B2- Ecology Flashcards
Define community
The populations of different species living in a habitat
What are abiotic factors?
Non living factors of the environment
What are 7 examples of an abiotic factor?
Temperature
Moisture level
Light intensity
Carbon dioxide level
Wind intensity and direction
Oxygen level
Soil pH and mineral content
What are biotic factors?
Living factors of the environment
What are 4 examples of a biotic factor?
Food availability
New predators
Competition
New pathogens
Define ecosystem
The interaction of a community of living organisms (biotic) with the non living (abiotic) parts of their environment
What is the name for when species depend on other species?
Interdependence
What is a food web?
An interconnected food chain
What are the three types of adaption?
Structural
Behavioural
Functional
What is a structural adaptation?
Features of an organisms body structure such as shape or colour to aid survival
What is a behavioural adaptation?
Changes to an organisms behaviour such as migrating to warmer climates during winter
What is a functional adaptation?
Changes made inside the body such as a lowered metabolism when hibernating
What is the order of a food chain?
A producer, primary consumer, secondary consumer and a tertiary consumer
What happens to energy during the food chain?
It is transferred through living organisms in an ecosystem
What environmental changes impact the distribution of organisms?
Temperature
Water availability
Composition of atmospheric gases
What are the names of the four stages of the water cycle?
Evaporation
Transpiration
Condensation
Precipitation
What happens during the evaporation stage?
Energy from the Sun makes water evaporate from the land and sea, turning it into water vapour
What happens during the transpiration stage?
Energy from the Sun makes water evaporate from plants, turning it into water vapour
What happens at the condensation stage?
The warm water vapour is carried upwards, as warm air rises, and when it gets higher up it cools and condenses into clouds
What happens at the precipitation stage?
Water falls from clouds as precipitation, which is rain, snow, hail, onto land where it provides fresh water for plants and animals
Can you define the carbon cycle?
The process and events involved in recycling carbon in the environment
What happens during the carbon cycle in simple terms?
Carbon is passed from the atmosphere to living things
It is passed from one organism to the next before returning to the atmosphere
How is carbon passed between organisms?
Eating
Waste
Decomposition
How is carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere?
Green plants remove it using photosynthesis, the carbon become part of complex molecules such as proteins, fats and carbs in the plants
How is carbon dioxide returned to the atmosphere?
Organisms return it through respiration, also, the burning of fossil fuels and combustion release a lot of carbon dioxide
What is compost?
Decomposes organic matter that is used as a natural fertiliser for crops and garden plants
What factors affect the rate of decay?
Temperature
Water availability
Oxygen availability
Number of decay organisms
What microorganisms aid decay?
Bacteria
Fungi
Detritus feeders
What is biofuel?
Fuels made from plant material
What are some advantages of biofuels?
Renewable source
Less carbon emissions
Reduces reliance on fossil fuels
Helps planet
What are some disadvantages of biofuels?
Uses land we could use for food growth
Needs a lot of labour
Must modify car engines for bioethanol use
Biodiesel can only mix with standard diesel
What are some examples of plants used for biofuel and their process?
Biodiesel and plant oils
Bioethanol and sugar and wheat
Wood
Crops
Plant material
Animal waste
What are bioethanol and diesel used for?
Ethanol for alternative petrol
Biodiesel in addition to standard diesel
Does biomass release any carbon dioxide?
Yes but it’s the same they took from the air to do the process so it’s carbon neutral
