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Biology > B3 - Life on Earth > Flashcards

B3 - Life on Earth Flashcards

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1
Q

Adaptations

A

Features that help an organism survive in the environment it lived in and reproduce successfully.

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2
Q

What do animals compete for?

A

Food, a mate, living space, water and territories

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3
Q

What do plants compete for?

A

Light, water, space, mineral salts

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4
Q

Interdependence

A

The mutual dependence an organism has on another to help them survive

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5
Q

Name two species that human activity is threatening:

A

The Siberian tiger and the Mountain gorilla

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6
Q

3 reasons why some energy is lost as it is passed down the food chain:

A
  • Some parts of the plant aren’t eaten or can’t be digested by the animal
  • The animal uses some of the plant’s energy for respiration, during respiration some energy is lost as heat
  • The waste products of the animal, such as urine, contain some energy
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7
Q

What is the equation for percentage efficiency?

A

Energy in tissues
———————— x 100
Energy in food eaten

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8
Q

Decomposers

A

Microorganisms, such as bacteria which feed on dead or decaying organisms.

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9
Q

Detritus

A

Partly decayed material

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10
Q

What are detrivores? Give 2 examples:

A

Detrivores, such as earthworms and woodlice, feed on detritus and break it down further

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11
Q

How does Carbon enter the Carbon Cycle?

A

As carbon dioxide from the air, plants fix this carbon so that it can be used by organisms

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12
Q

How is Carbon returned to the air in the Carbon Cycle?

A
  • As a product of respiration
  • Through the decomposition of dead organisms by soil microorganisms
  • By Combustion of organic materials
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13
Q

How does Nitrogen enter the Nitrogen Cycle?

A
  • Nitrates are released back into the soil as animals excrete waste and as plants and animals die and are decomposed
  • Nitrogen molecules in the air are split by lightning. Nitrogen atoms then combine with oxygen in the air to form nitrates, which are washed into the soil by rain
  • Nitrogen-fixing bacteria found in the soil and in the roots of plants convert nitrogen in the air into nitrates
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14
Q

How does Nitrogen leave the Nitrogen Cycle?

A

It leaves the cycle when denitrifying bacteria convert nitrates in the soil into nitrogen gas.

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15
Q

Denitrification

A

When denitrifying bacteria convert nitrates in the soil into nitrogen gas.

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16
Q

What are the two types of indicators of environmental change?

A

Non living and living

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17
Q

Examples of non-living indicators: give two

A

Carbon dioxide levels, temperatures, nitrate levels

18
Q

Examples of living indicators: give two

A

Phytoplankton, Lichen and Mayfly Larvae

19
Q

What are Phytoplankton?

A

Microscopic aquatic plant-like organisms

20
Q

What are lichen?

A

Dual organisms made up of fungus and algae living together

21
Q

Biotic index

A

When Observations of some living indicators can give us very precise information about levels of pollution and environmental change

22
Q

How long ago did life on earth begin?

A

Around 3500 million years ago

23
Q

Fossils

A

The remains of organisms or other traces of their lives that have turned into rock

24
Q

Mutation

A

A change in the genetic information in a cell

25
Q

The gene pool

A

The alleles of genes that occur in a population

26
Q

Natural selection

A

The process during which individuals with advantageous genes will survive to reproduce and pass these genes to their offspring

27
Q

What does selective breeding involve:

A
  • Choosing the individuals with the characteristics that are closest to those required
  • Breeding these and preventing others from breeding
  • Repeating the process over several generations
28
Q

What do scientists do to investigate evidence of evolution?

A
  • Examine the fossil record
  • Observe similarities and differences in physical features
  • Analyse DNA sequences
29
Q

What evidence is there to support the theory of Evolution?

A
  • The simplest organisms are found in the earliest rocks. More complex ones appear in younger rocks
  • More recent fossils have features that look like adaptations or developments of those of older organisms
  • DNA analysis of today’s organisms has confirmed predictions made from the fossil record, including when branches in the tree of life occurred
30
Q

Who produced the theory of evolution and when?

A

Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace in 1859

31
Q

Common ancestor

A

The most recent organism from which the species in a group descended

32
Q

Biodiversity

A

Variety of life of earth and in different habitats

33
Q

Kingdom

A

A large group containing many organisms with a small number of characteristics in common

34
Q

Species

A

A small group of few organisms with a high number of characteristics in common

35
Q

Sustainability

A

Meeting today’s need without stopping future generations from meeting theirs

36
Q

Monoculture

A

The continuous production of one type of crop

37
Q

Advantage of monoculture

A

•It can be done efficiently

38
Q

Disadvantages of monoculture

A
  • If pests or disease attacked the crop it could harm it easily
  • Farmers’ use of pesticides and herbicides can harm the environment so monoculture isn’t sustainable
  • If a natural disaster was to occur the whole crop would be wiped out
  • The use of pesticides and herbicides reduces the variety of species and hinders biodiversity
39
Q

How can we improve the sustainability of product manufacture

A
  • Using as little energy as possible and minimal packaging
  • Using locally available materials and limiting transport of the product
  • Creating as little pollution as possible
40
Q

Biodegradable

A

Materials which break down faster compared to non biodegradable ones

41
Q

Species

A

A group if organisms that can breed together to produce fertile offspring

Biology (6 decks)

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