Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Biology > B19 - Human influences on ecosystems > Flashcards

B19 - Human influences on ecosystems Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
AP® Biology flashcards Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

What is a Biotic environment? Give some examples. [2]

A
  • Living

e.g.
Predators, food, mates

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is an Abiotic environment? [2]

A
  • Non-living
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are 2 factors of an abiotic environment? [2]

A
  • Physical
  • Climatic
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Give examples of abiotic physical things. [2]

A
  • Oxygen and carbon dioxide concentration
  • Light intensity
  • Water availability
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Give examples of abiotic climatic things. [1]

A
  • Temperature
    -Humidity
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is an ecosystem? [2]

A

A unit containing all of the organisms in a community and their environment, interacting together.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is a population? [2]

A

A group of organisms of one species, living in the same area at the same time.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is a habitat? [1]

A

The place where an organism lives.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is a community? [1]

A

All of the populations of all the different species in an ecosystem.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What interaction is an ecosystem made from? [2]

A

The community of organisms in a habitat (all the organisms)
&
The abiotic factors (physical environmental factors)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is biodiversity? [2]

A

The range and variety of different species of organisms on Earth, or within an ecosystem

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What are some human activities that are reducing biodiversity? [3]

A
  • Waste production
  • Deforestation
  • Global warming
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are some varieties of life on Earth that biodiversity refers to? [3]

A
  • The number of different species in an area
  • The range of different types of organisms
    e.g. plants, animals and microorganisms = number of different species
  • The genetic variation within species (how many different gene versions there are)

THE GREATER THESE ARE, THE GREATER THE BIODIVERSITY!

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Where would you find high biodiversity? [1]

A

Rainforests

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Where would you find low biodiversity? [2]

A
  • Arctic
  • Deserts
  • Cities
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

How do we measure biodiversity? [2]

A
  1. Counting the number of different species in a given area
  2. Counting the total number of individuals in a given area of ecosystem
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What reduces biodiversity? [2]

A

Dominance of a species, monoculture, overharvesting, climate change, pollution.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What are the 3 main reasons for habit destruction? [3]

A
  1. Clearing land for farming and housing
  2. Extraction of natural resources
  3. Marine pollution
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What are 5 pollutants in freshwater pollution? [5]

A
  • Untreated sewage
  • Chemical waste
  • Discarded rubbish
  • Fertilisers
  • Insecticides & herbicides
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What is ‘EUTROPHICATION’? [2]

A

When a body of water becomes overly enriched with nutrients. Less oxygen levels.

21
Q

What are pesticides? [1]

A
  • Poisonous chemicals which kill pests.
  • Can be harmful for the environment
22
Q

Where are insecticides kept in the body? [1]

A

Fatty tissue

23
Q

Why is ‘clearing land for farming and housing’ causing habitat destruction? [2]

A
  • Crops, livestock and homes take up a big amount of space
  • Increasing population and demand for food = amount of land must increase to allow these things to happen. Hence clearing habitats (deforestation)
24
Q

Why is ‘extraction of natural resources’ causing habitat destruction? [2]

A
  • Natural resources like wood, stone and metals are used to make different products.
  • Many trees are cut down to get these products - which lead to habitat destruction and a clearing of a large space e.g. mining
25
Q

Why is ‘marine pollution’ causing habitat destruction? [4]

A
  • Oil spills and other waste pollutes the ocean, killing sea life.
  • Human activities lead to this.
  • Eutrophication can happen when fertilisers from farmed fields enter waterways.
  • This causes a huge decrease in biodiversity in these areas since most species living in these waterways die from lack of oxygen.
26
Q

What is the cause and effect of ‘untreated sewage’ in water. [3]

A

Cause:
- Lack of sewage treatment is planted in area because of lackof money which leads to sewage running into streams/rivers.

Effect:
- Good source of food for bacteria which increase quickly
- Bacteria use the oxygen dissolved in the water (they respire aerobically) and cause deaths of aquatic organisms like fish = eutrophication.

27
Q

What is the cause and effect of ‘chemical waste’ in water. [3]

A

Cause:
- Chemicals (e.g. mercury) can be released from factories into rivers/oceans or spread into the land surrounding the factory.

Effect:
- Heavy metals do NOT break down and so they can build up in food chains = bioaccumulation, and poison the top carnivores

28
Q

What is the cause and effect of ‘discarded rubbish’ in water. [3]

A

Cause:
- Much rubbish consists of plastic that is either discarded or buried in landfills.

Effect:
- Plastic is non-biodegradable and remains in the environment for hundreds of years.
- Animals can eat this plastic as it breaks down into smaller pieces (especially in the ocean) and gets into food chains.

29
Q

What is the cause and effect of ‘fertilisers’ in water. [3]

A

Cause:
- Runoff from agricultural land if applied in too high a concentration.

Effect:
- Causes rapid increase in algae which then die
- Good source of food for decomposing bacteria which increase rapidly
- They use the oxygen dissolved in the water (they respire aerobically)
- This causes the death of aquatic organisms like fish = eutrophication. since lack of oxygen.

30
Q

What is the cause and effect of ‘insecticides and herbicides’ in water. [3]

A

Cause:
- Sprayed on crops to prevent damage by insects and growth of weeds

Effects:
- Bioaccumulation, loss of biodiversity, damage to beneficial insects, can build up in soil to toxic concentrations and harm other organisms.

31
Q

What is ‘DEFORESTATION’? [1]

A

The clearing of forests

32
Q

What are the 4 effects of deforestation? [4]

A
  1. Extinction
  2. Loss of soil
  3. Flooding
  4. Increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
33
Q

What is the explanation and consequence of ‘extinction’ [3]

A

Explanation:
- Forests can contain a wide variety of different plant and animal species
- When these habitats are destroyed there is a big risk of many species becoming extinct.

Consequence:
- As a habitat is destroyed it causes a loss of large numbers of plant and animal species.
- Many of these species are only found in these areas and so it will become extinct.

34
Q

What is the explanation and consequence of ‘loss of soil/soil erosion’ [3]

A

Explanation:
- When trees are removed there are no roots to stabilise the soil during heavy rain.
- Soil is easily washed away and nutrients are lost.
- This makes it harder for new trees to grow later.

Consequence:
- Trees will usually take up nutrients and minerals from the soil through their roots.
- Without trees, nutrients and minerals will remain unused in the soil and will be washed away into rivers and lake by rain (leaching).

35
Q

What is the explanation and consequence of ‘flooding’ [3]

A

Explanation:
- Trees slow down rain as it falls to the ground because the rain hits leaves first.
- The water can then be absorbed by the soil then the roots.

Consequence:
- Without trees the topsoil will be loose and unstable so it will be easily washed away by rain.
- Increasing the risk of flooding and landslides.

36
Q

What is the explanation and consequence of ‘increased carbon dioxide in atmosphere’ [3]

A

Explanation:
- Photosynthesis removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and stores it in trees.
- The carbon dioxide is released back into the atmosphere when trees are burnt to clear land.

Consequence:
- Less oxygen released and less carbon dioxide removed
- Burning trees further contributes to global warming.

37
Q

What are the 4 ways to conserve endangered species? [4]

A
  1. Education
  2. Seed Banks
  3. Captive breeding programmes
  4. Monitoring and protecting species and habitats
38
Q

How does ‘education’ conserve endangered species? [3]

A
  • Teaches people about the natural world.
  • Helps them understand the importance of conservation.
  • Tells them what they can do to help.
39
Q

How do ‘seed banks’ conserve endangered species? [3]

A
  • Seeds of endangered plant species are kept in a seed bank.
  • Place where the conditions are good to keep the seeds alive for a long time.
  • This protects and saves genetic diversity in plants.
40
Q

How do ‘captive breeding programmes’ conserve endangered species? [4]

A
  • This is where animals are bred in captivity (e.g. zoos)
  • It helps prevent endangered species from going extinct.
  • Easier for animals to increase their numbers - less infant mortality (deaths) so more offspring live to reproduce.
  • Some animals may be released to the wild to re-establish a population - this can help to make sure the species survives if it dies out in the wild.
41
Q

How does ‘monitoring and protecting endangered species’ conserve endangered species? [3]

A
  • Helps scientists understand what species are most under threat.
  • Protected areas are set up (national parks) to protect the organisms and habitats.
  • Development (making stuff) is banned in this land (e.g. houses, farming)
42
Q

What is an endangered species? [1]

A

When a species is considered to be at a high risk of extinction.

43
Q

What is extinction? [1]

A

When no individuals of a species remain.

44
Q

What are 5 factors that cause organisms to become endangered? [5]

A
  1. Climate change
  2. Habitat destruction
  3. Hunting
  4. Pollution
  5. Introduced species
45
Q

How does ‘climate change’ affect organisms? [3]

A
  • All organisms have an ideal temperature range. - If they can’t adapt to changing temperatures or other environmental conditions quickly enough they can become extinct.
  • Global warming is causing the Earth to heat up.
46
Q

How does ‘habitat destruction’ affect organisms? [2]

A
  • As a species’ habitat is destroyed, fewer organisms can be supported.
  • As their numbers start to decrease the species becomes endangered.
47
Q

How does ‘hunting’ affect organisms? [3]

A
  • Many species are hunted for e.g. fur, food or medicines.
  • If endangered species are hunted they can easily become extinct.
  • Endangered animals may also be killed by accident if hunters mistake an endangered species for a non-endangered species.
48
Q

How does ‘pollution’ affect organisms? [1]

A
  • Organisms can die, mistaking plastics/pollution for food
49
Q

How do ‘introduced species’ affect organisms? [2]

A
  • Introduced species become invasive
  • Native species can’t compete with them or defend themselves.

Biology (20 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions