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Biology, 5th Form > 4. Ecology And The Environment > Flashcards

4. Ecology And The Environment Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the Definition of POPULATION!?

A

. The total number of individuals of one species in a particular habitat at a particular time

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2
Q

What is the definition of BIODIVERSITY!?

A

. The measure of how many DIFFERENT SPECIES live in an ecosystem

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3
Q

What is the definition of a HABITAT!?

A

. A place where a specific organism lives

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4
Q

what is the definition of a COMMUNITY !?

A

. Is formed of the populations of all the species present in an ecosystem at a particular time

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5
Q

What is the definition of and ECOSYSTEM!?

A

. An easily described system or area where organisms interact with their physical environment

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6
Q

Practical: Investigating population size of an organism in two different areas

A

. Pick two contrasting areas and set up a grid in each. Use RANDOM SAMPLING to take repeated measurements with a QUADRAT and compare the average results

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7
Q

Practical: Investigating the distribution of organisms in their habitats and measure biodiversity

A
  1. Calculate the area of the habitat
  2. Lay out two tape measures at right angles- generate random numbers
  3. Measure the number of individuals in one quadrat and repeat many times to make sure our result is reliable (at least 10 times)
  4. Calculate the average number of individuals in one quadrat
  5. Calculate how many quadrats fit into the total area

6.multiply up

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8
Q

What are the ABIOTIC factors!?

A

. Non-living factors:
-temperature
-carbon dioxide concentration
-oxygen concentration
-minerals in the soil
-light intensity

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9
Q

What are the BIOTIC factors!?

A

. Living factors:
-humans
-plants
-animals
-fungi
-microorganisms

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10
Q

Pyramids of number:

A

These are drawn to show the number of each organism counted in the ecosystem. They can be odd shaped due to different masses

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11
Q

Pyramids of biomass:

A

Total mass if the organisms in each trophic level, more accurate

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12
Q

Why does only 10% of energy get transferred from one trophic level to another !?

A

. Energy lost
- via evaporation 
-movement, heat loss, egestion of waste

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13
Q

Pyramids of energy:

A

. Drawn to show the total energy available in each tropic level per square meter

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14
Q

Label:

A
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15
Q

How might sewage enter water supplies !?

A

. Leaking pipes
. Run off from farm land

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16
Q

What is sewage made up of !?

A

. Sewage is undigested food material
(contains carbs, proteins, nucleic acids and fats)

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17
Q

What are the biological consequences of sewage to the water supplies !?

A

. Provide a good source of food for bacteria
(Bacteria therefore multiply rapidly
. The large population of bacteria respire, using up oxygen in the water
. Decreasing the level of oxygen, meaning death of other organisms

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18
Q

Why do other organisms die when there is an increase in the population of bacteria in water (sewage) !?

A

. As they cannot respire aerobically

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19
Q

Are nitrates and phosphates soluble in water ?!

A

. Very soluble in water (fertilizer)

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20
Q

What is the definition of leaching !?

A

When a lot of fertiliser is present on farmland surrounding a river, it is washed out of the soil when it rains into the river

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21
Q

Label:

A
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22
Q

When plants photosynthesise carbon atoms from carbon dioxide become part of glucose molecules in the plant. what happens to the carbon in this glucose?
(respiration)

A

Some of the glucose will be broken down by the plant in respiration. The carbon in the glucose becomes part of the carbon dioxide molecule again, and is released back into the air

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23
Q

What is glucose stored as in plants !?

A

Glucose is stored as starch

24
Q

When plants photosynthesise carbon atoms from carbon dioxide become part of glucose molecules in the plant. what happens to the carbon in this glucose?
(eating)

A

Some of the carbon compounds in the plant will be eaten by animals, the animals respire, releasing some of it back into the air as carbon dioxide

25
Q

When plants photosynthesise carbon atoms from carbon dioxide become part of glucose molecules in the plant. what happens to the carbon in this glucose?
(decomposers)

A

When the plant or animal dies, decomposers (bacteria and fungi) will feed on them. Carbon becomes part of the decomposers’ bodies, and when they respire they release the carbon dioxide into the air again.

26
Q

How do fossils form !?

A

Fossilisation occurs when living things do not decay fully when they die due to the conditions in the soil. fossil fuels and then formed over millions of years by process called locking in these include coal, oil, and natural gas

27
Q

When plants photosynthesise carbon atoms from carbon dioxide become part of glucose molecules in the plant. what happens to the carbon in this glucose?
(fossils)

A

When fossil fuels are burnt (combustion) carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere 

28
Q

Label:

A
29
Q

What is acid rain!?

A

Acid rain is rain with pollutants dissolved in it. This low pH can have a very negative impact on the environment

30
Q

What three gases released into the atmosphere from cars and factories react with atmospheric water vapour to produce dilute acids?

A

Sulphur dioxide

Nitrogen monoxide

Nitrogen dioxide

31
Q

What effect does the dilute acid have on the environment?

A

It can dissolve limestone, buildings and statues

The rain when it falls, can decrease the pH of rivers and lakes.

The acid rain can also kill trees and other plants

It can increase dissolution of some metal ions in the soil.

32
Q

What effect does decreasing the pH of the rivers and lakes due to dilute acid have?

A

This can have a catastrophic effect on the enzymes of the organisms in the rivers and lakes, resulting in the death of fish and other animals

33
Q

What impact does the Increase of dissolution of some metal ions in the soil due to dilute acid have on the environment?

A

The increase of dissolution of some metal ions in the soil, including aluminium, can run-off into rivers and lakes, where they poison fish

34
Q

How does an increase in human population affect rate of pollution!?

A

Increasing human population has led to an increase in pollution

35
Q

Why has pollution increased regarding an increase in human population?

A

. More fossil fuels are being burnt to heat and power.

. More movement, and use of transport

. Higher levels of industry for houses and goods

36
Q

How is carbon monoxide formed?

A

When substances containing carbon are burned in a limited supply of oxygen carbon monoxide is formed

37
Q

Why is carbon monoxide dangerous pollutant !?

A

As it binds more strongly with haemoglobin than oxygen

38
Q

What would happen if a person inhales carbon monoxide for a period of time !?

A

if a person inhaled carbon monoxide for a period of time, more and more haemoglobin becomes bound to CO, and not O2, and this person will lose consciousness, and eventually die due to anaerobic respiration

39
Q

Why do farmers add fertilisers to the soil?

A

Farmers adverse rises to the soil to
increase the yield of their crops

40
Q

What do fertilisers usually contain !?

A

Fertilisers usually contain nitrates and phosphates

41
Q

Are fertilisers soluble or insoluble?

A

Fertilisers are very soluble in water

42
Q

What is leaching !?

A

When a lot of fertiliser is present on farmland surrounding a river, it is washed out of the soil when it rains into the river. This is called leaching

43
Q

What are the effects of leached nitrates !?

(EUTROPHICATION)

A
44
Q

How might sewage enter water supplies !?

A

This could be due to leaking pipes or run-off from farmland

45
Q

What is sewage !?

A

Sewage is undigested food material- it contains lots of biological molecules including carbohydrates, proteins and nucleic acids and fats

46
Q

How Is sewage beneficial for bacteria!?

A

Sewage provides a good source of food for bacteria
The bacteria, therefore multiply rapidly

47
Q

How does the rapid multiplication of bacteria due to an increase of sewage effect other organisms!?

A

The large population of bacteria respire, increasing the B.O.D using up oxygen in the water

This decreases the level of oxygen and results in death of other organisms in the water,
-e.g. fish (theycannot respire aerobically)

48
Q

What is the difference between pollution of water by sewage and eutrophication?

A

They are different as pollution of water by sewage does not involve algal bloom

49
Q

Which gases cause the greenhouse effect !?

A

. Water vapour
. Carbon dioxide
. Nitrous oxide
. Methane
. And CFCs

50
Q

How does human activity produce CO2?

A

Burning fossil fuels

Slash and burn forest clearance

51
Q

How does human activity produce methane?

A

cattle produce large volumes of methane from the anaerobic activity of the bacteria in the gut

Bacteria in waterlogged paddyfields for rice cultivation give off methane

52
Q

How is methane generated!?

A

Methane is generated by bacteria in anaerobic conditions

53
Q

How does human activity produce nitrous oxides?

A

Burning fossil fuels

54
Q

How does human activity produce CFCs?

A

They were used as a solvent for aerosols, such as deodorants. They were also used in fridges and freezers.

55
Q

What were CFCs also blamed for, (bar the greenhouse effect) ?

A

CFCs were also blamed for the hole in the ozone layer

56
Q

What is the extra greenhouse effect caused by human activity called !?

A

Enhanced greenhouse affect

Biology, 5th Form (5 decks)

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