B7- Ecology Flashcards
What is ecology about
Organisms and the environment they live in, and how the two interact
Define habitat
The place where an organism lives
Define population
All the organisms of one species living in a habitat
Define community
The populations of different species living in a habitat
Define Abiotic factors
Non-living factors of the environment
Define Biotic factors
Living factors of the environment
Define Ecosystem
The interaction of a community of living organisms (biotic) with the non-living (abiotic) parts of the their environment
What are Stonefly Larvae particularly sensitive to
Pollution
What is it called when all the species and environmental factors are in balance so that the population sizes are roughly constant
Stable communities
Examples of Abiotic Factors
- Moisture level
- Light intensity
- Temperature
- Carbon dioxide level (for plants)
- Wind intensity and direction
- Oxygen level (for aquatic animals)
- Soil pH and mineral content
Examples of Biotic Factors
- New predators
- Competition
- New pathogens
- Avalibility of food
Define structural adaptation
Features of an organism’s body structure-such as shape or colour
Define behavioural adaptation
These are ways that organisms behave. Many species migrate to warmer climates during te winter to aviod the problems of living in cold conditons
Define functional adaptation
These are things that go on inside an organism’s body that can be related to processes like reproduction and metabolism
What do food chains start with
A producer
Where do producers get their foofd from
The sun
Who eats the producer in a food chain
Primary consumer
Who eats the primary consumer in a food chain
Secondary consumer
Who eats the secondary consumers in a food chain
Tertiary consumer
Describe the stages of the water cycle
- Energy from the Sun makes water evaporate from the land and sea, turning it into water vapour. Water alos evaporates from the plants- this is known as transpiration
- The warm water vapour is carried upwards (as warm air rises). When it gets higher up it cools and condenses to form clouds
- Water falls from the clouds as precipitation (usually rain, but sometimes snow or hail) onto land, where it provides fresh water for plants and animals
- It then drains into the sea, before the whole process starts again
Describe the carbon cycle
- CO2 is removed from the atmosphere by green plants and algae during photosynthesis. The carbon is used to make glucose, which can be turned into carbohydrates, fats and proteins that make up the bodies of the plants and algae
- When the plants and algae respire, some carbon is returned to the atmosphere as CO2
- When the plants and algae ar eaten by animals, some carbon becomes part of the fats and proteins in their bodies. The carbon then moves through the food chain
- When the animals respire, some carbon is returned to the atmosphere as CO2
- When plants, algae and animals die, other animals (called detritus feeders) and microorganisms feed on their remains. When these organisms respire, CO2 is returned to the atmosphere
- Animals also produce waste that is broken down by detritus feeders and microorganisms
- The combustion (burning) of wood and fossil fuels also releases CO2 back into the air
- So the carbon (and energy) is constantly being cycled- from the air, through food chains (via plants, algae and animals, and detritus feeders and microorganisms) and eventually back into the air
Why do microorganisms break down plant and animal material and waste
For energy
What is compost
Decomposition of organic matter that is used as a natural fertiliser
What factors affect how quickly microorganisms decay stuff
- Temperature
- Oxygen availability
- Water availability
- Number of decay organisms
When is biogas made
By anaerobic decay of waste material
What is biogas mostly made up of
Methane
Does biogas need to be kept at a constant temperature
Yes
What are the two types of biogas generators
Batch generators and continuous generators
Describe what a batch biogas generator is
They make biogas in small batches. They’re manually loaded up with waste, which is left to digest, and the by-products are cleared away at the end of each session
Describe what is continuous generator is
They make biogas all the time. Waste is continuously fed in, and bioga is produces at a steady rate. Continuous generators are more suited to large-scale biogas projects
What 3 things do all biogas generators need to have
- An inlet for waste material to be put in
- An outlet doe the digested material to be removed through
- An outlet so that the biogas can be piped to where it is needed
Define biodiversity
The virality of different species of organisms on Earth, or within an ecosystem
What do carbon dioxide and methane do to heat
Trap it in the Earth’s atmosphere
What do trees and peat bogs do to carbon dioxide
Trap it
What are the negative impacts of deforestation
- More CO2 in the atmosphere
- Less biodiversity
What happen when a plant lives in a bog
It doesn’t fully decay
Why do plants i peat bogs not fully decay when they die
There isn’t enough oxygen
What are examples of programmes that have been set up to boost biodiversity
- Breeding programmes
- Protecting regenerate rare habitats
- To reintroduce hedgerows and field margins
- Reduce the level of deforesation
- People are encouraged to recycle and reduce the amount of waste
What are the down sides to protecting biodiversity
- Expensive
- A cost to local people’s livelihood
- Trying to protect our food security
- Devlopment is important
What is at trophic one (food chains)
Producr
What is at trophic 2 (food chains)
Primary consmer
What is at trophic 3 (food chains)
Secondary consumer
What is at trophic 4 (food chains)
Tertiary consumer
What do decomposers do
Break down uneaten remains and waste
What do pyramids of biomass show
The relative mass of each trophic level
What are reasons as to why biomass is lost at every leval
- Organisms don’t eat every part of the animal
- Organisms don’t absorb all of the stuff in the food they ingest
- Some of the biomass is taken in is converted into other substances that are lost as waste
What is the equation for efficiency of biomass
Biomass transferred to the next level / Biomass available at the previous level X 100
What factors impact food security
- Population
- Diets dvelop and change
- New pests and pathogens
- Price
- Conflict
What is the benefit of fishing quotas
There are limits on the number and size of fish that can be caught in certain areas. This prevents certain certain species from being overfished
What is being put in place to prevent overfishing
- Fishing quotas
- Net size
What ways are here to make food production more efficient
- Live stock can be factory farmed
- Fish can be factory farmed
- Animals being fed high-protein food
Why are some factory farming methods contreversial
Because of the cramped conditons disease can spread
-Ethical objections are that making animals live in unnatural conditions and uncomftable is cruel
What is biotechnology
Where living things and biological processes are used and manipulated to produce a useful product
What is mycroprotien
Food from fungi
Bacteria can be engineered to produce human _
Insulin
What is gentic engineering
Transferring a useful gene from one organ to another
How can biotechnology help with genetically modified crops
- Resistance to pests improving cropt yeild
- Make crops grow better
- More nutritional value
Why do some people disagree with gentically modified crops
- People argue that people are hungry because of poverty and that is the issue that is tackled
- Fears that countries may become dependent on companies who sell genetically modified crops
- Often poor soil is the issue so GM crops won’t survive
State the levels of organisation in an ecosystem
Individual, population, community, ecosystem
What is an ecosystem
The interaction between the living components and non-living components.
State the factors that plants may compete for
● Light
● Space
● Water
● Mineral ions from soil
State the factors that animals might compete for
● Food
● Mates
● Territory
What is intraspecific competition
Competition within a species
What is interspecific competition
Competition between different species
What is interdependence
Different species in a ecosystem depend
on each other for various resources, if
one species is removed, the whole
community may be affected
What is a stable community
A community in which all the biotic factors (the different species) and all abiotic factors are balanced so that population sizes remain relatively constant.
What are abiotic factors
Non-living factors
State the abiotic factors that may affect
an ecosystem
● Light intensity ● Temperature ● Moisture ● Soil pH and mineral content ● Wind intensity and direction ● Carbon dioxide level ● Oxygen level
Why might light intensity affect an ecosystem?
Different species of plants may have different
optimum light intensities for growth.
Why does temperature affect an ecosystem
Different species of plants and animals may
have different optimum temperatures for
growth and survival.
How does soil pH affect an ecosystem
Certain plants may grow better in either
alkaline or acidic soil.
Soil pH may affect the appearance of the
plant eg. colour of hydrangea.
How does moisture level affect an ecosystem
Many plants cannot survive in waterlogged
soil as their roots cannot respire.
Certain plants are adapted to high moisture
levels
How does wind intensity affect an ecosystem
Plant seeds are more likely to germinate in
locations with lower wind intensity, which may
also attract animals that depend on the plant
to live nearby.
How does soil mineral content affect an ecosystem
Most plants require a high level of soil
minerals to grow well.