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10D 2024 - 4.4.2 Explaining Change - Ecology > 4.4.2 Ecology > Flashcards

4.4.2 Ecology Flashcards

1
Q

What is an ecosystem?

A

All the living and non-living components in an environment

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2
Q

Give an example of a natural ecosystem.

A

Grassland, desert, forest, stream, tundra, pond, coral reef

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3
Q

What is a population?

A

Total number of one species in an ecosystem

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4
Q

What type of organism are producers?

A

Plants and algae

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5
Q

Explain why all food chains begin with a producer.

A

They make their own food using energy from the Sun

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6
Q

What does it mean if an organism is a tertiary consumer?

A

It eats secondary consumers

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7
Q

Construct the food chain:

A

Leaf -> caterpillar -> bird -> cat

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8
Q

Which word refers to an animal that kills and eats other animals?

A

Predator

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9
Q

Why are organisms in the same habitat in competition?

A

Because there are limited resources

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10
Q

Identify three resources dandelions may compete for.

A

Space, mineral ions, water, light

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11
Q

Identify three resources badgers may compete for.

A

Territory, food, water, mates

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12
Q

What is interspecific competition?

A

Competition between members of different species

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13
Q

Give an example of interspecific competition.

A

Zebra and wildebeest competing for grass. Lions and hyenas competing for prey on the African savannah

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14
Q

What is intraspecific competition?

A

Competition between members of the same species

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15
Q

What is interdependence?

A

How species within a community depend on each other

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16
Q

What is the term for a community where the population sizes remain constant?

A

Stable community

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17
Q

What is an abiotic factor?

A

A non-living factor in an ecosystem

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18
Q

What is a biotic factor?

A

A living factor in an ecosystem

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19
Q

Is the mineral content of soil a biotic or abiotic factor?

A

Abiotic

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20
Q

How would lack of light affect plants?

A

Reduce photosynthesis so less plants growing or plants grow smaller

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21
Q

How would lack of light affect animals?

A

Reduce photosynthesis so less plants growing or plants grow smaller so less food available for animals to eat

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22
Q

What is distribution?

A

Where organisms are found in a habitat

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23
Q

Name two factors that affect the distribution of an organism.

A

Light, water and nutrient availability.

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24
Q

How can the distribution & abundance of species in an ecosystem be determined?

A

Sampling

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25
Why is it difficult to sample animals?
Because the are mobile
26
What is a quadrat?
A square frame of a known size used for sampling
27
Why must quadrats be placed randomly?
To improve the validity of the study
28
Described 2 ways that a transect can be used for sampling.
Count the number of organisms that touch the line, or place quadrat at intervals along the line
29
What is the mean number of organisms if the following are found in 6 quadrats – 1,5,15,20,42,37?
20
30
What is high biodiversity?
a wide range of different plant and animal species living in an ecosystem
31
Why is high biodiversity important?
allows a wide variation of food sources to help a species to survive, provide us with food and other products
32
What effect are humans having on biodiversity?
Reducing it
33
What are extremophiles?
Organisms that can survive in extreme conditions
34
How do human actions affect global warming?
Deforestation has increased CO2 in the atmosphere causing global temperatures to rise
35
How might global warming affect biodiversity?
Decrease it for species that are sensitive to temperature changes e.g. coral
36
What effect does deforestation have on biodiversity?
Reduces it as destroys habitats
37
Give an example of a human activity that is reducing biodiversity.
Waste production /deforestation/ global warming
38
Give an example of a long-lived environmental change.
destruction of peat bogs/ deforestation
39
Give an example of a short-lived environmental change.
freshwater pollution
40
Suggest what will happen if human populations keep rising.
More of the Earth’s resources will be used up, resulting in a decrease in the land available for other organisms.
41
Describe an impact of fertiliser run-off.
Algal growth increases, prevents light from reaching plants, which die. Bacteria respire and use up oxygen
42
What is the impact on the environment of using peat as a fuel?
Removal of carbon store.
43
Loss of peat bogs reduces biodiversity.
44
How might using peat-free compost reduce this impact?
Would prevent the destruction of peat bogs, and organisms that live there would survive.
45
Name one way by which the destruction of peat bogs can be reduced.
Use peat-free compost
46
How can people reduce the amount of waste that goes into landfill?
Recycle
47
How do breeding programmes help reduce the negative effects of humans on biodiversity?
Breed endangered species so they don’t become extinct
48
How are ecosystems and biodiversity protected?
Introducing breeding programmes / Protecting and regenerating rare habitats/  Introducing wider field margins / Reducing deforestation and CO2 emissions / recycling resources / cloning plant species
49
How do hedgerows increase biodiversity?
Provide habitats
50
Why are conservation programmes introduced?
To protect endangered species, to minimise damage to food chains, protect food supplies
51
How do breeding programmes help endangered species?
They save species from extinction and ensure genetic diversity is maintained.
52
Why is it important to protect biodiversity?
Protects species from environmental change and ensures sustainability for all life forms
53
Name a species apart from giant pandas that have been in a captive breeding programme.
Arabian oryx, California condor, golden lion tamarin, red wolf, amur leopard
54
What is a stable community?
The size of the population remains constant over time.
55
Give an example of an abiotic and biotic factor.
A – LI, temperature, CO2 levels, soil pH B – food, predators, diseases, competition
56
What type of organism is always found at the start of a food chain?
Producer
57
What is a quadrat?
A square grid of known area
58
What is deforestation?
The cutting down of trees
59
What is a monoculture?
One type of crop grown year after year
60
Name 3 things plants compete for.
Light, space, nutrients, water
61
What term matches this definition? Environmental factors which are non-living
Abiotic factors
62
What term matches this definition? How many organisms are found in an area
Abundance
63
What term matches this definition? The variety of species in an area
Biodiversity
64
What term matches this definition? Environmental factors which are living
Biotic factors
65
What term matches this definition? When multiple organisms are trying to obtain limited resources
Competition
66
What term matches this definition? Where organisms are found in an area
Distribution
67
What term matches this definition? The abiotic and biotic factors in an area
Ecosystem
68
What term matches this definition? When organisms eat or are eaten by other organisms
Feeding relationship
69
What term matches this definition? The place where an organism lives
Habitat
70
What term matches this definition? All organisms in an area depend on each other for survival
Interdependence
71
What term matches this definition? A living thing
Organism
72
What term matches this definition? A process by which plants use energy from the Sun to make glucose
Photosynthesis
73
What term matches this definition? Contaminating air, water or land with harmful substances
Pollution
74
What term matches this definition? The number of individuals of a species in an area
Population
75
What term matches this definition? Animal that hunts other animals for food
Predator
76
What term matches this definition? Animal that is hunted by other animals
Prey
77
What term matches this definition? The first consumer in a food chain
Primary consumer
78
What term matches this definition? An organism that makes its own food
Producer
79
What term matches this definition? A square frame used to sample organisms on the ground
Quadrat
80
What term matches this definition? Used to estimate distribution and abundance of organisms in an area
Sampling technique
81
What term matches this definition? The second consumer in a food chain
Secondary consumer
82
What term matches this definition? Similar individuals which can reproduce to produce fertile offspring
Species
83
What term matches this definition? The third consumer in a food chain
Tertiary consumer
84
What term matches this definition? A line across an area
Transect
85
What is a population?
group of individuals of one species living in a habitat
86
What are the top consumers in a food chain called?
top predators.

10D 2024 - 4.4.2 Explaining Change - Ecology (1 decks)

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