B7 -Ecology Flashcards
What is the definition of population?
All the organisms of one species living in a habitat
What is the definition of a community?
The populations of different species living in a habitat.
What is the definition of a stable community?
A community in which all species and environmental factors are in balance, so the population sizes are roughly constant.
What is definition of an ecosystem?
The interaction of a community of organisms and the parts of their environment that are non - living.
What is the definition of adaptation?
A feature that enables an organism to survive in the conditions of its normal habitat.
What is the definition of independence?
Each species in a community depending upon other species for things, eg. Pollination, good, shelter or seed dispersal
What are 5 examples of abiotic ( non living) factors?
Light intensity
Wind intensity and direction
CO2 level ( for plants)
Moisture level
Temperature
What are 3 examples of biotic ( living) factors?
New predators
Food availability
Competition
What do organisms compete for? (6)
Light
Space
Minerals
Food and water
Mates
Territory
What are the three types of adaptation?
- Structural
- Behavioural
- Functional
What are the three parts of a food chain?
Producer
Primary consumer
Secondary consumer
What is a producer?
A plant or alga that makes glucose by photosynthesis.
What are three examples of environmental changes that cause distribution of organisms to change?
Water availability - how much rainfall there is
Temperature
Atmospheric gases - how much air pollution there is
What are the four phases of the water cycle?
Evaporation
Condensation
Transpiration
Precipitation
What is biodiversity?
The variety of different species on earth or within an ecosystem.
What will it mean if there is high biodiversity?
Reduced dependence of one species on another for things like food, shelter and the maintenance of the physical environment.
= STABLE ECOSYSTEMS
What are three consequences of global warming?
Rising sea levels ( flooding).
A change in the distribution of some organisms.
A decrease in biodiversity ( as some species may become extinct).
What do humans use land for and what does this mean there is less of?
Building, quarrying, farming, and dumping waste.
Means there is less land available for other organisms.
What is deforestation and why is it done? (3)
The cutting down of forests.
To clear land for rice fields and farming cattle.
To grow crops to make biofuels.
What does it mean for biodiversity if there is an increase in human population and standard of living?
More resources used more quickly
More waste produced - more pollution
More plants and animals killed
= LESS BIODIVERSITY
What is the 1st way we pollute the environment?
Sewage, fertilisers and toxic chemicals ( pesticides) from farming and Industry get washed into WATER.
What is the 2nd way we pollute the environment?
Smoke and acidic gases released into the atmosphere pollute AIR.
What is the last way we pollute environment?
Toxic chemicals from farming and waste dumped in landfill sites pollute LAND.
