B7 - Ecology Flashcards
What are the different levels of organisation in an ecosystem?
Individual organism → Population → Community → Ecosystem
What is interdependence and why is it important?
Species rely on each other for food, shelter, pollination, seed dispersal, etc.
If one species is removed, it can affect the whole community.
What is a stable community?
A community where species and environmental factors are in balance, keeping population sizes fairly constant.
What do plants and animals compete for?
Plants: Light, space, water, and minerals.
Animals: Food, mates, and territory.
What are biotic (living) factors that affect a community?
Availability of food, new predators, new pathogens, and competition between species.
What are abiotic (non-living) factors that affect a community?
Light intensity, temperature, moisture levels, soil pH & minerals, wind intensity, CO₂ levels (for plants), and O₂ levels (for aquatic animals).
What are the three types of adaptations?
Structural (e.g., thick fur in polar bears for insulation).
Behavioral (e.g., birds migrating in winter).
Functional (e.g., desert animals producing concentrated urine to conserve water).
What are extremophiles and where are they found?
Organisms that live in extreme environments (e.g., deep-sea vents, salt lakes, volcanic springs).
What are producers, consumers, predators, and prey?
Producers (e.g., plants, algae) make glucose via photosynthesis.
Consumers eat other organisms:
Primary consumers eat producers.
Secondary consumers eat primary consumers.
Tertiary consumers eat secondary consumers.
Predators kill and eat other animals, while prey are eaten by predators
What happens to predator and prey populations in a stable community?
Their numbers rise and fall in cycles
How do ecologists measure populations?
Using quadrats (for population size) and transects (for distribution).
Why is material cycling important, and what are the roles of the carbon and water cycles?
Material cycling provides building blocks for future organisms.
Carbon cycle: Returns carbon to the atmosphere for photosynthesis.
Water cycle: Continuously moves water through evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.
What role do microorganisms play in material cycling?
Decomposers break down dead organisms, releasing CO₂ into the atmosphere and mineral ions into the soil.
What is biodiversity, and why is it important?
Biodiversity is the variety of different species on Earth or in an ecosystem.
It ensures ecosystem stability by reducing species dependence on one another.
How do human activities reduce biodiversity?
Deforestation, pollution, and climate change destroy habitats and disrupt ecosystems.
What are the three types of pollution?
Water pollution (sewage, fertilizers, toxic chemicals).
Air pollution (smoke, acidic gases).
Land pollution (landfill, toxic chemicals).
How does deforestation and peat destruction affect biodiversity?
Deforestation destroys habitats, reduces species diversity, and increases CO₂ levels.
Peat bog destruction releases stored CO₂ and reduces rare species’ habitats.
What causes global warming, and how does it affect biodiversity?
Carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄) trap heat, causing climate change.
It leads to habitat loss, species migration, and changes in species distribution.
What is the scientific consensus on global warming?
Based on thousands of peer-reviewed studies showing climate change is caused by human activities.
What are five ways to maintain biodiversity?
Breeding programs for endangered species.
Protecting & regenerating habitats.
Reintroducing field margins & hedgerows in farmlands.
Reducing deforestation & CO₂ emissions.
Recycling resources instead of using landfill.
