pods. the ants stored dead insects and rear their young inside the pods. the ants and dead insects contribute to the nutrients available to these leaves
- describe how nitrogen is made available for use by these leaves [3]
- (decomposers/bacteria/fungi) release ammonium ions/NH4 + ammonification
- ammonium/NH4 + converted to nitrile/NO2 -
- nitrile/NO2 - converted to nitrate/NO3 -
- by (both named) nitrifying bacteria/nitrification
to find the dry mass the ecologists dried the grass samples in an oven at 65°C
- describe how the ecologists would be confident that all the water had been removed but none of the organic matter had been lost [2]
- repeat until constant mass recorded
- no burning or combustion
given that one effect of global warming appears to be more flooding in the uk, discuss why the government is encouraging landowners to preserve and reinstate such meadows in certain areas by compensating them for the loss of productive farm land [4]
- land retains the water/acts as a sponge
- which is only released slowly into the rivers
- reducing (flash-)floods
- conflict between loss of farmland and conservation/cost of damage from flooding is more than farmers compensation for the loss of use of land
- conservation (of rate species/biodiversity)
describe the technique you would use to carry out an assessment of the abundance of two species across a moderately trampled footpath [3]
- use of transect AND use of quadrats
- estimate the % cover / number / frequency of each species
- repeat at (points/intervals) along the footpath
why would a food chain usually sustain no more than six energy transfers?
explain why it would be more energy efficient to produce food in the form of corn, soy beans, and other crops rather than as meat and other animal products [3]
- there is insufficient energy available to support a further trophic level
- energy is lost as metabolic heat/waste/through respiration when the organisms from one trophic level are consumed by organisms from the next level
- fewer trophic levels means more energy available for human (food)
explain my most warm-blooded organisms have to eat more often than cold-blooded organisms to get the energy they need for survival [2]
- need to maintain body temperature
- which means they use (more) food in RESPIRATION to produce HEAT
suggest one density independent factor that might cause the population of red kites in Wales to crash in the future [1]
- extreme climate
- severe weather
- harsh winter
- drought
- wind farms
- fires
- shooting
- deforestation
- habitat destruction
name the group of plants which have the largest number of root nodules on their roots [1]
legumes
explain the advantage to plants having root nodules [3]
- contain nitrogen fixing bacteria
- such as Rhizobium
- (some) (nitrogenous compounds/ammonium ions/ammonia/amino acids) pass to the PLANT
- allows the plant to grow in poor soil/used for (amino acid/proteinsynthesis)
nitrosomonas and nitrobacteria are two groups of bacteria which carry out nitrification.
explain this process and why it is so important to soil fertility [3]
nitrosomonas coverts AMMONIA to NITRITES
- nitrobacter converts NITRITES to NITRATES
- which the plant can (absorb/take up) (from the soil)
- and use for (nucleic acids/or protein synthesis)
describe and explain what type of crops a farmer could grow to increase the nitrate level in the soil without using fertilisers [3]
- leguminous plants
- Rhizobium/nitrogen fixing bacteria (in root nodules)
- convert nitrogen (gas) into ammonium/ammonia/amino acids
- plants (left to decay/ploughed in)
give two ways by which energy is lost as it passes from one trophic level to the next [2]
- (heat lost in) respiration
- excretion
- egestion/not all parts of the material are digestible
- not all parts eaten
consumption efficiency is defined as the percentage of net production at one trophic level that is consumed by the next.
suggest why the consumption efficiency of herbivores is much lower than that of carnivores [2]
- herbivores: (difficult to digest/less efficient at digesting) cellulose / have more indigestible/fibrous material (in diet)
- carnivores: (easily digest/more efficient at digesting) (protein/fat)
- more (EGESTED material/faeces) (lost) by herbivores/less (EGESTED material/faeces) lost by carnivores
what is the name given to the group of organisms that inhabit the ecosystem at the end of successional change?
climax community
what usually happens to species diversity as succession proceeds?
increases
give one example of an organic nitrogen compound and one example of an inorganic form of nitrogen [1]
- organic : protein/amino acids/ DNA/ RNA / ATP / nucleotides / chlorophyll
- inorganic : ammonium ions/nitrites / nitrates
give one way in which farmers could decrease the effect of denitrification [1]
- drainage/ploughing
- encouraging aerobic conditions
clover has bacteria living in root nodules. name the genus of these bacteria [1]
Rhizobium
the average application of nitrogen to fields growing wheat in the uk is 190kg/ha. dairy grassland farmers need to add less (about 170kg/ha)
suggest two reasons to account for the difference [2]
- urine
- faeces
- leguminous plants
- wheat absorbs more/needs more
- increased drainage in ploughed fields
what is the correct term for the process where nitrate is washed from the land in the drainage water?
- run off/leaching
explain why its important for plants that ammonia is converted to nitrate [2]
- to be able to be absorbed by root hair cells/plant by ACTIVE TRANSPORT
- used to synthesis (amino acids/proteins/nitrogenous bases)
- to convert toxic ammonia into (non-toxic) nitrate
the drainage of land is important for improving crop growth.
explain why farmers want to drain their land [2]
- AEROBIC conditions encourages nitrification / ANAEROBIC CONDITIONS encourages (denitrification/conversion of nitrates to atmospheric N2)
- decreases soil fertility/less crop growth/less grass growth
what is meant by the photosynthetic efficiency of a plant? [1]
- a measure of how well a plant is able to capture/convert light energy (and convert to biomass/chemical energy/product) / the percentage of light captured by the plant
what is the process of converting ammonium ions to nitrate ions called?
nitrification
what is a mean of improving the aeration of the soil?
ploughing
what is the decomposition of dead plants and animals called?
putrefaction
what is the process of converting atmospheric nitrogen into nitrogen compounds called?
nitrogen fixation
describe one difference between the population growth phases in humans and yeast cells [1]
- no stationary phase
- longer lag phase
- no death phase
describe two human activities that have allowed human population to increase rapidly after 1900 [2]
- can influence/build own environment
- can reduce death rate with medical advances
- can increase food supply with intensive agriculture
give two reasons why the growth curve for human population might not continue [2]
- natural disasters e.g earhquakes
- man made disasters e.g wars
- climate change
- contraception
name 2 nitrogen containing molecules found in living organisms [2]
- amino acids / polypeptides / proteins
- DNA
- RNA
- ATP
- NAD/FAD
- urea
name the form of nitrogen produced by Rhizobium that is ‘available to plants’ [1]
(ammonium/ammonia) IONS / NH4 +
name another genus of nitrogen fixing bacteria other than Rhizobium [1]
Azotobacter
state precisely where Rhizobium would be found in the legume [1]
root nodules
suggest how the relationship between Rhizobium and a legume species is beneficial to BOTH Rhizobium and legumes [2]
- (Rhizobium synthesis) (nitrogen containing compounds) (which pass to plant/which plant can use) / allows legumes to grow in low fertility soil
- (plant synthesis) (carbohydrates/organic acids) whcih pass to the Rhizobium/plant provides anaerobic conditions for the bacteria
what does a line transect show?
the organisms that lie on/touch the line, measured at intervals
what does a belt transect show?
- a quadrat is placed at regular intervals along the transect line allowing the: density, % frequency and % area cover to be estimated
