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Edexcel Biology Gcse > adaptations,interdependence and competition > Flashcards

adaptations,interdependence and competition Flashcards

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1
Q

abiotic

definition

A

Non-living elements of an ecosystem, such as climate, temperature, water, and soil type.

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2
Q

biotic

definition

A

Living elements of an ecosystem, such as plants and animals.

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3
Q

community

definition

A

All the organisms that live in a habitat (plants and animals).

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4
Q

competition

definition

A

The interaction between organisms after the same limited resources.

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5
Q

deficiency

definition

A

In the diet, a deficiency happens if there is too little of a particular nutrient.

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6
Q

ecosystem

definition

A

The living organisms in a particular area, together with the non-living components of the environment.

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7
Q

environment

definition

A

All the conditions that surround any living organism - both the other living things and the non-living things or physical surroundings.

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8
Q

food chain

definition

A

A sequence (usually shown as a diagram) of feeding relationships between organisms, showing which organisms eat what and the movement of energy through trophic levels.

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9
Q

interdependence

definition

A

Refers to the fact that all organisms that live in an ecosystem depend upon each other, for food, protection, shelter, etc, in order to survive.

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10
Q

interspecific competition

definition

A

The competition which occurs between organisms of different species for a common resource.

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11
Q

intraspecific competition

definition

A

The competition between organisms within the same species.

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12
Q

life processes

definition

A

The key reactions that all living organisms complete.

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13
Q

mutualism

definition

A

Mutualism is a relationship between two organisms of different species in which each individual benefits from the activity of the other.

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14
Q

optimum

definition

A

The best or most appropriate - for instance, the conditions under which an enzyme works best (eg temperature and pH).

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15
Q

parasitism

definition

A

Parasitism is a non-mutual relationship between species where the parasite benefits at the expense of the host.

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16
Q

population

definition

A

All of the members of a single species that live within a geographical area.

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17
Q

predation

definition

A

Hunting and killing prey animals.

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18
Q

quadrat

definition

A

A square frame of known area used for sampling the abundance and distribution of slow or non-moving organisms.

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19
Q

respire

definition

A

To engage in respiration, the energy-producing process inside living cells.

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20
Q

species

definition

A

A type of organism that is the basic unit of classification. Individuals of different species are not able to interbreed successfully.

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21
Q

transect

definition

A

A line created, for instance, with a tape measure, along which sampling occurs.

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22
Q

yield

definition

A

The mass of product made in a chemical reaction. The percentage yield is a measure of the yield obtained compared to the maximum possible yield.

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23
Q

Levels of organisation within an ecosystem

Producer

A

Producers are plants and algae, which photosynthesise.

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24
Q

Levels of organisation within an ecosystem

Primary consumer

A

Primary consumers are herbivores, which eat producers.

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25
Q

Levels of organisation within an ecosystem

Secondary consumer

A

Secondary consumers are carnivores, which eat primary consumers.

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26
Q

Levels of organisation within an ecosystem

Tertiary consumer

A

Tertiary consumers are also carnivores. They eat secondary consumers.

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27
Q

The abundance is the number of organisms in an ecosystem and their distribution is affected by abiotic factors. These are factors that are non-living. They include:

A
  • Light intensity
  • Temperature
  • Moisture levels
  • Soil pH content
  • Soil mineral content
  • Wind intensity and direction
  • Carbon dioxide levels for plants
  • Oxygen levels for aquatic animals
  • Levels of pollutants
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28
Q

Abiotic factors affecting the abundance & distribution of organisms

Light intensity

A

Some plants have evolved for optimum growth in bright sunlight. An example of this is a cactus houseplant. Cacti originally come from deserts where they grow in bright sunlight. Other plants have evolved to grow in shade.

Many orchids, which are also kept as houseplants, grow on trees in the rainforest and have evolved for optimum growth in darker conditions. If you were to put an orchid on a bright windowsill and a cactus in a dark corner of your room neither plant would grow well

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29
Q

Abiotic factors affecting the abundance & distribution of organisms

Temperature

A

Both animals and plants have evolved to grow healthily at their optimum temperatures. If you planted either your cactus or orchid houseplants outside in cold temperatures, they would die. Similarly, animals that have evolved to live at the North Pole, such as the polar bear, could not survive in warmer conditions.

30
Q

Abiotic factors affecting the abundance & distribution of organisms

Moisture levels

A

More people kill houseplants by overwatering than by under-watering them. Many plants cannot survive in waterlogged soils. Their roots are unable to respire, they rot and the plant dies. Other plants, such as pitcher plants, grow best in bogs where the moisture levels are high. Soil moisture meters can accurately determine how wet an area is.

31
Q

Abiotic factors affecting the abundance & distribution of organisms

Soil pH content

A

The pH of soils can have a huge effect on the plants that are able to grow in them. Some plants, like azaleas, grow best in acidic soils and will quickly die if planted in alkaline soils. Others, like clematis, prefer alkaline soils. Some, like the hydrangea, can grow in both. These plants are unusual in that their flower colour changes in different soils. Just like universal indicator paper, hydrangea flowers are pink in acidic soils and blue in alkaline soils.

32
Q

Abiotic factors affecting the abundance & distribution of organisms

Soil mineral content

A

Many plants require high levels of soil minerals to grow well. An example of this is magnesium, which is required to produce chlorophyll. Plants with unnaturally yellow leaves may have a magnesium deficiency. Carnivorous plants, such as pitcher plants, have evolved to catch insects to supplement the low levels of minerals found in the soils in which they grow.

33
Q

Abiotic factors affecting the abundance & distribution of organisms

Wind intensity and direction

A

The strength of the wind and its direction has a huge impact on where organisms are found within ecosystems. Many organisms prefer more sheltered locations. Plant seeds are more likely to settle and germinate there, and animals which depend upon these are more likely to live close to where they grow. The strength of the wind can also affect the growth of individual organisms.

34
Q

Abiotic factors affecting the abundance & distribution of organisms

Carbon dioxide levels for plants

A

Carbon dioxide is a reactant in photosynthesis which means plants need it to survive. Areas with higher levels of carbon dioxide are more likely to have healthy plants growing. Farmers often release carbon dioxide within their greenhouses to maximise their crop yield. Woodlands often have higher carbon dioxide levels than open grassland, so many plants living in open areas have evolved mechanisms to overcome a shortage of carbon dioxide.

35
Q

Abiotic factors affecting the abundance & distribution of organisms

Oxygen levels for aquatic animals

A

Oxygen from the air and oxygen produced by aquatic plants dissolves in water. Without this, aquatic animals would suffocate and die. Healthy lakes and rivers have high levels of oxygen, and polluted waters often have low levels of oxygen. This pollution means that only certain species can survive there such as sludgeworms. These are bioindicator species because their presence or absence informs us about the condition of the habitat.

36
Q

Abiotic factors affecting the abundance & distribution of organisms

Levels of pollutants

A

Air pollutants such as sulfur dioxide are released from the burning of coal. Lichens cannot survive if the concentration of sulfur dioxide is too high. So lichens are considered to be indicator species for air pollution. If the air is clean there will be lots of lichens so that if the city and countryside are compared, there will be more lichen species further away from the city centre.

37
Q

bioindicators of oxygen levels within water.

If level of water pollution is clean what is indicator species?

A
  • Stonefly nymph

- mayfly larva

38
Q

bioindicators of oxygen levels within water.

If level of water pollution is some what is indicator species?

A
  • freshwater shrimp

- caddis fly larva

39
Q

bioindicators of oxygen levels within water.

If level of water pollution is moderate what is indicator species?

A
  • bloodworm

- water louse

40
Q

bioindicators of oxygen levels within water.

If level of water pollution is high what is indicator species?

A
  • sludgeworm

- water louse

41
Q

bioindicators of oxygen levels within water.

If level of water pollution is very high what is indicator species?

A

no living species

42
Q

What are abiotic factors?

A

Abiotic factors are non-living. They include light intensity, temperature and moisture levels. The abundance and distribution of living organisms in an ecosystem are affected by abiotic factors.

43
Q

The effect of abiotic factors on organisms

A

A shingle beach has small stones instead of fine sand. Plant seeds can lodge between the small stones and start to grow, particularly at the top of the shore away from the waves. Two students set up a transect along a shingle beach. They started at the top of the beach and worked towards the sea. Every five metres they placed a quadrat on the beach and measured the height of all the plants found.

44
Q

The abundance and distribution of organisms are affected by what?

A

The abundance and distribution of organisms are affected by biotic factors, which are factors that are living.

45
Q

What are the main biotic factors?

A

The main biotic factors are predation and competition.

46
Q

Biotic factors include:

A
  • Availability of food
  • New predators
  • New pathogens
  • Competition
47
Q

Biotic factor

Availability of food

A

All animals require food to live. The availability of food is a major factor in how many animals live in an ecosystem. Areas like rainforests with rich food supplies have more species of life than other areas like deserts and the Polar Regions where there is less food.

48
Q

Biotic factors

New predators

A

The arrival of new predators in an ecosystem can have a devastating effect. In balanced ecosystems, predators and prey have evolved together. Predators can catch enough prey to survive, but not so many that they kill all of their food.

The arrival of a new predator can upset this balance. An example of this is the introduction of the red fox to Australia, which has caused concern over their effect on native birds and small mammals. Introducing new predators can cause a rapid decline in the numbers of prey, which then reduces the food supply for existing predators.

49
Q

Biotic factors

New pathogens

A

When organisms inhabit new ecosystems they often bring new pathogens.

As an example, Europeans first colonised North America, and introduced new pathogens, like the influenza virus. Many Native Americans had not developed immunity to new diseases such as this, and so many were killed by them.

Pathogens have also been introduced on purpose. Myxomatosis is a disease that affects rabbits. It is caused by a virus and infected rabbits develop skin tumours and may go blind. In the 1950s it was purposefully released into the wild in the UK to reduce the population of rabbits. It did exactly this and some people estimate that more than 99 per cent of rabbits in the UK died. However, our rabbits developed immunity to it and the population has now returned to previous levels.

50
Q

Biotic factors

Competition

A

The introduction of a new species into an ecosystem can result in it out-competing another native species. Several hundred years ago grey squirrels were brought over from North America by wealthy people and let free in their grounds. Our smaller native red squirrel couldn’t compete with the newer, larger grey squirrel. Because grey squirrels are larger they can store more fat and survive harsher winters. So the numbers of red squirrels and the places they live has reduced dramatically.

Other examples of out-competition of native species by newly introduced species include the Canada goose in Europe and the cane toad in Australia, Himalayan balsam in Cambodia and harlequin ladybirds are also current concerns.

51
Q

Biotic factors are living. They include:

A
  • availability of food
  • the presence of new predators and pathogens

Both the abundance and distribution of living organisms in an ecosystem are affected by biotic factors.

52
Q

The effect of biotic factors on organisms

A

Red squirrels are native to Great Britain. They weigh around 300 grams, and about half the mass of the larger grey squirrel. The red squirrel species was introduced around a hundred years ago from America by wealthy land owners who wanted a fashionable addition to their forests.

The larger grey squirrel has provided competition for the native red squirrel, which has resulted in a lack of food for the species. Organisations like the Red Squirrel Support Trust have sampled the numbers of both squirrel types over time. Their results are shown below.

53
Q

Competition in animals

Food

A

All animals require food which provides them with energy and raw materials to complete life processes, without which they may die. Because of these, competition for food can be fierce. There are many birds which eat insects in our gardens, and some have evolved to only eat certain types of insect to reduce competition from other species. Others like the blue tit and great tit compete with other members of their own species and as well as others for different insects. Because food is so vital, many animals will fight for it.

54
Q

Competition in animals

Mates

A

Animals within a species also compete for mates. This is essential so they can pass on their genes to their offspring. Animals have evolved to have an innate or natural drive to reproduce, and this competition often results in fights. This is seen each year when animals like red deer group together at the start of the mating season. Large male deer fight with each other by locking antlers and pushing hard, which is called a rut. In deer, and many others species, these fights competing for mates can often result in serious injury or death, but benefits the population as only the strongest pass on their genes to the next generation.

55
Q

Competition in animals

territory

A

The territories of animals contain all of the resources and conditions they need to survive. These include abiotic factors such as light, temperature and water, and oxygen for aquatic animals. These are also biotic factors such as food and predators. Many animals, including the cats in back gardens, will fight for territory.

56
Q

Competition in animals
territory

Example of intraspecific competition

A

An example of intraspecific competition over territory would be between lions on the grass plains of Africa whereas interspecific competition would occur when another predator like leopards lived close to the lions.

57
Q

What is Interdependence?

A

Often very small changes to ecosystems have large consequences, which can be difficult to predict. This means that all the organisms in an ecosystem are dependent upon each other. We call this interdependence.

58
Q

Interdependence in a community

Competition

A

All photosynthesis plants and algae in an ecosystem compete for light, space, water and minerals from the soil. Animals in an ecosystem compete for food, mates and their territory. Organisms which have more of these resources tend to grow more healthily and are more likely to have offspring. Competition can be interspecific or intraspecific depending on whether organisms from different species or the same species are competing for resources.

59
Q

Interdependence in a community

Stable communities

A

A stable community is one in which the size of the populations of all species remain relatively constant over time. In the example above the amount of grass and the numbers of rabbits and foxes all remain relatively constant. The different populations are living in a healthy balance with their environment.

60
Q

Parasitism

A

Organisms depend on other species for resources such as nutrients. Parasites live in or on another organism, which is called the host. The parasite takes what it needs from the host but the host receives nothing in return and often suffers as a result.

Parasites are adapted so that they receive maximum benefit from the host but do not kill them.

61
Q

Parasitism

example flea

A

An example of parasitism is the relationship between fleas and dogs. Fleas live on dogs and feed on their blood. The dog receives no benefit but the fleas are provided with food and a habitat. Fleas attach themselves to hairs and can spread from one host to another by jumping huge distances.

62
Q

Parasitism

example tapeworm

A

Tapeworms are parasites that live inside the small intestine of their hosts. Some human tapeworms have measured up to 15 metres in length. These worms have no digestive system and absorb the digested products of digestion from their hosts. They release eggs in the faeces which can infect other hosts. The host loses nutrition, and may develop weight loss, diarrhoea and vomiting.

Tapeworms have many adaptations such as strong suckers and hooks for attachment to the lining of the small intestine. Tapeworms are thin and flattened and have a very large surface area for absorption of nutrients. They have a huge reproductive potential and release lots of eggs because the chances of the parasite finding another host is very small and many eggs will die.

63
Q

Mutualism

example bees

A

For example bees and flowering plants have a mutualistic relationship. Bees obtain nectar for food and spread the flower pollen from one flower to another, which helps reproduction in plants.

64
Q

Mutualism

example fish

A

Different species of fish can display mutualism. Cleaner fish are smaller fish and swim near the gills of much larger species and eat the parasites around the fish gills of the larger fish. The smaller cleaner fish derive nutrition and protection and the larger fish have the gill parasites removed.

65
Q

Mutualism

example lichens

A

Lichens are another example of mutualism. They are formed by algae and fungi living together. Algae can photosynthesise and make food, which is shared with the fungus. The fungus in turn shelters the algae from a harsh climate.

66
Q

What term is used for the number of organisms of a species in a habitat?

A

Population

67
Q

Producers are which type of organism?

A

Plants

68
Q

Pollutants are which type of factor?

A

Pollutants are abiotic (non-living) factors

69
Q

Which type of competition is between members of different species?

A

Interspecific

70
Q

What is it called when organisms in an ecosystem are dependent upon each other?

A

Interdependence

71
Q

An organism living in or on another organism, from which it gets benefit, is known as what?

A

A parasite

Edexcel Biology Gcse (36 decks)

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