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Biology - Module 6 > 6.3.1 - Ecosystems > Flashcards

6.3.1 - Ecosystems Flashcards

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1
Q

What is a population?

A

A group of organisms of the same species living in the same habitat

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2
Q

What is a habitat?

A

A part of an ecosystem in which particular organisms live

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3
Q

What is a community?

A

All the populations of different species in the same area at the same time

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4
Q

What is an ecosystem?

A

A community and the non-living components of an environment (biotic and abiotic factors)

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5
Q

What is a niche?

A

An organism’s role within an ecosystem including their position in the food web and habitat

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6
Q

What is carrying capacity?

A

The maximum population size an ecosystem can support

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7
Q

What are abiotic factors?

A

Non-living conditions of an ecosystem

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8
Q

What are biotic factors?

A

Living components of an ecosystem which are an impact of the interactions between organisms

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9
Q

What are abiotic and biotic factors in a rock pool?

A

Abiotic:
- Water temperature
- pH
- Variation in water depth
- Sunlight

Biotic:
- Plankton food webs
- Seaweeds
- Consumers (crabs)
- External predators (seabirds)

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10
Q

What are abiotic and biotic factors in a playing field?

A

Abiotic:
- Rainfall
- Temperature
- Light intensity (shade)
- Soil type
- Mineral ions
- Mowing
- Trampling

Biotic:
- Competition between plants
- Pollinators and pest populations

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11
Q

What are abiotic and biotic factors in a large tree?

A

Abiotic:
- Light intensity and quality
- Water supply
- Soil type
- Mineral ions

Biotic:
- Invertebrates and vertebrates that inhabit the tree
- Surrounding trees

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12
Q

What happens between each trophic level in a food web?

A

The majority of the energy is lost due to respiration and excretion and the remaining energy is used to form biomass.

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13
Q

What is the amount of biomass remaining in an organism measured in terms of?

A

The mass of carbon or dry mass of tissue per given area

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14
Q

What is the formula for efficiency?

A

efficiency = biomass transferred/biomass intake x 100

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15
Q

How can human activities manipulate the transfer of biomass through ecosystems?

A

They can reduce the energy lost at each trophic level by:
- Restricting the movement and therefore respiration of animals
- Providing animals with higher energy food which increases the energy input
- Keeping animals indoors to reduce the energy transferred as heat
- Removing competition and predators by growing indoors and providing animals and plants with all they need

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16
Q

Which biological molecules contain nitrogen?

A

Amino acids, proteins, nucleic acids and ATP

17
Q

What are the 4 key stages of the nitrogen cycle?

A
  • Nitrogen fixation
  • Ammonification
  • Nitrification
  • Denitrification
18
Q

What is the role of saprobionts in recycling nitrogen?

A
  • Decompose waste and dead matter via extra cellular digestion making inorganic ions available to other organisms
  • Carry out process of ammonification (convert nitrogen compounds in waste and dead matter into ammonia which then forms ammonium ions in soil)
19
Q

What is the role of nitrogen-fixing bacteria in recycling nitrogen?

A

Convert atmospheric nitrogen gas into nitrogen containing compounds such as ammonia which then forms ammonium ions in soil that can be used by plants

20
Q

What is the role of nitrifying bacteria in recycling nitrogen?

A
  • Convert ammonium ions in soil into nitrogen compounds that can be used by plants known as nitrates
  • Some convert ammonium ions into nitrites and different ones then convert nitrites into nitrates
21
Q

What is the role of denitrifying bacteria in recycling nitrogen?

A

Using nitrates during respiration releasing nitrogen gas in the process

22
Q

What is the role of Mycorrhizal fungi in recycling nitrogen?

A

Increase surface area of root systems helping plants to absorb water and scarce mineral ions from soil

23
Q

What are 2 examples of nitrogen fixing bacteria?

A
  • Azotobacter
  • Rhizobium
24
Q

What are 2 examples of nitrifying bacteria?

A
  • Nitrosomonas (ammonium ions to nitrites)
  • Nitrobacter (nitrites to nitrates)
25
Q

What are microorganisms needed for in the nitrogen cycle?

A

To convert nitrogen gas into nitrogen containing substances that plants and animals can absorb

26
Q

How does the carbon cycle recycle organic compounds in an ecosystem?

A
  • Decomposition of dead animals and plants by bacteria and fungi releases carbon dioxide
  • Respiration by plants and animals releases carbon dioxide from organic compounds
  • Photosynthesis by plants absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
  • Combustion of plants and fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere
27
Q

What is the imbalance in the carbon cycle caused by?

A

Deforestation and burning too many fossil fuels so less carbon dioxide is being used in photosynthesis and more is being produced by combustion

28
Q

What does the imbalance in the carbon cycle lead to?

A
  • Ocean acidification
  • Global warming
29
Q

What is succession?

A

The change in an ecological community over time

30
Q

How does a primary succession start?

A

A pioneer species colonises barren land such as bare rock or sand

31
Q

What happens after primary succession has started?

A
  • Mosses and smaller plants can now survive and they further increase the depth and nutrient content of soil
  • This pattern continues and as the abiotic factors continue to be less harsh larger plants can survive and change the environment further
  • Each new species may change the environment in a way that it become less suitable for the previous species so each existing species is outcompeted by a new species colonising
  • Biodiversity increases
32
Q

What is the final stage in succession known as?

A

Climax community which is dominated by trees and woodland

33
Q

What are pioneer species?

A

They are adapted to survive in harsh abiotic factors and through their death and decomposition change the abiotic factors to become less harsh and form a thin layer of soil, humus.

34
Q

What is an example of a pioneer species?

A

Lichen

35
Q

What is secondary succession?

A

When the succession is disrupted and plants are destroyed so succession starts again but the soil is already created meaning it does not start from the bare rock stage

36
Q

What is deflected succession?

A

Preventing the formation of a climax community through controlled burning and removal of vegetation

37
Q

Why is deflected succession needed?

A

By maintaining earlier stages in succession and preventing a climax community a greater variety of habitats are conserved and therefore a greater range of species survive

Biology - Module 6 (6 decks)

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