B7 - Ecology Flashcards
What is a habitat?
The place where an organism lives.
Define population in an ecological context.
All the organisms of one species living in a habitat.
What is a community in ecology?
The populations of different species living in a habitat.
What are abiotic factors?
Non-living factors of the environment, e.g. temperature.
Define biotic factors.
Living factors of the environment, e.g. food.
What is an ecosystem?
The interaction of a community of living organisms (biotic) with the non-living (abiotic) parts of their environment.
Organisms compete for resources to survive. What do plants need?
Light, space, water, and mineral ions (nutrients) from the soil.
What do animals need to survive?
Space (territory), food, water, and mates.
True or False: Organisms only compete with members of their own species for resources.
False
What is interdependence in an ecosystem?
The dependence of each species on other species for food, shelter, pollination, and seed dispersal.
What can happen if a major change occurs in an ecosystem?
It can have far-reaching effects on all living things.
What does a food web illustrate?
What eats what in an ecosystem.
How are stonefly larvae affected by pollution?
They are particularly sensitive to pollution.
Fill in the blank: The effect of loss of stonefly larvae on blackfly larvae is ______.
Less competition for algae
What is the effect on water spiders if stonefly larvae are removed from the ecosystem?
Less food
What are stable communities?
Communities where all species and environmental factors are in balance, resulting in roughly constant population sizes.
Name two examples of stable communities.
- Tropical rainforests
- Ancient oak woodlands
True or False: The effects of changes in food webs are easy to predict.
False
What are abiotic factors?
Non-living factors in an ecosystem
Examples include moisture level, light intensity, temperature, wind intensity and direction, oxygen level, soil pH, mineral content, and carbon dioxide level.
List three examples of abiotic factors.
- Moisture level
- Light intensity
- Temperature
How can changes in abiotic factors affect populations?
They can affect the size of populations in a community
For example, an increase in temperature can impact species dependent on specific temperature ranges.
What is the effect of decreased light intensity on plants?
It can decrease the rate of photosynthesis
This can lead to reduced plant growth and subsequently affect animal populations that rely on plants for food.
What are biotic factors?
Living factors in an ecosystem
Examples include new predators, competition, new pathogens, and availability of food.
List three examples of biotic factors.
- New predators arriving
- Competition
- New pathogens
How can the introduction of a new biotic factor affect a community?
It can affect the size of populations, leading to knock-on effects due to interdependence
For instance, a new predator may decrease the prey population.
What is an example of competition among species?
Grey squirrels outcompeting red squirrels
This competition leads to a decrease in the population of red squirrels.
True or False: A new pathogen can cause a population decrease in a species.
True
The graph referenced shows a rapid decrease in the population size of Species A after the introduction of a new pathogen.
Fill in the blank: A change in the environment could be an increase or decrease in an _______ factor.
abiotic
What happens to the population of Species A after 1990?
The population started to rise again
This suggests that the effects of the pathogen may have diminished or that the species adapted over time.
What is an adaptation?
A feature that allows organisms to survive in their environment
Adaptations can be structural, behavioral, or functional.
What is a structural adaptation?
Features of an organism’s body structure, such as shape or color
Example: Arctic fox has white fur for camouflage against the snow.
Give an example of an organism with a structural adaptation for cold environments.
Arctic fox
The Arctic fox has white fur to blend in with the snow.
What is a behavioral adaptation?
Ways that organisms behave to survive
Example: Swallows migrate to warmer climates during winter.
What is a functional adaptation?
Processes that occur inside an organism’s body related to reproduction and metabolism
Example: Desert animals conserve water by producing very little sweat.
How do brown bears adapt functionally during winter?
They hibernate and lower their metabolism
This conserves energy when food is scarce.
What are extremophiles?
Microorganisms adapted to live in extreme conditions
Examples include bacteria that live in hot volcanic vents or salty lakes.
Fill in the blank: Animals that live in hot places have a thin layer of _______.
fat
This helps them lose heat effectively.
What adaptation helps Arctic animals avoid predators?
Camouflage
Example: White fur of the Arctic fox blends with the snow.
True or False: All adaptations are physical.
False
Adaptations can also be behavioral and functional.
What is the purpose of adaptations?
To allow organisms to survive in their environments
Adaptations can be structural, behavioral, or functional.
What always starts a food chain?
A producer
Producers make their own food using energy from the Sun.
What are typically the producers in a food chain?
Green plants or algae
They produce food through photosynthesis.
What is biomass?
The mass of living material
Biomass can be thought of as energy stored in a plant.
How is energy transferred in an ecosystem?
When organisms eat other organisms
Who are the primary consumers in a food chain?
The first consumers
Primary consumers eat producers.
What follows primary consumers in a food chain?
Secondary consumers
What is an example of a food chain?
5000 dandelions… feed… 100 rabbits… which feed… 1 fox.
What are consumers that hunt and kill other animals called?
Predators
What is the term for the organisms that predators eat?
Prey
What usually limits the population of any species in a stable community?
The amount of food available
What happens to the population of predators when the population of prey increases?
The population of predators also increases
What occurs when the population of predators increases?
The number of prey will decrease
What is the pattern of predator-prey populations?
They are always out of phase with each other
The cycle of predator-prey populations is influenced by what factor?
Time for reproduction
Fill in the blank: More grass means more _______.
rabbits
True or False: Predator-prey cycles occur simultaneously.
False
What happens in the predator-prey cycle when there are fewer rabbits?
There will be fewer foxes
What is the main significance of the water cycle on Earth?
Water is endlessly recycled
This recycling is crucial for the survival of all living organisms.
What energy source drives the evaporation of water from the land and sea?
Energy from the Sun
This energy transforms liquid water into water vapor.
What is the process called when water evaporates from plants?
Transpiration
This process contributes to the movement of water into the atmosphere.
What happens to warm water vapor as it rises in the atmosphere?
It cools and condenses to form clouds
This is a key step in the water cycle.
What is precipitation?
Water falling from clouds, usually as rain
It can also occur as snow or hail.
What role does precipitation play in the water cycle?
It provides fresh water for plants and animals
This is essential for sustaining life on land.
How do plants obtain water from the soil?
Through their roots
This water is used for photosynthesis and other biological processes.
Why do animals need water?
For chemical reactions in their bodies
Water is vital for processes such as digestion and metabolism.
How do animals return water to the soil and atmosphere?
Through excretion
This includes processes such as sweating, urination, and breathing out.
What happens to water that is not absorbed by the soil?
It runoff into streams and rivers
This water eventually drains back into the sea.
What is the ultimate fate of water in the water cycle?
It evaporates again
This completes the cycle, allowing it to start anew.
Fill in the blank: The process of water turning into vapor is called _______.
Evaporation
Fill in the blank: The process of water vapor turning into liquid water is called _______.
Condensation
True or False: There is an unlimited supply of water on Earth.
False
There has only ever been a fixed amount of water on Earth.
What is the main significance of the water cycle on Earth?
Water is endlessly recycled
This recycling is crucial for the survival of all living organisms.
What energy source drives the evaporation of water from the land and sea?
Energy from the Sun
This energy transforms liquid water into water vapor.
What is the process called when water evaporates from plants?
Transpiration
This process contributes to the movement of water into the atmosphere.
What happens to warm water vapor as it rises in the atmosphere?
It cools and condenses to form clouds
This is a key step in the water cycle.
What is precipitation?
Water falling from clouds, usually as rain
It can also occur as snow or hail.
What role does precipitation play in the water cycle?
It provides fresh water for plants and animals
This is essential for sustaining life on land.
How do plants obtain water from the soil?
Through their roots
This water is used for photosynthesis and other biological processes.
Why do animals need water?
For chemical reactions in their bodies
Water is vital for processes such as digestion and metabolism.
How do animals return water to the soil and atmosphere?
Through excretion
This includes processes such as sweating, urination, and breathing out.
What happens to water that is not absorbed by the soil?
It runoff into streams and rivers
This water eventually drains back into the sea.
What is the ultimate fate of water in the water cycle?
It evaporates again
This completes the cycle, allowing it to start anew.
Fill in the blank: The process of water turning into vapor is called _______.
Evaporation
Fill in the blank: The process of water vapor turning into liquid water is called _______.
Condensation
True or False: There is an unlimited supply of water on Earth.
False
There has only ever been a fixed amount of water on Earth.
What is the Carbon Cycle?
The constant cycling of carbon between the atmosphere, plants, animals, and microorganisms
The Carbon Cycle involves the recycling of carbon through various processes like photosynthesis and respiration.
What do living things take from the environment to grow?
Materials like carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen
These materials are taken from the air and soil.
What process do plants use to convert CO2 into energy?
Photosynthesis
During photosynthesis, plants convert carbon dioxide and sunlight into glucose and oxygen.
What happens to carbon when plants and algae respire?
Some carbon is returned to the atmosphere as CO2
Respiration is a process where organisms convert glucose and oxygen into energy, releasing carbon dioxide.
Fill in the blank: The materials taken out of the soil are balanced by those that are _______.
put back in
This balance is crucial for maintaining a stable ecosystem.
What role do detritus feeders play in the Carbon Cycle?
They feed on the remains of dead organisms and return CO2 to the atmosphere
Detritus feeders and microorganisms break down dead matter, recycling nutrients back into the soil.
True or False: Fossil fuels are made from decayed plant and animal matter.
True
Fossil fuels are formed from the remains of ancient organisms that have been subjected to heat and pressure over millions of years.
What is released into the atmosphere during the combustion of fossil fuels?
CO2
Burning fossil fuels contributes to the greenhouse effect and climate change.
Describe the process of decay in relation to the Carbon Cycle.
Decay breaks down organic matter, returning minerals and carbon compounds to the soil
This process is essential for nutrient cycling and soil fertility.
When animals eat plants, what happens to the carbon?
It becomes part of the fats and proteins in their bodies
This transfer of carbon continues through the food chain.
What is the primary source of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?
Respiration and combustion
Both processes release CO2 back into the air, maintaining the carbon cycle.
Fill in the blank: The energy from photosynthesis is used to make _______.
glucose
Glucose can then be converted into carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.
What is the role of microorganisms in the Carbon Cycle?
They break down dead organisms and waste, releasing CO2
Microorganisms are crucial for decomposition and nutrient recycling.
How does carbon move through the food chain?
Through consumption of plants by animals, and then animals by other animals
This movement is essential for energy transfer within ecosystems.
What do trees and peat bogs do with carbon dioxide?
They trap carbon dioxide and lock it up.
This process helps mitigate climate change by reducing the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere.
List some human uses of land.
- Building
- Quarrying
- Farming
- Dumping waste
These activities can lead to reduced land availability for other organisms.
What is deforestation?
The cutting down of forests.
Deforestation often occurs on a large scale, particularly in tropical areas.
What are two reasons for deforestation?
- To clear land for farming (e.g., cattle or rice crops)
- To grow crops for biofuels based on ethanol
These activities aim to increase food production and biofuel availability.
How does deforestation affect carbon dioxide levels?
It reduces the amount of carbon dioxide taken in and increases CO2 in the atmosphere.
This contributes to global warming and climate change.
What happens to carbon dioxide when trees are burnt?
Carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere.
The carbon in wood contributes to atmospheric pollution only when released by burning.
Define biodiversity.
The variety of different species.
Greater biodiversity means a larger number of different species.
What is a consequence of destroying habitats like forests?
Many species can become extinct, leading to reduced biodiversity.
Forests contain numerous species of plants and animals.
What are peat bogs?
Areas of land that are acidic and waterlogged.
They contain partly-rotted plants that form peat.
What happens to carbon stored in peat when it is drained?
It comes into contact with air and is decomposed by microorganisms, releasing carbon dioxide.
This contributes to global warming.
Fill in the blank: Peat is being used ______ than it forms.
faster
This unsustainable use of peat affects its availability.
What is released when peat is burned as fuel?
Carbon dioxide.
Burning peat contributes to atmospheric CO2 levels.
How does destroying peat bogs impact biodiversity?
It reduces the habitats of animals, plants, and microorganisms.
This destruction threatens various species living in these ecosystems.
What is the importance of maintaining biodiversity?
Biodiversity is crucial for ensuring stable ecosystems.
What are breeding programmes designed to do?
Help prevent endangered species from becoming extinct by breeding them in captivity.
What is the purpose of protecting and regenerating rare habitats?
To protect the species that live there and preserve the ecosystem and biodiversity.
What are field margins?
Areas of land around the edges of fields where wild flowers and grasses are left to grow.
How do hedgerows and field margins benefit biodiversity?
They provide a habitat for a wider variety of organisms than a single crop habitat.
What measures have some governments taken to combat deforestation?
Introduced regulations and programmes to reduce deforestation and carbon dioxide emissions.
How can recycling impact ecosystems?
It can reduce the amount of waste dumped in landfill sites, preserving ecosystems.
What is a major challenge in maintaining biodiversity?
Conflicting pressures such as costs and local livelihoods.
What is the financial aspect of protecting biodiversity?
It often costs money, including subsidies for farmers to reintroduce hedgerows.
How can protecting biodiversity affect local economies?
It may lead to unemployment for those in industries like tree-felling.
What conflict can arise between biodiversity protection and food security?
Certain organisms may be killed as pests, affecting the food chain and biodiversity.
What impact can development have on biodiversity?
Development may require the use of previously untouched land with high biodiversity.
Fill in the blank: Protecting biodiversity may come at a cost to local people’s _______.
livelihood
True or False: Maintaining biodiversity is a straightforward process.
False
