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Biology > B2 - Understanding Our Environment > Flashcards

B2 - Understanding Our Environment Flashcards

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0
Q

What are the six subdivisions that follow ‘Kingdom’?

A 
Kingdom - king
Phylum - prawn
Class - curry
Order - or
Family - fat
Genus - greasy
Species - sausage
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1
Q

What are the five kingdoms?

A 
> Plants
> Animals
> Bacteria (Prokaryotes)
> Protoctista (Dustbin group)
> Fungi
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2
Q

Define species.

A

A group of organisms that are capable of interbreeding to produce fertile offspring.

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3
Q

What categories can animals be split into?

A

Invertebrates and vertebrates.

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4
Q

What classes can vertebrates be split into?

A 
> Mammals
> Reptiles
> Birds
> Amphibians
> Fish
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5
Q

How should names be written in the binomial system?

A

Italicised with the first letter of the genus capitalised.

first word = genus
second word = species

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6
Q

Why are organisms within a food web interdependent?

A

Any change in biomass of one organism will affect other organisms in the same food web.

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7
Q

How is energy loss calculated in a food chain?

A

Subtract the energy that is available to the next tropic level from the energy that was available from the previous level.

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8
Q

How is the efficiency of energy transfer calculated?

A

(energy available to the next level / energy that was available to the previous level) x100

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9
Q

What is interspecific competition?

A

When different species compete over something.

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10
Q

What is intraspecific competition?

A

When members of the same species compete for something.

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11
Q

What is the niche?

A

The ecological role occupied by an organism.

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12
Q

Name four things plants compete for.

A

> Light
Water
Minerals
Space

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13
Q

Define predator.

A

An organism that lives by preying on other organisms.

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14
Q

Define prey.

A

An organism hinted as food by another organism.

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15
Q

What are specialists?

A

Organisms which are highly-adapted to survive in a specific habitat and have a very narrow niche. They have a limited diet.

(E.g. Giant pandas, anteaters, koala bears).

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16
Q

What are generalists?

A

Organisms that are adapted I survive in a range of different habitats.

(E.g. Black rats, humans, crows).

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17
Q

Why does the population of predators change?

A

Predators are very dependent on prey for food, so as the population of prey changes, the population of predators will also.
The population of prey changes due to the vegetation growing season and changes in the population of predators.

Usually the population of the predator rises and falls slightly after the rise and fall of the population of the prey.

18
Q

Define parasitism.

A

A relationship where one organism lives on or in a host, causing it harm.

19
Q

Define mutualism.

A

When different species cooperate and help each other.

20
Q

What are three anatomical adaptations that can reduce heat loss?

A

> Insulation

> Large size and compact body shape to give a small surface area to volume ratio.

> Counter-current heat exchange systems.
Animals that stand on ice have blood vessels that are very close together going to and from the feet. This is to allow heat transfer.

21
Q

What are three behavioural adaptations to the cold?

A

> Migration
Hibernation
Huddling

22
Q

What are three anatomical adaptations that can increase heat loss?

A

> Being small which gives a large surface area to volume ratio.

> Large, thin ears that allow more blood to flow near the surface of the skin.

> Storing fat in one place to avoid insulation of the whole body.

23
Q

What are three behavioural adaptions that can increase heat loss and reduce heat gain?

A

> Spending the day in the shade.

> Being active at night when it is cooler.

> Bathing in water.
As the water evaporates, it transfers heat from the skin to the surroundings.

24
Q

How have some desert plants adapted to living in dry conditions?

A

> Rounded shape - gives them a small surface area to volume ratio.

> Thick, waxy layer (called a cuticle) and spines instead of leaves.

> Store water in their stems.

> Shallow but extensive roots to ensure quick water absorption over large areas.

25
Q

How have some desert animals adapted to living in dry conditions?
(3 ways)

A

> Specialised kidneys - allow them to produce very concentrated urine with a low water content.

> No sweat glands preventing water loss.

> Underground burrows where the air contains more moisture than on the surface.

26
Q

How are plants adapted to insect pollination?

A

> Colourful, scented petals.

> Nectar deep within.

> Stiff anthers and stigmas positioned where insects must brush past.

> Large, sticky pollen grains.

27
Q

How are plants adapted to wind pollination?

A

> Huge number of light, tiny pollen grains.

> Small, dull coloured petals.

> Long, feathery stigma hanging outside flower to trap pollen.

> Anthers hang loosely outside flower so wind can blow pollen.

28
Q

How is carbon dioxide affecting the world?

A

The more carbon dioxide there is in the atmosphere, the less heat escapes and the warmer the Earth becomes - global warming.

Carbon dioxide is added to the atmosphere when fossil fuels are burnt and due to higher population, there is more respiration.

29
Q

How is sulphur dioxide affecting the world?

A

Sulphur dioxide is produced when fossil fuels are burnt. It dissolves in droplets of water in clouds, forming sulphuric acid. Therefore rain or snow is acidic and harms organisms, makes streams and rivers acidic, and damage trees and plants.

30
Q

How is ozone depletion affecting the world?

A

Because pollutants like CFCs were released into the air, they damaged the ozone layer and broke it down into oxygen. This means more UV light can reach the Earth’s surface which could damage plants and increase the rates of skin cancer.

31
Q

How are other source of pollution affecting the world?

A

The population of bacteria increases due to extra food when our raw, untreated waste enters rivers. Most of this bacteria reapers aerobically, so they use up oxygen from the water, making it difficult for fish to live.

32
Q

What is a carbon footprint?

A

It measures the total greenhouse gas given off by a person or organisation, in a given time.
Usually, your carbon footprint is calculated over an entire year.

33
Q

What is an indicator species?

A

A species used to indicate how polluted the air or water is.

34
Q

What do stonefly larvae show?

A

They show that the water is clean and oxygen levels are high.

35
Q

What do mayfly larvae show?

A

They show that the water of medium standard and that there are medium oxygen levels.

36
Q

What do sludge worms show?

A

They show that the water is highly polluted and that there are low oxygen levels.

37
Q

What is the name of a good indicator species for air pollution?

A

Lichens - they are plants that grow in expose places like rocks or tree bark. Rainwater contains just enough nutrients to keep them alive so when air pollutants dissolve in it, lichens become damaged and do not grow.

Where there aren’t any lichens, there is often air heavily polluted with sulphur dioxide.

38
Q

Name two artificial air pollution monitors.

A

Oxygen probes - attached to computers measure oxygen levels in probes.

Special chemicals - measure nitrogen levels from fertilisers.

39
Q

What is meant by survival of the fittest?

A

Darwin conclude that the ‘fittest’ organisms who survived competition would pass on their adaptations when reproducing. Over time, successful adaptations become more common in the population and the species changes - evolves.

40
Q

What was Lamarck’s theory?

A

Lamarck argued that if a characteristic was used a lot by an animal, it would become more developed and would be passed on to the animal’s offspring.
People concluded that acquired don’t have a genetic basis and are unable to be passed on. His theory was rejected.

41
Q

What is natural selection?

A

Adaptations are controlled by genes. New adaptations arise because of mutations. Successful adaptations are passed on to future generations in the genes that parents contribute to their offspring.

42
Q

What is speciation?

A

Over a long period of time, organisms may change so much because of natural selection that a completely new speciation if formed.

43
Q

Why did some people disagree with Darwin’s theory of natural selection?

A

The theory went against common religious beliefs about how life on earth developed.

Biology (4 decks)

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