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A Local Ecosystem Flashcards

1
Q

What is an ecosystem

A

An ecosystem includes all the organisms in a particular environment and their interactions with their biotic and abiotic surroundings.

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2
Q

Define abiotic

A

Non-living

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3
Q

Define biotic

A

Living

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4
Q

What is biodiversity / ‘species diversity’

A

The total number of a species in an area

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5
Q

Name some abiotic factors

A
  • temperature
  • pH
  • wind
  • available water and ions
  • salinity
  • oxygen
  • substrate composition
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6
Q

Name some biotic factors

A
  • predators
  • competition
  • shelter
  • the spread of shelter from one organism to another
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7
Q

What does ‘benthic’ mean

A

Bottom-dwelling

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8
Q

Factors affecting distribution and abundance in terrestrial environments

A
  • availability of water and oxygen on mountains
  • overpopulation / predators
  • nutrients
  • shelter
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9
Q

Factors affecting distribution and abundance in aquatic environments

A
  • availability of light
  • temperature
  • presence of too much salt
  • oil spills
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10
Q

What is viscosity

A

Resistance to movement through a medium

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11
Q

What is buoyancy

A

Upthrust (upward pressure) or support

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12
Q

Viscosity in aquatic environment

A

Difficult to move as water is more viscous than air, so bodies are often streamlined

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13
Q

Viscosity in a terrestrial environment

A

Easier to move as air less viscous than water

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14
Q

Buoyancy on an aquatic environment

A

Easier to be supported, particularly for soft-bodied organisms

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15
Q

Buoyancy on terrestrial organisms

A

Organisms need support to function properly.

E.g. Skeletons in humans, exoskeletons in cockroaches, woody tissue in plants

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16
Q

Temperature in aquatic environment

A

Little difference in temperature except in very small and shallow body of water

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17
Q

Temperature on terrestrial environment

A

Organisms experience wide range of temperature at high altitudes, in the Arctic of Antartica, and in the desert (which is usually warm during the day and cold during the night)

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18
Q

Availability of gases in aquatic environment

A

If surrounding water too deep or warm, organisms may have difficulty getting enough oxygen (and CO2 if a plant)

Oxygen availability - dissolved oxygen more abundant in surface waters, so most aquatic life found here.

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19
Q

Availability of gases in terrestrial environment

A

Organisms are able to get enough air, unless on very high mountains

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20
Q

Water in aquatic environment

A

In freshwater, ample water and dissolved nutrients would sustain life.

In saltwater, water leaves cells, leading to thirst and dehydration.

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21
Q

Water in terrestrial environment

A

The amount of rain and where an organism lived would determine the water available

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22
Q

Light penetration in aquatic environments

A

Little light penetrates turbid, deep water

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23
Q

Light penetration in terrestrial environments

A

Copious light is available in summer, except in dark areas such as caves or rainforests

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24
Q

Temperature in water - example

A

Mayflies

can effect:

  • larval growth
  • adult size
  • number of eggs produced
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25
How to measure biotic factors
Quadrats Transects Capture/Recapture
26
Advantages of capture/recapture
- cheap - time efficient when done correctly - can be used on mobile animals
27
Main abiotic factors of aquatic life
- high tide | - sun exposure
28
Where is the sub-littoral zone
Under the water (e.g. Submerged)
29
Where is the supra-littoral zone?
Outside of the water
30
Are herbivores first order consumers of second order consumers?
First order consumer Eats producers
31
Are consumers 1st or 2nd order consumers
2nd order consumer Eats 1st order consumers (carnivore/omnivore)
32
Which is more complex: food web or food chain
Food web (some organisms may feed on more than one organism)
33
Define a herbivore
Eats plants
34
Define a carnivore
Eats meat
35
Define an omnivore
Eats both plants and meat
36
Define an insectivore
Eats invertebrates (insects, worms etc)
37
Word equation for photosynthesis
carbon dioxide + water -> sugar + oxygen
38
Symbol equation for photosynthesis
6CO2 + 6H2O -> C6H12O6 + 6O2
39
Word equation for respiration
glucose + oxygen -> carbon dioxide + water + energy (ATP)
40
Symbol equation for respiration
C6H12O6 + O2 -> CO2 + H20 + ATP
41
What is photosynthesis
Where sunlight energy is used to turn CO2 and H2O into glucose and O2
42
Where does photosynthesis occur
In the chloroplasts in the leaves
43
Where are chloroplasts and where are they found
An organelle Found in leaves of green plants
44
Two functions of chloroplasts
To produce glucose To store food energy
45
Why do most leaves appear green?
The leaves reflect only green and yellow wavelengths of light
46
What is the primary pigment found in the chloroplast
Chlorophyll
47
What is glucose used for
Energy Growth
48
Photosynthesis diagrams worksheet
Photosynthesis diagrams worksheet
49
When does photosynthesis occur
During the day | Needs sunlight
50
Where does respiration occur
Mitochondria
51
When does respiration occur
All the time
52
Summary of respiration reaction
- glycolysis - citric acid cycle - electron transport train
53
Source of energy during respiration and photosynthesis
R = chemical bonds broken down P = light
54
What is aerobic respiration
The complete breakdown of molecules such as sugars, using oxygen to form carbon dioxide and water
55
What is anaerobic respiration
Used when there is a shortage of oxygen in the muscles
56
Word equation for aerobic respiration
glucose + oxygen -> carbon dioxide + water
57
Symbol equation for aerobic respiration
C6H12O6 + 6O2 -> 6CO2 + 6H2O
58
What is an enzyme
A biological catalyst. A chemical made by living things and its function is to control the rate of a specific chemical reaction that occurs in the body.
59
Uses of energy by organisms
- movement + muscle contraction - reproduction - repair - growth
60
What is trophic cascade?
How factors are influenced in an ecosystem from a top-down model. It's an ecological process by which a top predator influences factors with an ecosystem.
61
What is interspecific competition
Competition between members of different species
62
What is intraspecific competition
Competition between members of the same species
63
Short term consequences of competition
- weaker organism will be killed first - amount of food resources decrease - growth of population slows down - is population decreases, less pressure of available resources
64
Long term effects of competition
- possible extinction of a species, leadings to sub-species or an overall dominant species - conflict within a species - diversity of organisms decrease
65
Define allelopathy
Where allelochemicals are released to influence growth of neighbours E.g. Sugarcane mulch and weeds
66
Define mutualism
Where both species benefit from living off each other E.g. Bees and flowers
67
Define parasitism
One species consumes another for energy E.g. Ticks / Fleas / Leeches
68
Define commensalism
Where on 1 species benefits and the other is not harmed E.g. Barnacle and worm
69
What do plants compete for?
- space - sunlight - nutrients/minerals - water
70
What is the competitive exclusion principle?
Where two different species cannot coexist in the same place if they were competing for the same limited resources.
71
What does animals compete for?
- water - food - a mate - nesting sites - home range territories
72
What is decomposition
The process by which organic substances are broken down into simpler forms of matter.
73
What is a decomposer
An organism such as fungi and bacteria that causes decay of organic material. They are essential to the nutrient cycle. They process dead organic material into chemical nutrients, such as carbon and nitrogen, which are released into soil, air and water.
74
What is detritus
Dead organic matter derived from plants, animals or other organisms.
75
Describe the roles of the detrivores and the decomposers.
The detrivores break down detritus (e.g. snails and worms) into smaller pieces, increasing the surface area for the decomposers. The decomposers cause decay by releasing enzymes onto the dead animal or plant, and so the now simple soluble molecules can be absorbed by the decomposers.
76
Why isn't all biomass transferred between trophic levels? Where is the energy lost?
It's lost from: - growth - reproduction - heat loss - waste - movement (mainly)

Biology - TPHS (6 decks)

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