4. ECOLOGY & THE ENVIRONMENT Flashcards

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1
Q

4.1 ecology is the study of

A

ecosystems

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2
Q

4.1 an ecosystem is..

A

an easily described system/area where organisms interact with their physical environment

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3
Q

4.1 what are habitats

A

the places where specific organisms live

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4
Q

4.1 in ecology a community is formed of

A

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

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5
Q

4.1 a population is

A

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

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6
Q

4.2 ecologists measure the size of a population in a habitat using a

A

quadrat

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7
Q

4.2 most of the time for a quadrat we use a …cm X ..cm square

A

50cm X 50cm
0.25m^2

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8
Q

4.2 to measure the population you

A

place a quadrat on the ground
count the number individuals of your species inside the square

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9
Q

4.2 when individuals are on the edge to make sure data is consistent you..

A

only count those on the top and left edges only

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10
Q

4.2 if it is difficult to count your species (grass) you can..

A

estimate the percentage of the quadrat area covered by the species

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11
Q

4.2 to find out the population of a species in a habitat you would

A

calculate area
measure quadrat
repeat 10X for reliability
average num in quadrat
how many quads fit in total area
multiply amount fit by averg num

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12
Q

4.2 how do you make sure your data is valid

A

use random sampling

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13
Q

4.2 how do you take a random sample

A

make right angle by 10mX10m axis
generate random coordinates
OR randomly throw over shoulder

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14
Q

4.3B what is biodiversity

A

it’s the range and variety of different species or organisms on earth or within an ecosystem

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15
Q

4.4B to make the grid you randomly generate numbers between … for what

A

1-10 for coordinates

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16
Q

4.4B what is a transect

A

a sample continuously or at regular intervals along the line

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17
Q

4.4B pick 2 …. areas to display the different habitats

A

contrasting

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18
Q

4.4B use …. sampling to take repeated measurements and compare the average results

A

random

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19
Q

4.4B use a transect to pass through a range of

A

abiotic conditions
(e.g. light-shade)

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20
Q

4.4B what is placed at regular intervals along the transect

A

a quadrat

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21
Q

4.4B what is the quadrat used for

A

to measure the number / % cover of the species

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22
Q

4.5 what are some abiotic factors

A

light intensity, temperature, moisture levels, wind intensity, carbon dioxide levels & oxygen levels

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23
Q

4.5 what are some biotic factors

A

availability of food, new predators, new pathogens and competition

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24
Q

4.5 how does light intensity affect the community

A

its needed for photosynthesis

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25
Q

4.5 how does temperature affect the community

A

affects rate of photosynthesis in plants

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26
Q

4.5 how does moisture affect the community

A

plants and animals require water to survive

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27
Q

4.6 the arrows in a food chain represent

A

the direction that the energy and biomass is moving

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28
Q

4.6 the stages in a food chain/web are called the

A

trophic levels

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29
Q

4.6 the origin of a food chain/web is a

A

producer

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30
Q

4.6 the first animal is called the

A

primary consumer

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31
Q

4.6 the second animal is called the

A

secondary consumer

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32
Q

4.6 the third animal is called the

A

tertiary consumer

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33
Q

4.6 what is rarely drawn in food chains/webs

A

decomposers

34
Q

4.7 a food web is more complex because

A

it shows links between many species

35
Q

4.7 we can use …. to represent the relative amounts of organisms at each trophic level

A

ecological pyramids

36
Q

4.7 pyramids of number are drawn to show

A

the number of each organism counted in the ecosystem

37
Q

4.7 pyramids of biomass are drawn to show

A

the total mass of the organisms in each trophic level
(i.e. the mass of an individual x the number of individuals)

38
Q

4.9 the units for energy in the food we eat are

A

kilojoules

39
Q

4.9 the energy available at a trophic level in a particular area is

A

kilojoules per square metre per year
( kJ / m2 / year )

40
Q

4.9 why are pyramids of energy drawn

A

to show the total energy available in each trophic level per square metre per year

41
Q

4.9 we draw pyramids of ….

A

energy

42
Q

4.9 only …% of the suns energy is used in photosynthesis

A

1-5%

43
Q

4.9 in the first consumer …% of energy is ‘lost’

A

90%

44
Q

4.9 in the secondary consumer …% of energy is ‘lost’

A

90%

45
Q

4.9 100kg of grass would go to …kg of rabbit

A

10kg

46
Q

4.9 10kg of rabbit would go to …kg of fox
(from the original 100kg of grass)

A

1kg

47
Q

4.11B bacteria and fungi are called decomposers because

A

they break down the dead remains and release the chemicals for the plants to use again

48
Q

4.11B step1. the nitrogen fixing bacteria absorb … and reduce it to …

A

nitrogen
ammonia

49
Q

4.11B step1. the process of reducing nitrogen to ammonia is called

A

nitrogen fixation

50
Q

4.11B step2. ammonia is converted to nitrites & nitrates by

A

nitrifying bacteria

51
Q

4.11B step2. the process of converting ammonia to nitrites&nitrates is called

A

nitrification

52
Q

4.11B nitrogen fixation is when

A

you reduce nitrogen to ammonia

53
Q

4.11B nitrification is when

A

you convert ammonia to nitrites and nitrates

54
Q

4.11B step3. plant roots can only absorb

A

nitrates

55
Q

4.11B step3. the nitrates are combined with carbohydrates to form

A

amino acids
(then made to proteins and nucleotides)

56
Q

4.11B step3. the proteins and nucleotides made from amino acids join to make

A

DNA and RNA

57
Q

4.11B step4. animals … plants

A

eat

58
Q

4.11B step4. animals … the proteins and DNA in plants

A

digest

59
Q

4.11B step4. the proteins & DNA absorbed by the animal is used to … new proteins and DNA (a….)

A

synthesise new proteins and DNA (assimilation)

60
Q

4.11B step5. when a plant or animal dies its tissues are

A

decomposed

61
Q

4.11B step5. when they are decomposed by bacteria and fungi it is

A

saprotrophic feeding

62
Q

4.11B step6. molecules containing nitrogen are broken down by bacteria&fungi and … is released into the soil

A

ammonia

63
Q

4.11B step7. some nitrates are converted to .. by ..

A

N2 by denitrifying bacteria

64
Q

4.11B step7. the process of nitrates being converted to N2 is called

A

denitrification

65
Q

4.11B the four processes of the nitrogen cycle

A

decomposition, nitrification, denitrification and nitrogen fixation

66
Q

4.11B the bacteria involved in decomposition

A

decomposing bacteria

67
Q

4.11B the bacteria involved in nitrification

A

nitrifying bacteria

68
Q

4.11B the bacteria involved in denitrification

A

denitrifying bacteria

69
Q

4.11B the bacteria involved in nitrogen fixation

A

nitrogen-fixing bacteria
(found in soil and root nodules of plants)

70
Q

4.11B description of decomposition

A

protein in dead plants and animals is broken down
ammonia is released into the soil

71
Q

4.11B description of nitrification

A

ammonia is converted to nitrites,
and nitrites are converted into nitrates

72
Q

4.11B description of denitrification

A

nitrates are converted to nitrogen gas (denitrification reduces the amount of nitrate in the soil and therefore makes the soil less fertile)

73
Q

4.11B description of nitrogen fixation

A

nitrogen gas is converted to ammonia in bacteria which is used to make proteins, when the bacteria die their proteins decompose, releasing ammonia back into the soil

74
Q

4.11B some nitrogen fixing bacteria live small structures -

A

nodules on the roots of legume plants

75
Q

4.11B in the nodules there is a mutualistic relationship because

A

the bacteria receive glucose from the plant while the plant absorbs ammonia from the bacteria in the nodule

76
Q

4.11B when the bacteria decompose they make the soil much

A

much more fertile releasing ammonia which can be converted into nitrates

77
Q

4.11B what cycle do I need to know

A

the nitrogen cycle

78
Q

4.11B how do I remember nitrogen fixing

A

grab the nitrogen from the air and pull down to fix it

79
Q

4.11B what are the three types of bacteria you need to know in the nitrogen cycle

A

nitrogen fixing, nitrifying and denitrifying

80
Q

4.11B what are the roles you need to know in the nitrogen cycle

A

nitrogen fixing bacteria, decomposers, nitrifying bacteria and denitrifying bacteria