Biology- Ecology

Question 1

Define- adaption

Answer 1

Feature of an organism that enables it to survive in a particular habitat

Question 2

Define- behavioural adaption

Answer 2

Behaviour of an organism that enables it to survive in a particular habitat. E.g, hibernation in winter months.

Question 3

Define- carnivore

Answer 3

Consumer that only eats other animals

Question 4

Define- consumer

Answer 4

An organism in a food chain that eats other plants and/or animals

Question 5

Define- ecology

Answer 5

The branch of biology dealing with the relations and interactions between organisms and their environment, also including other organisms.

Question 6

Define- ecosystem

Answer 6

A system involving the interactions between a community of living organisms in a particular area and its non-living environment.

Question 7

Define- endangered

Answer 7

A species is endangered if the population numbers are very low and it is at risk of extinction in the near future.

Question 8

Define- endemic species

Answer 8

A species of organism that is only found in one area of the world.

Question 9

Define- food chain

Answer 9

Diagram to show the flow of energy between organisms in a habitat

Question 10

Define- habitat

Answer 10

The place where an organism lives

Question 11

Define- herbivore

Answer 11

An organism that only consumes plants

Question 12

Define- omnivore

Answer 12

An organism that consumes both animals and plants

Question 13

Define- organism

Answer 13

A living thing

Question 14

Define- physiological adaption

Answer 14

Adaptions such as the change in the organisms biochemistry or internal mechanisms to deal with an environmental problem. For example, before sucking up blood, the female mosquito will inject a special chemical into the host to stop the blood from clotting at the site of the wound.

Question 15

Define- predator

Answer 15

An organism that hunts other animals

Question 16

Define- prey

Answer 16

An organism that is hunted by predators

Question 17

Define- producer

Answer 17

Plants- carry out photosynthesis to start a food chain all by themselves.

Question 18

Define- structural adaptation

Answer 18

Physical part of an organism’s body that enables it to survive in its habitat- e.g Polar Bear having wide feet to walk on snow easily

Question 19

Define- trophic level

Answer 19

Level of organisation in a food chain or web. E.g, the producer is Trophic Level 1

Question 20

List the three different types of adaptions

Answer 20

Behavioural, Structural and Physiological

Question 21

Name some endemic, endangered NZ species-

Answer 21

Kiwi, Tuatara, Chesterfield Skink, Maui Dolphin, Kokako,

Question 22

Define- biosphere

Answer 22

Contains all biomes and therefore all living things on Earth.

Question 23

Define- population

Answer 23

A group of organisms of the same species.

Question 24

Define- community

Answer 24

A group containing populations of different species.

Question 25

What do the arrows represent in a food chain?

Answer 25

The arrows in the food chain represent the flow of energy through the ecosystem.

Question 26

Define- diurnal

Answer 26

An animal which is active during the day

Question 27

Define- nocturnal

Answer 27

An animal which is active during the night

Question 28

Define- biomes

Answer 28

A large naturally occurring community of animals and plants occupying a major habitat, (forest or tundra).

Question 29

Define- ecologist

Answer 29

A person who studies how living things interact with each other and their environment.

Question 30

Define- environment

Answer 30

All the living and non-living factors in a defined area.

Question 31

Define- biotic

Answer 31

A living thing that interacts with other parts of its ecosystem.

Question 32

Define- abiotic

Answer 32

A non-living component of an ecosystem.

Question 33

Define- mutualism

Answer 33

A symbiotic relationship between species in which both species gain something.

Question 34

Define- parasitism

Answer 34

A symbiotic relationship in which one species benefits, but the other is harmed.

Question 35

Define- commensalism

Answer 35

A symbiotic relationship in which one species benefits, but the other is not affected.

Question 36

Define- biomass

Answer 36

The total mass of organisms in a given area

Question 37

Explain how the adaptions of a kiwi enable its survival

Answer 37

The kiwi is a nocturnal bird. This behaviour helps to reduce its risk of predation and competition for food during daylight (BEHAVIOURAL ADAPTION).

Question 38

Give an example of a structural, physiological and behavioural adaption

Answer 38

A structural adaption could be

Question 39

Why is studying ecology important?

Answer 39

The study of ecology is important because it helps us understand our species and how they interact with the environment and other organisms around them.

Question 40

How are endemic and endangered NZ animals being conserved?

Answer 40

-isolating a certain species in an offshore island, to give them time to reproduce and grow in size without pests

Question 41

Give an example of a structural, physiological and behavioural adaption

Answer 41

A structural adaption could be how humans have two eyes. Physiological adaption is how mosquitoes inject a special substance into their victim before feeding, and a behavioural adaption is kiwi hunting at night.