B7 Ai Flashcards
What is a habitat?
The place where an organism lives.
Define population in ecological terms.
All the organisms of one species in a habitat.
What is a community in ecology?
All the populations of different species in a habitat.
How is an ecosystem defined?
The interaction of a community of organisms with the non-living parts of their environment.
What do organisms compete for to survive?
Resources from their environment and other organisms.
List three resources that animals need to survive.
- Food
- Territory (space)
- Mates
List four resources that plants need to survive.
- Light
- Water
- Space
- Mineral ions
Do organisms compete with members of their own species for resources?
Yes.
What is interdependence in an ecological community?
Different species depend on each other for food, shelter, pollination, and seed dispersal.
What can a big change in one part of an ecosystem affect?
The whole community.
What happens if all the stonefly larvae die?
- Less food for water boatmen, leading to a decrease in their population.
- Blackfly larvae would not have to compete with stonefly larvae for food, potentially increasing their population.
What characterizes stable communities?
All species and environmental factors are in balance, keeping population sizes about the same.
True or False: A food web shows what eats what.
True.
What are abiotic factors?
Non-living factors in an environment
Examples include moisture level, light intensity, temperature, carbon dioxide level, wind intensity and direction, oxygen level, soil pH, and mineral content.
How can changes in abiotic factors affect populations in a community?
Changes can affect the size of populations and interdependence among species
For instance, a decrease in soil mineral content can lead to reduced plant growth, impacting animal species that depend on those plants.
What are biotic factors?
Living factors in an environment
Changes in biotic factors can also affect population sizes of various species.
What is competition in the context of biotic factors?
One species outcompetes another for resources
Example: Grey squirrels outcompete red squirrels for food and shelter, leading to a decrease in the red squirrel population.
What effect can new predators have on a population?
They can cause a decrease in the prey population
New predators can disrupt the existing balance in an ecosystem.
How does availability of food influence population sizes?
Less food availability leads to decreased population sizes
This is because fewer resources can support fewer individuals in a species.
What impact can new pathogens have on a species?
They can quickly decrease the population of the affected species
Pathogens can spread rapidly, affecting health and survival rates.
What are structural adaptations?
Physical features that help organisms survive
Example: Arctic animals have white fur for camouflage against snow.
What are behavioral adaptations?
Actions organisms take to survive
Example: Many species migrate during specific seasons.
What are functional adaptations?
Internal body processes that help organisms survive
Example: Desert animals may have reduced sweating to conserve water.
What are extremophiles?
Microorganisms adapted to extreme conditions
They thrive in high temperatures, extreme pH, or high pressure.
Fill in the blank: Abiotic factors can include _______.
moisture level, light intensity, temperature, carbon dioxide level, wind intensity, oxygen level, soil pH, mineral content
What are adaptations?
Features that allow organisms to survive in their environment.
Adaptations can be structural, behavioral, or functional.
What is a structural adaptation?
Physical features of an organism that enhance survival.
Example: Arctic fox having white fur to blend in with snow.
What is a behavioral adaptation?
Ways that organisms behave to survive.
Example: Camels have a thin layer of fat and a large surface area to lose heat.
What is a functional adaptation?
Internal processes that help an organism survive.
Example: Desert animals produce little sweat and concentrated urine to retain water.
What are extremophiles?
Microorganisms adapted to extreme conditions.
Examples include bacteria living in hot volcanic vents or high-salinity environments.
At what temperatures do extremophiles thrive?
High temperatures, such as those found in super hot volcanic vents.
Where can extremophiles be found?
In extreme environments like high salt concentrations or deep sea vents.
These conditions are often inhospitable to most life forms.
How do penguins adapt to their environment?
Thick layer of fat, webbed feet, and behavioral adaptations like huddling.
These adaptations help them survive in cold Antarctic conditions.
Fill in the blank: Animals that live in hot places have a _______ layer of fat.
thin
True or False: Functional adaptations are related to external physical features.
False
What is one way penguins keep warm?
Huddling together in groups.
What helps desert animals minimize water loss?
Producing very little sweat and small amounts of concentrated urine.
What should you consider when analyzing an organism’s adaptations?
The conditions it lives in, such as temperature.
What always starts a food chain?
A producer
Producers make their own food using energy from the sun.
What do producers use to make glucose?
Energy from the sun
Producers convert sunlight into glucose through photosynthesis.
What is biomass in the context of food chains?
The mass of living material
Biomass is passed along a food chain when an organism eats another organism.
Define consumers in an ecological context.
Organisms that eat other organisms
Consumers can be classified as primary, secondary, or tertiary based on their position in the food chain.
What do primary consumers eat?
Producers
Primary consumers are typically herbivores that feed on plants.
What do secondary consumers eat?
Primary consumers
Secondary consumers can be carnivores or omnivores.
What do tertiary consumers eat?
Secondary consumers
Tertiary consumers are often top predators in a food chain.
Fill in the blank: Consumers that hunt and kill other animals are called _______.
Predators
The animals that predators eat are referred to as prey.
How does the population size of a species relate to the amount of food it has?
It is limited by the food available
In stable communities, food availability determines population sizes.
What happens to the population of foxes when the number of rabbits increases?
The number of foxes will increase
More food for the foxes leads to an increase in their population.
What effect does an increase in foxes have on the rabbit population?
The number of rabbits will decrease
This occurs because more rabbits will be eaten by the increasing fox population.
True or False: A food chain always starts with a plant.
False
While food chains typically start with plants, organisms like algae can also serve as producers.
List the components of the example food chain: grass → grasshopper → rat → snake.
- Grass (producer)
- Grasshopper (primary consumer)
- Rat (secondary consumer)
- Snake (tertiary consumer)
This chain illustrates the flow of energy from producers to top predators.
What is the first step in studying the distribution of organisms using quadrats?
Place a quadrat in the area being studied
Quadrats help researchers sample and study populations in specific areas.
Fill in the blank: The population of a species can go through _______ cycles.
Population
Populations of prey and predators often fluctuate in cycles based on availability of resources.
What is the relationship between predator and prey populations in a stable community?
They influence each other’s population sizes
Changes in prey populations directly affect predator populations and vice versa.
What is a quadrat?
A square frame used to measure the distribution of organisms in a sample area
Quadrats are essential tools in ecological studies for sampling biodiversity.
How do you determine the mean number of organisms per quadrat?
Add the total number of organisms counted in all quadrats and divide by the number of quadrats
This statistical measure helps understand the density of organisms in a given area.
What is the first step in using quadrats to study organism distribution?
Place a quadrat randomly in the sample area
Random placement helps eliminate bias in data collection.
What is the significance of comparing means from different sample areas?
It allows for understanding how environmental factors affect organism abundance
For example, comparing organism counts in sunny vs. shady areas can reveal habitat preferences.
Fill in the blank: The population size of an organism is sometimes called _______.
[population density]
If the area of a field is 800 m² and the mean number of daisies per quadrat is 10 with a quadrat size of 0.25 m², what is the estimated total population of daisies?
32,000 daisies
Calculation: (800 ÷ 0.25) x 10 = 32,000.
What should you ensure when placing a quadrat?
It should be placed in a random location
Random placement is crucial for unbiased sampling.
What is the mean number of daisies per quadrat if the counts are 18, 20, 22, 23, 23, 23, 25?
22 daisies per quadrat
Total count: 154, divided by 7 quadrats.
True or False: The distribution of an organism refers to where an organism is found.
True
Understanding distribution is key to studying ecology.
How can you estimate the population of tulips in a field with an area of 1200 m² and a mean of 0.75 tulips per quadrat?
Calculate using the formula: (1200 ÷ quadrat size) x mean tulips per quadrat
The size of the quadrat must be known to perform the calculation.
What are transects used for in ecological studies?
To study the distribution of organisms along a line
Transects help researchers understand how organisms are distributed across different areas.
What is the first step in using transects to study organisms?
Mark out a line in the area using a tape measure
This line will serve as the basis for data collection.
What are the two methods to collect data along a transect?
- Counting all organisms that touch the line
- Using quadrats placed along the line
What is a quadrat?
A square frame used for sampling organisms in a specific area
Quadrats can help estimate the percentage cover of organisms.
How can you estimate the percentage cover of a quadrat?
By counting the number of squares covered by organisms and converting that into a percentage
This is useful when counting individual organisms is difficult.
Fill in the blank: To calculate the percentage cover, divide the number of squares covered by the organism by the total number of squares in the quadrat and then _______.
Multiply the result by 100
What was the example given for calculating percentage cover in a quadrat?
47 squares covered by the organism out of 100 total squares
The calculation yields a percentage cover of 47%.
True or False: A slug is considered a widely-spread organism in the context of the example provided.
True
What is the benefit of using both transects and quadrats together?
To more accurately measure the distribution of organisms across an area
This combination provides a comprehensive assessment of organism distribution.
Describe a method to measure how the distribution of dandelions changes across a field.
Use a transect line and place quadrats at regular intervals to count dandelions
This method allows for systematic data collection.
What is the Water Cycle?
The Water Cycle is the continuous movement of water from the land to the atmosphere and back again.
It involves processes like evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.
What process turns water into water vapor?
Evaporation
This occurs when water is heated and changes from a liquid to a gas.
What is transpiration in the context of the water cycle?
Transpiration is the process of water vapor being released from plants into the atmosphere.
This is part of the water cycle where plants absorb water and release it as vapor.
What happens during precipitation?
Water falls from the atmosphere to the ground in forms such as rain, snow, or hail.
Precipitation provides fresh water for plants and animals.
How do plants absorb water?
Plants take up water through their roots.
This water is essential for processes like photosynthesis.
What role do animals play in the water cycle?
Animals need water for chemical reactions and return water to the soil and atmosphere through waste.
Examples of waste include sweat and urine.
Fill in the blank: Water that doesn’t get absorbed by the soil will run off into _______.
streams and rivers
What happens to water after it drains back into the sea?
It evaporates again, continuing the cycle.
This process restarts the water cycle.
True or False: The water cycle has a definitive beginning and end.
False
The water cycle is a continuous cycle without a clear starting or ending point.
What is the main takeaway regarding the water cycle?
It’s a cycle with no beginning or end, involving continuous movement of water.
How does water move from the land into the air in the water cycle?
Through evaporation and transpiration.
This movement is essential for the cycle to function.
How does the water cycle benefit plants and animals?
It provides fresh water necessary for survival and growth.
Water is crucial for photosynthesis in plants and hydration in animals.
What is the balance in the environment regarding nutrients?
All the nutrients in our environment get recycled.
What are living things made of?
Materials they take from the world around them.
Give an example of a material that plants take from their environment.
Mineral ions from the soil.
What happens to materials when a plant is eaten?
The molecules are passed up the food chain.
How are materials returned to the environment?
In waste products or when dead organisms decay.
What causes materials to decay?
Microorganisms break them down.
What is the term for the constant cycling of carbon?
The Carbon Cycle.
What gas do plants take in during photosynthesis?
CO2 (carbon dioxide).
What do plants use carbon from CO2 to make?
Glucose.
What are carbon compounds made from glucose used for?
Growth.
What process releases CO2 back into the air from both plants and animals?
Respiration.
What happens to plants and animals when they die?
They are turned into useful products or decomposed.
What do microorganisms do to animal waste and dead organisms?
Break them down and release CO2 back into the air.
What are fossil fuels made of?
Decayed plants and animals.
What happens when plant and animal products (and fossil fuels) are burned?
CO2 is released back into the air.
What is biodiversity?
The variety of different species in an ecosystem.
Why is biodiversity important for humans?
It can help sustain life and resources.
What human activity negatively impacts biodiversity?
Pollution.
Fill in the blank: Carbon is very important for living things — it’s the basis for loads of the _______.
molecules in our bodies.
True or False: Microorganisms are essential for the decay process.
True.
How does the population affect the environment?
More people need more resources and contribute to pollution.
What is meant by the term ‘biodiversity’?
The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.
Why is Earth’s biodiversity important?
It helps maintain stable ecosystems and supports processes like soil pH regulation.
Fill in the blank: More people means higher demands on the _______.
[environment]
What is a consequence of an increasing world population?
More resources are needed to survive.
What do people demand that increases resource consumption?
A higher standard of living, including luxuries like cars and computers.
How does increased production affect waste generation?
As we make more things, we produce more waste, including harmful chemicals.
What are the three main areas affected by pollution?
- Water
- Land
- Air
How can sewage and toxic chemicals impact water sources?
They can pollute lakes, rivers, and oceans, affecting plants and animals.
What types of chemicals can pollute land?
- Pesticides
- Herbicides
- Household waste
What is a major air pollutant produced by human activity?
Smoke and acidic gases.
True or False: Pollution can reduce biodiversity.
True
Fill in the blank: Resources are being used more quickly than they are being _______.
[replaced]
What is a result of using more raw materials and energy?
Increased waste production and potential pollution.
What role does decay play in the ecosystem?
Organisms decay and are recycled, contributing to nutrient cycles.
What is global warming?
The Earth is getting warmer due to increased greenhouse gases.
What are greenhouse gases?
Gases in the Earth’s atmosphere that trap energy from the Sun.
Name two greenhouse gases that are increasing.
- Carbon dioxide (CO2)
- Methane
What is the effect of increasing greenhouse gases?
They are causing the Earth to heat up.
What is deforestation?
The clearing of land for agriculture or other uses.
What are the consequences of deforestation?
- Less carbon stored
- More carbon released
- Less biodiversity
How does global warming cause flooding?
Higher temperatures cause seawater to expand and ice to melt, leading to sea level rise.
What is the impact of rising sea levels?
Flooding of low-lying land and loss of habitats.
How does global warming affect species distribution?
It causes changes in rainfall and temperature, altering where species can live.
What happens to species that cannot adapt to climate changes?
They might become extinct, reducing biodiversity.
How have migration patterns changed due to global warming?
Some animals are migrating further north as northern areas warm.
Fill in the blank: The greenhouse effect helps to keep the Earth _______.
[warm]
True or False: Most scientists agree that human activity has caused recent global warming.
True
What is the relationship between higher temperatures and low-lying habitats?
Higher temperatures lead to sea level rise, which floods low-lying habitats.
List the three main consequences of deforestation.
- Less carbon storage
- More carbon release
- Less biodiversity
What is global warming?
Energy trapped by gases
What human activity contributes to global warming?
Deforestation
What are two main reasons for carrying out deforestation?
- To clear land for farming
- To grow crops for biofuels
What happens to carbon dioxide levels when trees are cut down?
Less carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere
How do trees contribute to carbon storage?
Trees lock up carbon in their wood
What is a consequence of burning trees to clear land?
Carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere
What effect does deforestation have on biodiversity?
Reduces biodiversity by causing species extinction
What are peat bogs?
Areas of land that are acidic and waterlogged
What happens to the carbon in plants that die in peat bogs?
It is stored in the peat
What occurs when peat bogs are drained?
Microorganisms break down peat, releasing CO2
True or False: Destroying peat bogs increases biodiversity.
False
Fill in the blank: Trees take in _______ from the atmosphere during photosynthesis.
carbon dioxide
What is one of the problems caused by deforestation related to carbon dioxide?
More CO2 in the atmosphere contributes to global warming
What is one use of drained peat?
Sold to gardeners as compost
What do microorganisms release when they feed on dead wood?
Carbon dioxide
Name one impact of deforestation on ecosystems.
Reduces the area of habitat
What is biodiversity?
The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.
Biodiversity includes the diversity of species, genetic diversity, and ecosystem diversity.
What can human activities do to biodiversity?
Reduce biodiversity and damage ecosystems.
Human impacts include habitat destruction, pollution, and over-exploitation of resources.
What is an endangered species?
Animal species that are at risk of dying out.
Endangered species can be bred in captivity to help prevent extinction.
What is the purpose of breeding programs?
To ensure some individuals of endangered species survive if the species dies out in the wild.
Individuals can sometimes be released into the wild to boost populations.
What is habitat protection?
Protecting and regenerating rare habitats to safeguard the species that live there.
This includes actions like reintroducing hedgerows and field margins.
What are field margins?
Areas of land around the edges of fields where wild flowers and grasses are left to grow.
Field margins help increase biodiversity in agricultural areas.
What are hedgerows?
Hedges planted around fields to form barriers.
Hedgerows provide habitats for various organisms.
How do hedgerows and field margins benefit ecosystems?
They provide habitats for many types of organisms.
This is particularly useful in monoculture fields which have low biodiversity.
How does recycling benefit the environment?
Reduces the amount of waste dumped in landfill sites.
Recycling can help conserve ecosystems by minimizing land needed for waste disposal.
What is the impact of deforestation on carbon dioxide levels?
Increases the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Deforestation contributes to climate change and global warming.
What measures have some governments taken regarding deforestation?
Made rules to reduce deforestation and limit carbon dioxide emissions from businesses.
These measures aim to combat global warming.
True or False: Governments have no role in protecting ecosystems.
False.
Governments can implement programs and rules to protect biodiversity and ecosystems.
Fill in the blank: Species that are at risk of extinction are called _______.
endangered species.
What are two examples of government programs to protect ecosystems?
- Rules to reduce deforestation
- Regulations to limit carbon dioxide emissions
Explain how biodiversity can be increased in areas that farm single crops.
By introducing hedgerows and field margins to enhance habitats.
This allows for a greater variety of species to thrive.
Describe how breeding programs preserve endangered species.
They breed individuals in captivity to ensure survival and can release them to boost wild populations.
Such programs are essential for species that are critically endangered.
