Biodiversity

Question 1

What do photosynthetic organisms produce?

Answer 1

Biomass for life on earth

Question 2

What is ‘mean’?

Answer 2

Average

Question 3

What is the median

Answer 3

Number in the middle of a sequence

Question 4

What is mode

Answer 4

The most often number in a sequence

Question 5

What is biodiversity?

Answer 5

The variety of different species in an area

Question 6

What are positive interactions with biodiversity?

Answer 6

• breeding programs for endangered species
• protection of rare habitats
• reintroduction of field margins and hedgerows in farms
• reduction of deforestation + co2 emissions
• recycling rather than using landfill

Question 7

What are negative interactions with an ecosystem?

Answer 7

-deforestation
-pollution

Question 8

What are anthropogenic threats?

Answer 8

Human threats to biodiversity

Question 9

What causes water pollution?

Answer 9

-sewage
-fertiliser
-toxic chemicals

Question 10

What causes air pollution?

Answer 10

-smoke
- acidic gases (silicon dioxide, co2, methane

Question 11

What is meant by decomposition?

Answer 11

Releasing nutrients (mineral ions) back into the environment

Question 12

What are meant by decomposers?

Answer 12

A bacteria and fungi which breaks down dead organisms into waist material

Question 13

What conditions do you need for decay?

Answer 13

-warmth
- moisture
- oxygen

Question 14

What is saprotroph?

Answer 14

An organism that gains nutrients from dead organic matter

Question 15

What is the carbon cycle (definition)

Answer 15

The constant cycling of carbon between the environment and living things.

Question 16

What are the steps in the carbon cycle?

Answer 16

• co2 is in the air (and dissolved in water)
• photosynthesis removes co2 from the environment and converts it to oxygen
• animals eat the plants that use photosythesis
• animals release co2 in respiration
• animals and plants die and decompose to make fossils fuels / carbon in the ground.
• factories dig up carbon and fossil fuels and burn it (combustion)
• during combustion co2 is released into the air

Question 17

What is a producer?

Answer 17

An organism that makes its own food by photosynthesis

Question 18

Why do some plants eat animals (carnivorous plants : Venus fly trap)

Answer 18

• some soils contain low nitrates especially when waterlogged, so plants eat bugs and animals with high levels of nitrates.

Question 19

What is an abiotic factor?

Answer 19

Non living factors that affect living organisms

Question 20

What is interspecific competition?

Answer 20

Competitions between species

Question 21

What are examples of abiotic factors?

Answer 21

-light intensity
- temperature
- moisture levels
- soil PH and mineral content
- wind intensity and direction
- availability of oxygen
- availability of co2

Question 22

What are biotic factors?

Answer 22

Factors that effect living organisms and communities

Question 23

What are examples of biotic factors?

Answer 23

• availability of food
• new pathogens or parasites
• new predators
• interspecific competition

Question 24

What is quantative sampling?

Answer 24

Mean number of organisms per m2

Question 25

Why does mixing peat with air lead to the release of carbon dioxide?

Answer 25

• peat is not fully decomposed until it is mixed with air
• once mixed with air the fungi and bacteria use the air to respire and to decompose the peat
• in respiration they convert the oxygen into carbon dioxide