Biology Ecosystems Flashcards
Radiant energy
Light and heat energy from the sun.
Habitat
The natural environment in which all living organisms live. Also sometimes called a shelter.
Population
The some species ( of organism ) living in the same environment
Ecosystem
Made up of all living and non living organism in that environment. The interaction between living organisms as well as between living organisms and abiotic factors.
Photosynthesis
Radiant energy is converted into potential energy which is stored in food, and oxygen is released.
During photosynthesis, plants use the energy from the sun to produce food
Chlorophyll
Carbon dioxide + water ———> glucose + oxygen
Sunlight
Chemical reactions
Chemical reactions that take place when two or more compounds react and form a new substance.
Photo
Light
Thesis
To make
Chlorophyll
Green pigment in plant cells that absorb radiant energy.
Potential energy
Energy that is stored in an object or system
Interdependent
Two or more things that interact with each other.
Variable
Any factors that has an impact on the investigation.
Independant variable
The factor that you will purposely change.
Dependant variable
The variable that you will measure.
Controlled variables
Variables that are kept the same.
Fair test
An investigation where all the variable are controlled.
Practical investigation
Scientific experiments and tests to find answers and questions.
Hypothesis
Possible explain anion or answer to the questing you are investigating.
How do you carry out a a practical investigation?
Step 1: observe the world and ask questions.
Step 2: write a hypothesis.
Step 3: plan your investigation.
Step 4: conduct your investigation and record your findings.
Step 5: analyse your results and draw a conclusion.
Step 6: evaluate your investigation.
Respiration
Process in cells where glucose is broken down and energy is released.
During respiration, food is broken down and energy is released.
Glucose + oxygen —–> energy + carbon dioxide + water
How do you tell if something is living.
M- movement
R- respiration
S- stimuli
G- growing
R- reproduction
E- excretion
N- nutrients
Ecology
The interaction between living thing and with their physical and chemical environment.
Ecosystem
All the living and non living in an in environment and the different ways in which they interact with each other.
Population
A group of individuals of the same species living in the same ecosystem.
Population
A group of individuals of the same species living in the same ecosystem.
Community
The different populations that interact with one another in the same ecosystem
Biosphere
Largest biological system on earth All the different areas on earth where life exists Includes Lithosphere, Atmosphere Biosphere Hydrosphere Living organisms, dead decaying Consists of smaller units called ecosystems
Biotic factors
Living
- organisms compete
- living organs and thief interactions make up the biotic factors
Abiotic
Non-living
-include: temperature, wind, water, light intensity, soil and slope.
The need for energy drives interaction between organisms - explain what this means
Organisms cannot survive by themselves , they need other organisms to survive. Every living thing needs energy and they. Get that energy through interactions with other organisms,
Ultimate source of energy
Provides which energy?
Sun
Heat and light
Three things that the plant needs in order to photosynthesis
Sunlight - chlorophyll in green plants convert radiant energy
Water- roots absorb from soil
Carbon dioxide - absorb from air and release oxygen
Equation for photosynthesis
Carbon dioxide +water- chlorophyll =
Energy cannot be created or destroyed . Plants convert radiant energy into what kind of energy?
Potential energy stored in the glucose
Glucose in plant gets changed into
1.
2.
- Starch- humans and animals use
2. cellulose
Why are photosynthesis and respiration opposites?
Respiration - food is broken down and energy is released
Photosynthesis - energy from sun is used to create food
What is the substance that takes part in a chemical reaction called
Reactant
Plants that make their own food
Producers
Name 4 non living parts of an ecosystem
Sunlight Sand Wind Water Temperature
For things why animals rely on an ecosystem
Shelter
Food
Breeding space
Hiding from enemies
Organisms that eat other organisms is called
Food chain
4 different levels at which things are classified in an ecosystem
Ecosystem
Biosphere
Communities
Populations
Ecosystem is made up of two parts
Non living - habitat
Living- community
Examples of different ecosystems
Forest desert grassland river coastal
A system…..
Consists of different parts that work together for a common purpose
Examples of interactions between organisms
Pollination of plants by bees and birds
Organisms will complete with each other for ….(5)
Food Mates Space Light Water
7abiotic factors are
Temperature Wind slope Soil Light Water Atmosphere
Temperature affects organisms?
Some organisms survive in very hot, or very cold areas, seasons change temperature, day and night changes temperature. 0-40degrees
Wind affect organisms
Pollination, stunt plant growth
Water affects organisms
Need to survive
Water recycled through biosphere in water cycle
In dry areas animals and plants adapt
Organisms need light…
Photosynthesis,
Some plants grow better in shade, some in full light
Amount of sunlight vary during different seasons
Organisms need soil
Sandy, loamy, clay
Different soils suit different plant growth
Slop affects organisms
Slope is how steep the land is.
Water runs off it causing erosion and making it difficult for plant growth
Examples of what can survive and adapt in rapidly changing ecosystems (3)
Why can they adapt quickly?
Rats ,starlings, weeds
Eat a variety of food
Can survive in different environments
Organisms can be classified into groups according to what they
Eat
what are producers?
Green plants which are able to use photosynthesis to produce their own food - stored as starch in plant
Plants
Algae
What are herbivores ?
Animals that eat only plants and get their energy from plants Eg Aphids Locusts Giraffe Elephant Sparrows Cows
What are carnivores?
Animals that get their energy indirectly from plants through the meat of other animals
Leopards
Ladybirds
Eagles
What are omnivores?
Animals that eat plants and animals Eg Humans Pigs Warthogs Baboons Some birds that eat insects and seeds
What are scavengers?
Animals - carnivores that eat meat of dead animals or decaying meat
Vultures,
hyenas
Jackals
Insectivores
Carnivores that feed on insects
Aardwolf
Bat eared fox
Pangolins
Two kinds of carnivores
Insectivores and scavengers
What are deComposers?
Organisms that break down or decompose, decaying plants or animals and their wastes eg Bacteria Fungi Millipedes Beetles Earthworms
How are fungi decomposers?
They release chemicals called digestive enzymes into the dead matter which breaks it down into simpler substances
They release nutrients back into the soil
How to bread mould work?
Network of strands called hyphae
Why Are decomposers important
- There is a limited supply of materials and nutrients on earth, if they weren’t recycled by decomposers they would be lost forever
2 and nutrients would be used up in the earth so that nothing could grow
3Decomposers are important to humans because they decompose human waste and sewerage to produce fertilisers and purified water.
Energy from the sun being passed along to other living things is called
The food chain
What do food chains show?
Food chains show the relationship between living things.
A food chain always starts with the producer
And ends with a decomposer which puts nutrients into the soil
What do the arrows show on a food chain
The direction of the energy flow
What are food webs?
A group of food chains connected together
What is a trophic level?
Each step or stage in a food chain is a trophic level
First trophic level
Second trophic level
Third trophic level
First trophic level- producers
Second trophic level- herbivores / primary consumers
Third trophic level - omnivores/ herbivores tertiary consumers
Each consumer depends on…….for energy
The trophic level below it
Why is only 10%of the energy from the trophic level transferred to the next level?
90% of the energy is used by the animal for reproduction/ respiration/ movement/ heat
Which trophic level contains the most energy?
The producer
Why is there less energy available at the top of the trophic pyramid
Because energy is lost in each level and 90% is used up by each organism
Only a small portion of energy is stored and passed onto the next trophic level
What does balance in an ecosystem mean?
The number of organisms an ecosystem can support depends on the resources in that ecosystem
Food
Shelter
Water
If there are lots of resources the ecosystem can support many individual and large populations
Balance in an ecosystem can be affected by:
Natural factors
Human factors
Natural factors that affect balance in ecosystem
Fire
Weather- floods droughts
Climate change- sudden temp change
Human disruptions to ecosystem
Pollution
Poaching
Pollution define
The harm done when toxic materials or substances are released into the environment - usually by humans
What are some pollutants ?
Household or industrial waste Plastic toxic chemicals from factories Smoke and gases Chemical fertilisers Acid rain Thermal pollution
What is acid rain?
When fossil fuels (sulphur dioxide )are released into the atmosphere it dissolves in rain and makes sulphuric acid droplets
Damages building, crops, and trees
Changes the PH of river water - affects the fish and animals in that ecosystem
How does pollution change water temperature?
Called - Thermal pollution
Factories dump warm water inrivers
Or when overhanging plants are removed
Temperature changes and less oxygen in water
What is poaching
The illegals removing of animals from the wild eg rhino
Name some organisms that are poached
Perlemoen
Rhino
Elephant
What is an adaptation?
When does an adaptation occur?
A characteristic that helps a living organism survive in its environment
When ere is a change in the structural, behavioural, functional characteristics of an organism
Name examples of these adaptations
Structural
Behavioural
Functional
Structural- beaks of bird adapted to their food source
Behavioural - desert animals go underground during heat of the day
Functional - sweat to cool down
Practical investigation to remember
- What is the question?….to determine…
- hypothesis
- Determine Independent and dependent and control variable
Independent on x axis
Dependent on y axis
4 conclusion
5 what could be done to improve the investigation
Formula for finding out the percentage of air in soil.
Expected volume - actual volume
——————————————— x 100
Volume of soil sample
Formula for finding out the percentage of water in soil.
Initial mass of soil- mass after 1( or more ) day(s)
—————————————————————— x100
Initial mass of soil
Three kinds of plants sorted according to water needs
Mesophytes
Xerophytes
Hydrophytes
Phytos means
Hydro means
Xero
Mesos
Plant
Water
Dry
Middle / moderate
Hydrophyte adaptations for the roots
Small and poorly developed No root hairs Roots only for anchorage Roots are short Do not absorb mineral salts Do not have cork or wax layer Xylem - water conducting tissue is poorly developed
Hydrophytes how is stem adapted
Air spaces in stem allow plant to float Stem covered with mucous to keep bacteria out and reduce friction Stem stores water Underground stem - rhizome Xylem poorly developed
Hydrophytes how leaves are adapted
Thin and large and round to float
Stomata on upper surface only
Large surface area allows for exchange of gases
Thin cuticle to prevent water loss
Leaf stalks or petioles are long and flexible allows for floating
Xerophytes how adapted 4 general ways
They need to absorb water from dry environment
They need to store water
They need to prevent water loss
They need to protect themselves from animals eating them
Xerophytes root system how adapted
Short and underground
Adventitious root system
Not very deep so that it can absorb surface water
Corky layer to prevent water loss
Have many root hairs to get maximum water
Xerophytes how stem is adapted
Thick to store water
Waxy layer to prevent water loss
Xerophytes how leaves adapted
Spirally placed to protect base of leaf from sun and hot air
No stalks water goes directly to leaves
Arrangement allows water to fall towards the stem
Thick and fleshy to store water
Thorns and spines to prevent water loss
The stomato are sunken
Structure on the the upper surface of the lily to prevent water loss
Cuticle
Water conducting tissue of a leaf
Xylem
Name three animal adaptations
Protective colouring
Camouflage
Mimicry
What is protective colouring
The colouring of the animal makes it almost invisible against the background
What is camouflage
When an animals colouring and body shape make it blend in with surrounding area
What is Mimicry
Animal bears a close resemblance to another animal which is dangerous and therefore scares predators off
Model is the animal that is copied
The mimic is the animal that is doing the copying
What are two ways in which we may become aware of micro organisms in our environment
Decaying food
If we get sick from virus or bacterial infection
4 types of micro organisms
Bacteria
Virus
Fungi
Protists
What are viruses
Microscopic particles that attack healthy cells in an organism
Not considered living since they do not carry out all life processes ( do not break down food for energy) ( not able to reproduce by themselves - need host cell to reproduce and kill host cell in the process
What are bacteria
Living things that are not plant and not animal but MONERA - all unicellular ( 1 cell) live together in colonies that are multicellular
Know diagram of bacteria
Cillia Dna Flagellum ( tail) Cell wall Membrane Cytoplasm
3 types of bacteria grouped according to their shape
Rod shaped - bacilli
Spiral - spirilli
Round - cocci
Protist belong to which kingdom
Protista
What are protists
Unicellular
Live in water
Not animal. Plant, MONERA, fungi
Example of a protist
Amoeba
Red algae
Slime
Moods
What are fungi
Not plant or animal but related
May be uni cellular - yeast
My be multi cellular- mushroom
How to fungi grow
Spreading network of branches called hyphae- they release enzymes that digest the food
Know diagram of mould
Sporanglum
Spores
Sporanglephore
Rhizoids
Micrograph
A magnified image of a micro organism
Diseases caused by micro organisms
Tb AIDS Meningitis Diarrhoea Malaria
tuberculosis
Bacteria that attacks the lungs Causes coughing up blood Fever Night chills X-ray and blood test confirms Long term antibiotic treatment
AIDS
Acquired immune difficiency syndrome Virus that destroys the immune system Transmitted through body fluids Infected needles Sexual contact Contact with infected blood Transfer mother to child pregnancy and breast milk No cure Long term treatment with antiretrovirals (ARVs)
Malaria
Caused by tiny microorganism parasite that can live in mosquitos . If mosquito which has parasite bites you it injects the parasite into your blood which travels to your liver where it hatches more parasites .
They in turn move back to your blood and destroy the red blood cells causing high fever , chills, sweats, headaches
Vomiting.
Must take malaria medicine ( prophylactics ) when travelling to a malaria area - this will kill the parasites in your blood
Water borne diseases
Any sickness caused by illnesses that are transmitted in water by micro organisms
Diarrhoea causes death quickly especially in children since a person can get severely dehydrated if vomitting as well as diarrhoea
Ecoli and cholera cause diarreah and are waterborne
Waterborne disease spread because poo and human waste goes bs k in the water and bacteria multiply .
Treatment is with antibiotics
Prevention by washing fruit and vegetables
Preventing infections by micro organisms
Wash fruit and vegetables Wash hands with soap Don't share person items like toothbrushes Safe sex Cover mouth when cough or sneeze Boil or treat water so that it is safe to drink Keep food in fridge Wear gloves when handling bodily fluids
Why has life expectancy increase in the last 100 years
Development of vaccines that help body build up antibodies against microorganism
Examples of waterborn illness
Cholera,
What is cholera, how does it spread, how can people prevent themselves getting it, how is it treated
Caused by a bacteria, spread in fecal matter, don’t drink dirty water, wash hands, cook food well, antibiotic
How to reduce risks of being contaminated by micro organisms
Wash fruit and vegetables
Safe sex
Wash hands with soap
Wear gloves when handling body fluids like blood
Keep food in fridge
Boil or treat water to kill micro organisms before drinking
Don’t share personal items like toothbrushes
Cover your mouth when cough or sneeze.
Who was Louis Pasteur
He developed a way to prevent milk, beer, wine from causing sicknesses by heating it so that it kills all the micro organisms- still used today.
Name som helpful uses of microorganisms
Breaking down decomposing materials
Certain foods - yoghurt
Medicines
Why is decomposition a good thing
Releases nutrients that were stored back into the environment
Medicinal use of microorganisms
Alex Fleming discovered penicillin
Microorganisms in food
Yoghurt Yeast in bread Beer Wine Cheese
