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🌿5 Biology > 🟢4 Ecology > Flashcards

🟢4 Ecology Flashcards

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AP® Biology flashcards Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

What is ecology

A

Study of interactions between living things and their environment

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2
Q

What is a biosphere

A

Part of the planet containing living organisms (contains soil air water)

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3
Q

Whats an ecosystem

A

Group of clearly distinguished organisms that interact with their environment as a unit

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4
Q

What is population

A

All the members of the same species in an area

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5
Q

What is a community

A

All the diff pops in an area

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6
Q

What is a habitat

A

Place where organisms live

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7
Q

What is the distribution of organisms affected by

A

-Abiotic (N Living) factors
-Biotic (Living) factors
-Edaphic factors
-Climatic factors

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8
Q

What are abiotic factors

A

Non living factors
Eg: Altitude aspect steepness exposure currents

Trees cant live at higher altitudes
More plants grow on south facing slopes as they face the sun

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9
Q

What are biotic factors

A

Living factors
Eg:Food, competiton, human intervention, predation, parasitism, seed dispersal, pollination

More food available=More organisms that survive

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10
Q

What are climatic faactors

A

Refer to weather over a long period of time
Eg:Temp, rainfall, humidity, day length, light intensity, wind, salinity

These can affect growth rate in plants, hibernation in fauna
Cacti only live in desert areas

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11
Q

What are edaphic factors

A

Relate to soil
Eg: pH, soil type, organic matter,mineral content of soil

Plants+Animals are adapted to pH values in the soil:Neutral soils have pH7 and suit plants
Soil Type
Sandy Soils=Less earthworms
Clay soils=waterlogged=infertile

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12
Q

Name 3 ecosystems

A

Desert
Grassland
Freshwater
Marine
Tropical rain forest
Bogs
Lakes
Sand dune systems
Hedgerows
Woodlands

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13
Q

Name some features and name an example of a TEMPERATE DECIDUOUS FOREST

A

Warm Summer
Plentiful
-Western Europe

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14
Q

Name some features and name an example of a desert ecosystem

A

Low rainfall
-Sahara Desert

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15
Q

Name some features and name an example of a TROPICAL RAINFOREST ECOSYSTEM

A

High Temps
High Rainfall
- Brazil Amazon Rainforest

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16
Q

Name some features and name an example of a GRASSLAND ecosystem

A

Mild temps
Low rainfall
-North American Prairies

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17
Q

Name some features and name an example of a FRESHWATER ecosystem

A

Non-Salty Water
-Rivers, Lakes, Wetlands

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18
Q

Name some features and name an example of a MARINE ecosystem

A

Salt water
-Seashores and Oceans

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19
Q

Name the 5 special factors in aquatic environments

A

Light
Currents
Wave Action
Salt Content
Oxygen Concentration

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20
Q

Explain the special factor LIGHT in relation to aquatic environmengs

A

Plants have to live in upper layers of water as light can only penetrate so far

Animals can live deep as they can eat fallen organisms

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21
Q

Explain the special factor CURRENTS in relation to aquatic environmengs

A

Flowing water carries plants away if theyre not attached
Animals can resist currents better as they can move

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22
Q

Explain the special factor WAVE ACTION in relation to aquatic environmengs

A

Waves create currents which can be physically damaging
Seaweeds avoid this by being flexible
Animals often protected by a shell eg barnacle

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23
Q

Explain the special factor Salt Content in relation to aquatic environmengs

A

If external solution is unsuitable awuatic organisms will have problems with osmoregulation (gaining/losing water)

Some organisms can survive changes in salt content due to rain or freshwater (eg.those in rock pools)

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24
Q

Explain the special factor OXYGEN CONCENTRATION in relation to aquatic environmengs

A

O concentration is lower in water
This affects plant+animal life
Organisms must be able to extract O from water (they could have gills)

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25
Q

How does energy flow in ecosysms

A

Sun is primary source of energy
Feeding allows energy to flow from one organism to another in an ecosystem

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26
Q

What are producers

A

Organisms that carry out photosynthesis

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27
Q

What are flora

A

All the plants in an ecosystem

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28
Q

What are consumers

A

Organisms that take in food from another organism

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29
Q

What are fauna

A

All the animals in an ecosystem

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30
Q

What are decomposers

A

Organisms that feed on dead organic matter

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31
Q

What are Detritus Feeders

A

Organisms that feed on small pieces of dead organic matter

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32
Q

How do we know that the energy flow begins with the sun

A

Plants take in sunlight produce energy->animal 1 consumes->animal2 consumes animal 1 etc.

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33
Q

What are Primary Consumers and name 3 examples

A

Primary consumers feed on producers

Herbivores-(animals that eat plants)

Decomposers-(Organisms that feed on dead organic matter such as bacteria)

Detrius Feeders-(Organisms that feed in small parts of dead plants and animals such as mussels and earthworms)

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34
Q

What are Secondary Consumers and name 2 examples

A

Animals that feed on primary consumers

Carnivores (meat-eaters)
Scavengers(feed on animals killed by someone else)

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35
Q

What are Teritary Consumers and give 4 exampls

A

Feed on secondary consumers, they’re not always present
If no other organism eats them, they’re called top consumers
Gull
Badger
Blackbirds
Humans

36
Q

What is an omnivore and give 3 examples

A

An organism that feeds on both plants and animals
Humans
Blackbirds
Badgers

37
Q

What is a grazing food chain. What must the first organism in the chain be. Give an example chain

A

Sequence of organisms in which each one is eaten by the next member in the chain
First organism in these chains must be a producer or green plant
Dandelion->Butterfly->Thrush->Hawk

38
Q

What is a trophic level

A

A feeding stage in a food chain
Producers form 1st level
Primary Consumers 2nd level
Secondary Consumers 3rd level

39
Q

Give a grassland and seashore example from the 1st Trophic level

A

(Producer)
Grassland-Buttercup
Seashore-Plankton

40
Q

Give a grassland and seashore example from the 2nd Trophic level

A

(Primary Consumer)
Grassland-Caterpillar
Seashore-Barnacle

41
Q

Give a grassland and seashore example from the 3rd Trophic level

A

(Secondary Consumer)
Grassland-Blackbird
Seashore-Whelk

42
Q

Give a grassland and seashore example from the 4th Trophic level

A

(Tertiary-or top- Consumer)
Grassland-Fox
Seashore-Crab

43
Q

What animal does the food chain end with

A

Foxes

44
Q

Why does the amount of energy (food) passing along a food chain decrease

A

Only about 10% of tje energy in each trophic level is passed onto the next one

45
Q

What is a food web

A

Two or more interlinked food chains

46
Q

What is a pyramid of numvers

A

Represents the no. of organisms at each trophic level in a food chain

47
Q

Why does the no.of organisms at each trophic level decrease as you move up the food chain

A

High energy loss at each trophic level
Organisms usually increase in size the further they are along the food chain

48
Q

What is an ecological niche of an organism

A

The functional role it plays in the community.
It includes what it eats, what its eaten by, and how it interacts with organisms and abiotic environment

49
Q

What is nutrient recycling

A

the way elements (eg carbon/nitrogen) are exchanged between the living and non-living components of an ecosystem

50
Q

What us the role of plants in the carbon cycle

A

Remove carbon from environment by photosynthesis
Return it by respiration

51
Q

What is the role of animals in the carbon cycle (how do they obtain and release carbon)

A

Obtain-by eating plants
Release-by respiration

52
Q

Whats the role of micro-organisms in carbon cycle

A

return it when they decompose dead plants an animals

53
Q

What are two main causes for rising carbon dioxide concentrations

A

Deforestation
Increased use of fossil fuels

54
Q

3 effects that global warming May cause

A

Sea levels rise-icemelting-floods

Weather patterns alter-affects agriculture and wildlife

Gulf stream may reverse flow-Cold water will flow past ireland

55
Q

What is nitrogen fixation

A

Conversion of nitrogen gas into ammonia, ammonium or nitrate

56
Q

What is nitrification

A

Conversion of ammonia and ammonium compounds to nitrite and then nitrate

57
Q

What is denitrification

A

Conversion of nitrates to nitrogen gas

58
Q

Nitrogen cycle explanation pg 40 in book xxx

A
59
Q

What is the role of the 4 types of bacteria in the nitrogen cycle

A

Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria-convert Nitrogen gas to nitrates

Bacteria of Decay-convert nitrogen waste to ammonia

Nitrifying Bacteria-convert ammonia to nitrites then nitrates

Denitrifying Bacteria-convert nitrates to nitrogen gas

60
Q

What is the role of fungi in the nitrogen cycle

A

Help to decay dead plants and animals and their wastes into ammonia in the soil

61
Q

What is the role of Plants in the nitrogen cycle

A

Absorb nitrates from soil and use nitrogen to form proteins

62
Q

Whats the role of animals in the nitrogen cycle

A

Consume plants and use their nitrogen to form animal protein

63
Q

Define Pollution

A

Any harmful addition to the environment

64
Q

What are pollutants

A

Harmful additions to the environment eg.littering, smoke, sewage disposal

65
Q

Name two Natural Pollutants

A

Volcanic Emissions
Smoke from Natural forest fires

66
Q

Name the three Types of pollution

A

Domestic-household wastes

Agricultural-pesticides,fertilisers,disposal of slurry

Industrial-smoke that causes acid rain, wastes that may damage streams, rivers and lales

67
Q

Name some manufactured chemical pollutants that cause Ozone Depletion

A

Refrigerator (Freon gas)
Insulating Foams (Styrofoam)

Some:
Fire extinguisher(halons)
Agricultural sprays (fumigants)

68
Q

Name some effects of Ozone Depletion

A

Increased skin cancers, weakened immunity
Serious damage to plants and crops life
Plankton depletion-huge affect on aquatic food chains

69
Q

What is ozone depletion

A

Ozone absorbs ultraviolet rays
Ozone layer thins out
Hole develops allowing ultraviolet radiation to penetrate to the Earths surface

70
Q

What are CFCs

A

chlorofluorocarbons
manufactured chemical pollutants that harm the ozone layer

71
Q

How is Ozone Depletion controlled

A

Reduction of use of CFCs
Replace CFCs with HFCs as they break down quicker
Spray/foam products with CFCs dont use
Fridges cant be dumped in landfill

72
Q

Define Conservation

A

Wise management of the existing natural resources in an ecosystem in order to maintain a wide range of habitats and prevent the death and extinction of organisms

73
Q

List some benefits of conservation

A

Prevents organisms becoming extinct
Maintains balance of nature
Maintains biodiversity
Organisms may be useful in future
Were no right to wipe out their life forms

74
Q

3 issues with the fishing industry

A

1.Pollution of rivers sea etc. reduces amount of fish in water. fish stocks may take years to regenerate

2.Overfishing reduced fish stocks. Fish quotas have been assigned to countries to ensure enough fish are left in the sea

3.Small mesh nets catch small young fish before they can reproduce

75
Q

How is the water monitored in the fishing industry to prevent problems such as pollution,overfishing,small nets.

A

Taking and analysing water samples
Checking fish catches and fishing equipment
Sampling fish stocks to calculate their numbers

76
Q

Give an example of conservation in fishing

A

Fishing with small mesh nets removes too many young fish reducing their ability to maintain a viable population size

Large mesh nets allow small fish to escape the nets so they can grow and reproduce. maintaining fish numbers

77
Q

How can agricultural waste (slurry) be harmful to inland lakes

A

Slurry is liquefied waste material produced by animals.

Contains high lvls of minerals eg.Nitrogen and Phosphorus

When slurry enters rivers/lakes the minerals cause algal growth.

This results in algal blooms

When the algae die they decompose by bacteria this results in the absorption of oxygen and the water becomes depleted in oxygen.

Aquatic plants and animals die when they cat get sufficcient oxygen.

The addition of nutrients to water in this way is called eutrophication.

78
Q

How can we manage agricultural waste (slurry)

A

By controlling the release of nutrients into rivers and lakes the water qualitycan be improved.
Slurry can be stored in leak proof pits. It is not washed away into streams and rivers

79
Q

how is fishieries waste managed

A

When fish are processed the waste materials consist of heads, tails, fins, intestines, dead fish and blood diluted by large amounts of water.

The solid wastes are highly alkaline and are first neutralised by the addition of formic acid.
The product is pulped, dried and recycled as fertiliser or pig feed.

80
Q

How is Forestrys waste managed

A

Small branches-Spread on forest floor to form surface machinery can move on

Branches,stumps and roots-Rot naturally and nutrients are released into the soil

Tops of trees, large branches-Converted to sawdust which is used to form processed wood products

81
Q

List problems associated with waste disposal

A

Waste may contain micro-organisms that cause diseases. If waste not properly treated, disease spread.

Toxic chemixals can be washed out and enter drinking water supplies

Nutrients released can cause eutrophication of water supplies that can kill animals

Dumping waste at sea can pollute it

Landfill sights are unsightly, attract rodents, smell bad

Incinerators may release a poisonous

82
Q

Role of micro-organisms in landfill sites

A

Waste is covered with soil here.
Bacteria and fungi break down the organic materials

83
Q

Role of micro-organisms in Sewage

A

Primary Sewage Treatment-Physically screening or filtering waste to remove large objects

Secondary Sewage Treatment-Waste is acted on by bacteria and fungi of decay. This biological treatment breaks down most of the matter.
The rest is disposed of and cleaned water is treated with chlorine

Tertiary Sewage Treatment-Sometimes used to remove mineral nutrients

84
Q

What are the three Rs in relation to control of waste production

A

Reduce
Reuse
Recycle

85
Q

In relation to controlling waste production what is Reduce

A

Individuals and societys can reduce their waste output by

reducing their consumption of goods that they dont need

Reduce amount of packaging used unnecessarily

86
Q

In relation to controlling waste production what is Reuse

A

Some objects can be reused
Glass bottles can be reused up to 40 times, broken down, and then recycled
Clothes in charity shops

87
Q

In relation to controlling waste production what is Recycle

A

Many modern materials can be collected,treated, and re-formed into new products.
Recycling paper,glass,different metals, plastics, and organic waste

Up to 40% household rubbish is organic matter.
Can be broken down by organisms to form humus which can be added to soil to improve growth of plants

🌿5 Biology (29 decks)

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