B15 Ecology

Question 1

Habitat

Answer 1

The part of an ecosystem where an organism lives.

Question 2

Species

Answer 2

This is a group of organisms that can

breed together to produce fertile offspring.

Question 3

Population

Answer 3

This is the organisms of the same species that share a particular habitat.

Question 4

Community

Answer 4

This is made up of all the organisms that share a particular habitat.

Question 5

Competition

Answer 5

A word that describes the fact that organisms often need the same resources

Question 6

Interderpendant

Answer 6

A word that describes
how organisms rely on
and impact upon each
other.

Question 7

Biotic factors

Answer 7

Other living things that can affect a particular population. E.g a new pathogen or parasite

Question 8

Abiotic factors

Answer 8

Non-living things that can affect a particular population e.g light intensity

Question 9

Temperature

Answer 9

• Can limit photosynthesis and therefore growth in plants

- Cold climates can affect numbers of herbivores that can survive and so the number of carnivores in the community

Question 10

Moisture levels

Answer 10

• If there is no water there will be little or no life

- After rain many plants grow ,flower and seeds very quickly while water is available.

Question 11

Soil pH

Answer 11

• The level of mineral ions, for example, nitrate ions , has a considerable impact on the distribution of plants.
• The nitrates plants need are provided when they break down the animal protein
• Most other plants struggle to grow in areas with low levels of mineral ions.
• The pH of soil also has major effect on what can grow in it and on the rate of decay and therefore on the release of mineral ions back into the soil

Question 12

Wind intensity

Answer 12

-The whole landscape is affected by the wind. It also means that plants transpire fast.

Question 13

Availiabilty of oxygen

Answer 13

• the availability of oxygen has a huge impact on water - living organisms with very low oxygen levels
• The proportion of oxygen in the air varies very little

Question 14

Availability of carbon dioxide

Answer 14

-The level of carbon dioxide acts a limiting factor for photosynthesis and plant growth. It can also affect the distribution of organisms.

Question 15

Light intensity

Answer 15

 Can limit photosynthesis so affects distribution of plants and animals
 Breeding cycles of many animals and plants is linked to day length and light intensity

Question 16

Food availability

Answer 16

 When there is lots of food, organisms breed more easily

Question 17

New predators arriving

Answer 17

Organisms that have no defences against new predators may quickly be wiped out.

Question 18

New pathogens

Answer 18

When a new pathogen or parasite emerges, organisms have no resistance to the disease.

Question 19

New competitors

Answer 19

A new species may outcompete another to the point where numbers become too low for successful breeding.

Question 20

What are carnivores in competition for?

Answer 20

Carnivores compete For Small Pray

Question 21

What do prey organisms compete for?

Answer 21

Prey organisms compete with eachother

not to get caught.

Question 22

Why are animals that eat a wide range of food more likely to be
successful?

Answer 22

Animals that eat a wide food
range are more likely to be Successful because
they are less likely to ever run out of food.

Question 23

Why was the introduction of rabbits to Australia bad for the
‘native’ ecosystem?

Answer 23

It was bad because Species couldn’t

eat grass like rabbits can So lost.

Question 24

Give two reasons why an animal needs to set-up and defend a

territory

Answer 24

Animals need to set up a territory to make Sure they

have enough food and SO the, Can Protect their young Ones.

Question 25

Give two ways in which males compete for females

Answer 25

• The males fight between themselves.
• They have Spectacular adaptations to
  hep then Stand Out.

Question 26

Abiotic resources

Answer 26

Plants compete for several abiotic (non-living resources), including light, water and space to grow

Question 27

Give three examples of how plants avoid competition with each other (1/3)

Answer 27

Different types of roots, Some Plants have
Shallow roots taking Water and nutrients.
Other Plants have long roots that go Ear
Underground.

Question 28

Give three examples of how plants avoid competition with each other (2/3)

Answer 28

Shall Plants grow earlier So it gets Plenty of
Sunlight and the dormant trees take Very little Water
Out of the Soil.

Question 29

Give three examples of how plants avoid competition with each other (3/3)

Answer 29

Some Plants have adaptations such as tendrils
Or Suckers that allow then to Climb up artificial
Structures or large trees to reach the light.

Question 30

Give two ways that plants spread or ‘disperse’ their seeds in
order to reduce competition between the parent plant and it’s
seedlings.

Answer 30

• Some Plants use explosive Seed Pods, animals,
  even water to Carry their seeds as far away as
  possible
• Many Plants use the Wind

Question 31

What is a structural adaptation?

Answer 31

Features related to physical structures- shape,colour

Question 32

What is a behavioural adaptation?

Answer 32

Features related to short or long-term behaviours - migration, basking ,tool use etc

Question 33

What is a physiological/ functional adaptation?

Answer 33

Features related to processes - usually internal, cellular processes

Question 34

Give 2 examples of plant structual adaptations?

Answer 34

• plants with wide-ranging, shallow roots to absorb lots of water after rain, large leaves to maximise photosynthesis and flowers, which attract insects to pollinate them.
• formation of spines, which are found on many species, such as cacti and roses, and can stop a plant being eaten by grazing animals.

Question 35

Give 2 examples of plant behaviour adaptations?

Answer 35

• All plant shoots grow quickly towards the light to maximise photosynthesis.
• Growth towards the light and other tropisms ensure that plants can respond to changes in their environment.

Question 36

Give 2 examples of plant physiological/functional adaptations?

Answer 36

• the formation of poisons for defence. The nettle plant stings us when we brush the tiny needles on its leaves, which contain poison.
• deadly nightshade, are so poisonous they can kill if consumed by humans.

Question 37

Give 1 examples of animal physiological/functional adaptations?

Answer 37

snakes and spiders produce venom both to defend themselves and kill their prey.

Question 38

Give 2 examples of animal structural adaptations?

Answer 38

• Predators and prey often have similar adaptations. Both are likely to have good vision and hearing. Prey often has eyes on the sides of their heads to easily spot predators
• Animals have a wide range of structural adaptations including sharp claws to catch prey, dig burrows or scratch trees to signal territories.

Question 39

Give 2 examples of animal behaviour adaptations?

Answer 39

• The scratching of trees is a behavioural adaption

- A male peacock bird showing his tail feathers to attract a female mate

Question 40

Define the term

extremophile

Answer 40

An organism that can survive and reproduce in extreme conditions

Question 41

Give two examples of adaptations

found in different extremophiles

Answer 41

Penguins at the South Pole have many of the same adaptations. In addition, the male Emperor penguins have evolved to insulate their egg on their feet throughout winter.

Animals, like polar bears, at the North Pole are adapted to suit these conditions. They have thick white fur for insulation and camouflage.