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Ecology > Biodiversity,habitat And Ecological Niche > Flashcards

Biodiversity,habitat And Ecological Niche Flashcards

1
Q

Biodiversity was first coined by who in 1986 and what is biodiversity

A

Walter G Rosen

It refers to the variety of living organisms present in a particular area. It also means the number of the different species living in a particular region

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2
Q

Variety of life is another phrase for

A

Biodiversity

The diversity means divertas or variety or difference

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3
Q

Biodiversity forms the vast array of ecosystem services that critically contribute to human well-being. True or false

A

True

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4
Q

Who is the father of biodiversity

A

Edward O Wilson

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5
Q

Importance of biodiversity

A

The different species of living organisms provide us with food,industrial products such as paper and rubber,medicines,

Human beings depend on the difffliving organisms for their health and well-being on basic biological systems and processes

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6
Q

Name the types of biodiversity and explain

A

Genetic biodiversity: differences in living organisms are due to difference in combination of genes.genes are the basic unit of hereditary info that is transmitted from parent to child

Species -differences between (groups of living organisms of the same kind(species))
Species Biodiversity is the difference between different species

Ecosystem biodiversity-a large region with different ecosystems. Diversity at the ecological level is ecosystem biodiversity
Ecosystem is the interaction of living org with one another and the physical environment or abiotic factors or Ecosystem is an interaction between living and non-living organisms in their environment to form a stable system

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7
Q

Name the threats to biodiversity

A 
Natural causes:
Narrow geographical area
Low population 
Low breeding rate
Natural disasters such as earthquakes 
 Anthropogenic causes: pollution 
Hunting
Global warming and climate change
Agriculture
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8
Q

Conservation of biodiversity definition, how conservation is done and importance

A

Conservation refers to management of human activities in the environment so it doesn’t lead to loss of biodiversity and habitual destruction

Importance
To preserve and protect species and their habitats
To use species and ecosystem sustainably without exploiting them
To maintain essential ecological process to avoid ecological imbalance

How?
By prohibiting hunting,poaching, of animals beyond the productive capacity of the ecosystem
Proper planning of land use and other natural resources affecting biodiversity
Conservation of genetic biodiversity by establishing zoos,botanical gardens
Creation of natural parks to preserve flora and fauna

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9
Q

Approaches to biodiversity

A

In -Situ conservation (within habitat):achieved by protecting wild flora and fauna in nature itself example biosphere reserves and natural parks

Ex-situ conservation (outside habitat):achieved by establishing gene banks,seed banks,botanical gardens,tissue culture

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10
Q

Biodiversity should be dealt with at scale of habitat or ecosystems not species level true or false

A

True

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11
Q

Importance of habitat

A

Supports variety of life
Source of medicine
Source of food
Holds valuable knowledge for science regarding various natural processes and evolution of certain environment

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12
Q

How habitat is destroyed and how to conserve it

A 
Urbanization 
Deforestation 
Burning of forests
Bottom trawling
Mountain blown up for minerals

How to conserve it:replacing trees
End plastic pollution
Protect wildlife
Waste management

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13
Q

What is niche ,ecological niche and factors of ecological niche

A

Niche: THE ROLE OF AN ORGANISM IN THE ECOSYSTEM AND WHAT AN ORGANISM DOES WITHIN ITS HABITAT

Ecological:role and position of a species in it’s environment

Factors:energy
Nutrition 
Timing of activity 
What they eat
Nest
Condition of temperature and moisture
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14
Q

Types of niches and explain em

A

Fundamental niche:range on environmental conditions in which each species survive and reproduce
It is larger
Elaborates various roles of species
Full niches of species

Realized niche:range of environmental conditions in which the species is really found
It is smaller
Portion of fundamental niche that is actually filled

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15
Q

Importance of niche

A

Ecologist use the concept of ecological niche to help understand how communities relate to environmental conditions, fitness and predators-prey interactions in communities. This becomes community ecology
• Niche allows species to exist in their environment under the right conditions, the species will thrive and play a unique role. Without the ecological niche, there would be less biodiversity and ecosystem would not be in balance

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16
Q

Difference between habitat and niche

A

Habitat is actually where the organism lives including biotic and abiotic factors . It has all the parameters and is like the address of the organism while niche is the factors an organism requires to live and reproduce in a particular area. Has selective parameters.
Job of the organism

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17
Q

What is restoration ecology and human ecology

A

Ecological restoration of human ecology aims to recreate, initiate, or accelerate the recovery of an ecosystem that has been disturbed.

Human Ecology is the study of the interactions between man and his environment

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18
Q

Activities that disturb water

A

Water Pollution
▪ Industrial waste
▪ Sewage Disposal
▪ Household Disposal ▪ Mining Activities

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19
Q

How to restore water

A

In order to restore the state of water, all activities that pollute water must be stopped.
• Industries should find a proper way of disposing their waste
• Properly dispose of hazardous household items
• Banning illegal mining

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20
Q

Importance of gravity

A

The sun’s gravity keeps Earth in orbit around it, keeping us at a comfortable distance to enjoy the sun’s light and warmth. It holds down our atmosphere and the air we need to breathe.
• Gravity shapes the environment that we live in the pulling down on everything. Even the air which is very light in weight is affected by gravity – It is thickest near the ocean and gets thinner in the mountains.
14

GRAVITY
Why is Gravity important?
• Gravity also determines which direction is down and up. Like human, plants can feel and react to gravity. They make sure that their roots go down and the leaves go up.
• The absence of gravity in international space is the reason why plants grow in all directions in space

21
Q

Activities that affect gravity

A

Rapidly increasing human population
• Pollution and disturbances, including the endangerment of biodiversity
• The extraction, processing, and use of non- renewable resources, such as fossil fuels and metals, in ways that do cause environmental damage.

22
Q

How to maintain gravity

A

Education on family-planning methods
2. The harvesting and management of biological resources, such as those in agriculture, fisheries, and forestry, in ways that allow them to fully regenerate so their stocks can be sustained into the future
3. The growth of renewable sources of energy, such as the various forms of solar energy as a way of replacing non-renewable fossil fuels and thereby making the energy economy more sustainable.
17

23
Q

Importance of fire and negative use of fires

A

Source of warmth
• Lighting
• Cooking
• Incinerationatthehospital

Negative uses

Uncontrolledbushburning:farming practice
• Smoking
The smoke inhaled during smoking and even when one is exposed to smoking for a long period can cause respiratory diseases such pneumonia, bronchitis, bronchiolitis, lung cancer, trigger asthmatic attack etc.

24
Q

How fire is used to restore ecology

A

Fire helps new plants grow in an area that has been destroyed and needs to be restored. It contributes to forest health and resilience.example-fire cleans the forest floor of debris and exposed it to sunlight . When this occurs, if previously there was something on the land that made it quite hard for plants to grow , it’ll be cleared by the fire. So it promotes growth on the new plants and makes the forest healthy to produce more plants
• Fire helps certain species that depend on it to produce new offspring for the next generation. Example-plant species such as Chaparral plants require intense heat for seed germination. Without that intense heat, seed germination will be difficult. Some trees also have fire resistant bark and cones that require heat to release the seeds in them for regeneration. Example- eucalyptus species, baobab tree, pine cone species especially Jack Pine
• Fire reduces competition for nutrients and allows establish trees to grow strong and healthier.:

25
Q

Importance of forest and practices that affect the forest

A
  • It serves as food and habitat
  • It traps excess carbon dioxide and supply us with oxygen • It provides primary materials for medicinal purposes
  • It serves as wind breakers which prevents soil erosion

Deforestation is clearing of forest by humans. E.g. illegal mining, felling of trees, etc.
• Reforestation is the process of planting trees in a forest where the number of trees has been decreasing
• Afforestation is when new trees are planted or seeds are sown in an area where there was no trees before, creating a new forest.
• Improving the forest soil to promote the growing of trees
• Managing land sustainably by controlling felling of trees.
24

26
Q

Examples of ecological processes

A

Energy flow,decomposition,nutrient cycling ecosystem management,community dynamics

27
Q

What is energy flow and define the principle of energy flow

A

Energy flow is the amount of energy through living organisms in a
food chain. The largest source of energy for an ecosystem is the sun.

Principle
Energy flows through ecosystems in one direction, typically from the sun, through photosynthetic organisms (green plants), through herbivores, to carnivores and finally decomposers.
 All living organisms can be organized

28
Q

What is a trophic

A

Each of the levels within the food chain is a trophic, and as little as 10 percent of the energy at any trophic level is transferred to the next level. The rest are lost through metabolic process as heat.

29
Q

Energy is not recycled during decomposition but released. An ecosystem cannot survive without the constant input of energy from the sun.
True or false

A

True

So at tertiary level consumers is 10kcal and then secondary level consumers is 100kcal and primary is 1000kcal
Producers-10,000kcal
10percent,10percent

30
Q

Example of energy flow

A

An example of energy flow in an ecosystem would begin with the autotrophs that take energy from the sun. Herbivores then feed on the autotrophs and change the energy from the plant into energy they can use. The herbivores use the plants as food which gives them energy. A large part of this energy is used up for the metabolic function of animals such as breathing, digesting food and maintaining body temperature.
 The carnivore at the next trophic level, feeds on the herbivore and derive energy for their sustenance and growth.
 Decomposers, which include bacteria, fungi, molds, worms and insects break down wastes and dead organisms, and return nutrients to the soil, which is then taken up by the producers. The cycle then starts all over again.

31
Q

Define decomposition,decomposed,saprophyte,detritivore,detritus

A

Is the breakdown of complex organic matter by decomposers to inorganic raw materials like Carbon dioxide, water and various nutrients.
❖Definition of Basic terms;
1) Decomposer; an organism which breakdown organic substances into inorganic substances and nutrients example: Soil bacterium, fungi and invertebrates ( Ants and termites)
2) Saprophyte; plants, fungi or microorganisms that live and feed on the dead organic matter. Enzymes digest dead organic matter externally
3) Detritivore; an animal which feeds on dead organic material by digesting.
4) Detritus; these are dead organic matter or waste debris.

32
Q

What are the stages of decompo

A

Fragmentation
this is the breakdown of detritus such as litter fall into smaller pieces by Detritivore.
2) Leaching
water percolating through the soil carries along with it soluble inorganic nutrients that precipitate as unavailable salts.
3) Catabolism
After the detritus is broken down into smaller particles, enzymes from fungi and bacteria converts it into inorganic compounds such as Nitrogen, H2O and CO2.
4) Humidification
this is the process of formation of dark coloured material called Humus.
5) Mineralisation
this is the final step and its involve in the degradation of humus to produce further inorganic nutrients such as Mg2+, Ca2+ , Fe2+ and others

33
Q

Importance of decomposition

A

Helps in the recycling of nutrients into the soil which supports plant growth

2) Releases heat into the environment to provide optimum temperature for plants and animal growth
3) Releases carbon dioxide, water and nitrogen 4) Helps in soil formation

34
Q

What is nutrient cycling

A

The nutrient cycle is a system where energy and matter are transferred between living organisms and non-living parts of the environment.

35
Q

Nutrient cycling :this occurs as animals and plants consume nutrients found in the soil
these nutrients are then released back into the environment via death and decomposition.
 The nutrient cycle is nature’s recycling system.
True or false

A

True

36
Q

Nutrient cycling includes: 1. carbon cycle
2. nitrogen cycle
3. water cycle
4. oxygen cycle , etc.
 Nutrient cycles allow the transformation of matter to different specific forms that enables the utilization of that element in different organisms.
True or false

A

True

37
Q

Importance of nutrient cycle

A

Nutrient cycles link living organisms with living organisms, living organisms with the non-living organisms and non-living organisms with non-living organisms.
 Nutrient cycles assist the functioning of ecosystems which humans are part of. The ecosystem which requires the state of equilibrium to function properly, restore to the equilibrium state through the nutrient cycles.

38
Q

What is ecosystem management

A

It is an approach to maintaining or restoring the composition, structure, function, and delivery of services of natural and modified ecosystems for the goal of achieving sustainability.
Some examples of these ecosystem goods and services include clean air, water and soil.

39
Q

Ecosystem management utilizes natural systems such as: 1.reforestation
2.designated riparian zones
3.restoration of wetlands to mitigate against the damaging impacts of a flood. 4.Animal reserve
 Natural solutions have the ability to slow down flood flows and retain flood waters in natural areas such as forests, wetlands, and floodplains

True or false

A

True

40
Q

What is triphic level and trophic dynamics

A

Trophic level of an organism is the position it occupies in a food web.
The trophic level of an organism is the number of steps it is from the start of the chain.

Trophic dynamics is the basic process of transference of energy from one trophic level to the next in an ecosystem.

41
Q

What are the five trophic levels

A

Level One: producers

Level Two: primary consumers Level Three: secondary consumers Level Four: tertiary consumers Level Five: decomposers

42
Q

Define energy flow and biomass

A

Energy flow is the flow of energy through living things within an ecosystem. Energy flow is unidirectional, typically from the sun through autotrophs, to
herbivores, to carnivores and finally decomposers.

Biomass is the amount of organic matter.
The decrease of energy at each successive feeding level means that less biomass can be supported at each level.

43
Q

What is food chain and the types

A

Food chain is a linear feeding relationship in which organisms feeding are being fed upon.

TYPES
• Grazing food chain
• Parasitic food chain
• Saprophytic or detritus food chain

44
Q

What is environmental change

A

Environmental change is a change or disturbance of the environment most often caused by
human influences and natural ecological process
Environmental change includes various factors, such as natural disasters, human interference, climatic change.

45
Q

Effect of the environment on human health

A

Environmental change cause increase in rainfall which intend increase crop yield, humans feed on these crops to improve upon their health
• Increase in temperature affects the health of humans as most people especially the aged get dehydrated at high temperature conditions

46
Q

EFFECT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES ON POPULATION GROWTH

A

Flooding creates breeding grounds for disease-carrying insects such as mosquitoes which can cost the lives of most people.They can also cause drownings and physical injuries.
• Rising temperatures and variable precipitation are likely to decrease the production staple foods in many of the poorest regions.This will increase the prevalence of malnutrition, which currently cause 3.1 million deaths a year.

47
Q

EFFECTS ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES ON PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT

A

Rising temperature, noise pollution, air pollution can cause stress, thus hormonal imbalance which which will intend affect an individual psychologically.
• Natural disasters can also can have psychological impact on an individual.

48
Q

What are the WEATHER CHANGES THAT BRING ABOUT MALARIA

A

Increase in temperature positively affect the growth of mosquito and mosquito parasites.
• Rainfall also creates breeding grounds for mosquitoes by filling empty cans
• Drought may turn rivers into stagnant water which is also a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
• High humidity
Many types of mosquitoes are most active at night.They avoid day light at all cost, because sun exposure can dehydrate and kill them.

49
Q

What are the weather changes that bring about cholera

A

Rainfall brings about cholera in two ways
❖High rainfall which washes choke gutters into water bodies which are consumed by
people. Consumption of contamination water can result in cholera. ❖No rain fall or drought
When there’s drought, people tend to conserve water and these water may get contaminated as they are kept for a longer period and are consumed by people which can cause cholera.Also, the likelihood of multiple uses of water bodies may increase during drought conditions and consequently enhance the risk of contamination and exposure

Ecology (5 decks)

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