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Kirsty Biology > Biology Ecosystems > Flashcards

Biology Ecosystems Flashcards

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1
Q

Radiant energy

A

Light and heat energy from the sun.

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2
Q

Habitat

A

The natural environment in which all living organisms live. Also sometimes called a shelter.

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3
Q

Population

A

The some species ( of organism ) living in the same environment

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4
Q

Ecosystem

A

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.

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5
Q

Photosynthesis

A

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

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6
Q

Chemical reactions

A

Chemical reactions that take place when two or more compounds react and form a new substance.

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7
Q

Photo

A

Light

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8
Q

Thesis

A

To make

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9
Q

Chlorophyll

A

Green pigment in plant cells that absorb radiant energy.

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10
Q

Potential energy

A

Energy that is stored in an object or system

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11
Q

Interdependent

A

Two or more things that interact with each other.

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12
Q

Variable

A

Any factors that has an impact on the investigation.

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13
Q

Independant variable

A

The factor that you will purposely change.

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14
Q

Dependant variable

A

The variable that you will measure.

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15
Q

Controlled variables

A

Variables that are kept the same.

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16
Q

Fair test

A

An investigation where all the variable are controlled.

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17
Q

Practical investigation

A

Scientific experiments and tests to find answers and questions.

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18
Q

Hypothesis

A

Possible explain anion or answer to the questing you are investigating.

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19
Q

How do you carry out a a practical investigation?

A

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.

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20
Q

Respiration

A

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

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21
Q

How do you tell if something is living.

A

M- movement
R- respiration
S- stimuli

G- growing
R- reproduction
E- excretion
N- nutrients

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22
Q

Ecology

A

The interaction between living thing and with their physical and chemical environment.

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23
Q

Ecosystem

A

All the living and non living in an in environment and the different ways in which they interact with each other.

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24
Q

Population

A

A group of individuals of the same species living in the same ecosystem.

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25
Q

Population

A

A group of individuals of the same species living in the same ecosystem.

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26
Q

Community

A

The different populations that interact with one another in the same ecosystem

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27
Q

Biosphere

A 
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
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28
Q

Biotic factors

A

Living

  • organisms compete
  • living organs and thief interactions make up the biotic factors
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29
Q

Abiotic

A

Non-living

-include: temperature, wind, water, light intensity, soil and slope.

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30
Q

The need for energy drives interaction between organisms - explain what this means

A

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,

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31
Q

Ultimate source of energy

Provides which energy?

A

Sun

Heat and light

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32
Q

Three things that the plant needs in order to photosynthesis

A

Sunlight - chlorophyll in green plants convert radiant energy
Water- roots absorb from soil
Carbon dioxide - absorb from air and release oxygen

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33
Q

Equation for photosynthesis

A

Carbon dioxide +water- chlorophyll =

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34
Q

Energy cannot be created or destroyed . Plants convert radiant energy into what kind of energy?

A

Potential energy stored in the glucose

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35
Q

Glucose in plant gets changed into
1.
2.

A
  1. Starch- humans and animals use

2. cellulose

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36
Q

Why are photosynthesis and respiration opposites?

A

Respiration - food is broken down and energy is released

Photosynthesis - energy from sun is used to create food

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37
Q

What is the substance that takes part in a chemical reaction called

A

Reactant

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38
Q

Plants that make their own food

A

Producers

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39
Q

Name 4 non living parts of an ecosystem

A 
Sunlight
Sand
Wind 
Water
Temperature
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40
Q

For things why animals rely on an ecosystem

A

Shelter
Food
Breeding space
Hiding from enemies

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41
Q

Organisms that eat other organisms is called

A

Food chain

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42
Q

4 different levels at which things are classified in an ecosystem

A

Ecosystem
Biosphere
Communities
Populations

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43
Q

Ecosystem is made up of two parts

A

Non living - habitat

Living- community

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44
Q

Examples of different ecosystems

A 
Forest 
desert 
grassland 
river 
coastal
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45
Q

A system…..

A

Consists of different parts that work together for a common purpose

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46
Q

Examples of interactions between organisms

A

Pollination of plants by bees and birds

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47
Q

Organisms will complete with each other for ….(5)

A 
Food
Mates
Space
Light
Water
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48
Q

7abiotic factors are

A 
Temperature
Wind
 slope
Soil
Light
Water
Atmosphere
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49
Q

Temperature affects organisms?

A

Some organisms survive in very hot, or very cold areas, seasons change temperature, day and night changes temperature. 0-40degrees

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50
Q

Wind affect organisms

A

Pollination, stunt plant growth

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51
Q

Water affects organisms

A

Need to survive
Water recycled through biosphere in water cycle
In dry areas animals and plants adapt

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52
Q

Organisms need light…

A

Photosynthesis,
Some plants grow better in shade, some in full light
Amount of sunlight vary during different seasons

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53
Q

Organisms need soil

A

Sandy, loamy, clay

Different soils suit different plant growth

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54
Q

Slop affects organisms

A

Slope is how steep the land is.

Water runs off it causing erosion and making it difficult for plant growth

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55
Q

Examples of what can survive and adapt in rapidly changing ecosystems (3)
Why can they adapt quickly?

A

Rats ,starlings, weeds

Eat a variety of food
Can survive in different environments

56
Q

Organisms can be classified into groups according to what they

A

Eat

57
Q

what are producers?

A

Green plants which are able to use photosynthesis to produce their own food - stored as starch in plant
Plants
Algae

58
Q

What are herbivores ?

A 
Animals that eat only plants and get their energy from plants
Eg
Aphids
Locusts
Giraffe
Elephant
Sparrows
Cows
59
Q

What are carnivores?

A

Animals that get their energy indirectly from plants through the meat of other animals
Leopards
Ladybirds
Eagles

60
Q

What are omnivores?

A 
Animals that eat plants and animals 
Eg
Humans
Pigs
Warthogs
Baboons
Some birds that eat insects and seeds
61
Q

What are scavengers?

A

Animals - carnivores that eat meat of dead animals or decaying meat
Vultures,
hyenas
Jackals

62
Q

Insectivores

A

Carnivores that feed on insects
Aardwolf
Bat eared fox
Pangolins

63
Q

Two kinds of carnivores

A

Insectivores and scavengers

64
Q

What are deComposers?

A 
Organisms that break down or decompose, decaying plants or animals and their wastes eg
Bacteria
Fungi
Millipedes
Beetles
Earthworms
65
Q

How are fungi decomposers?

A

They release chemicals called digestive enzymes into the dead matter which breaks it down into simpler substances
They release nutrients back into the soil

66
Q

How to bread mould work?

A

Network of strands called hyphae

67
Q

Why Are decomposers important

A
  1. 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.
68
Q

Energy from the sun being passed along to other living things is called

A

The food chain

69
Q

What do food chains show?

A

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

70
Q

What do the arrows show on a food chain

A

The direction of the energy flow

71
Q

What are food webs?

A

A group of food chains connected together

72
Q

What is a trophic level?

A

Each step or stage in a food chain is a trophic level

73
Q

First trophic level
Second trophic level
Third trophic level

A

First trophic level- producers
Second trophic level- herbivores / primary consumers
Third trophic level - omnivores/ herbivores tertiary consumers

74
Q

Each consumer depends on…….for energy

A

The trophic level below it

75
Q

Why is only 10%of the energy from the trophic level transferred to the next level?

A

90% of the energy is used by the animal for reproduction/ respiration/ movement/ heat

76
Q

Which trophic level contains the most energy?

A

The producer

77
Q

Why is there less energy available at the top of the trophic pyramid

A

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

78
Q

What does balance in an ecosystem mean?

A

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

79
Q

Balance in an ecosystem can be affected by:

A

Natural factors

Human factors

80
Q

Natural factors that affect balance in ecosystem

A

Fire
Weather- floods droughts
Climate change- sudden temp change

81
Q

Human disruptions to ecosystem

A

Pollution

Poaching

82
Q

Pollution define

A

The harm done when toxic materials or substances are released into the environment - usually by humans

83
Q

What are some pollutants ?

A 
Household or industrial waste 
Plastic 
toxic chemicals from factories
Smoke and gases
Chemical fertilisers
Acid rain 
Thermal pollution
84
Q

What is acid rain?

A

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

85
Q

How does pollution change water temperature?

Called - Thermal pollution

A

Factories dump warm water inrivers
Or when overhanging plants are removed
Temperature changes and less oxygen in water

86
Q

What is poaching

A

The illegals removing of animals from the wild eg rhino

87
Q

Name some organisms that are poached

A

Perlemoen
Rhino
Elephant

88
Q

What is an adaptation?

When does an adaptation occur?

A

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

89
Q

Name examples of these adaptations
Structural
Behavioural
Functional

A

Structural- beaks of bird adapted to their food source
Behavioural - desert animals go underground during heat of the day
Functional - sweat to cool down

90
Q

Practical investigation to remember

A
  1. What is the question?….to determine…
  2. hypothesis
  3. 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
91
Q

Formula for finding out the percentage of air in soil.

A

Expected volume - actual volume
——————————————— x 100
Volume of soil sample

92
Q

Formula for finding out the percentage of water in soil.

A

Initial mass of soil- mass after 1( or more ) day(s)
—————————————————————— x100
Initial mass of soil

93
Q

Three kinds of plants sorted according to water needs

A

Mesophytes
Xerophytes
Hydrophytes

94
Q

Phytos means
Hydro means
Xero
Mesos

A

Plant
Water
Dry
Middle / moderate

95
Q

Hydrophyte adaptations for the roots

A 
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
96
Q

Hydrophytes how is stem adapted

A 
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
97
Q

Hydrophytes how leaves are adapted

A

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

98
Q

Xerophytes how adapted 4 general ways

A

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

99
Q

Xerophytes root system how adapted

A

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

100
Q

Xerophytes how stem is adapted

A

Thick to store water

Waxy layer to prevent water loss

101
Q

Xerophytes how leaves adapted

A

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

102
Q

Structure on the the upper surface of the lily to prevent water loss

A

Cuticle

103
Q

Water conducting tissue of a leaf

A

Xylem

104
Q

Name three animal adaptations

A

Protective colouring
Camouflage
Mimicry

105
Q

What is protective colouring

A

The colouring of the animal makes it almost invisible against the background

106
Q

What is camouflage

A

When an animals colouring and body shape make it blend in with surrounding area

107
Q

What is Mimicry

A

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

108
Q

What are two ways in which we may become aware of micro organisms in our environment

A

Decaying food

If we get sick from virus or bacterial infection

109
Q

4 types of micro organisms

A

Bacteria
Virus
Fungi
Protists

110
Q

What are viruses

A

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

111
Q

What are bacteria

A

Living things that are not plant and not animal but MONERA - all unicellular ( 1 cell) live together in colonies that are multicellular

112
Q

Know diagram of bacteria

A 
Cillia
Dna
Flagellum ( tail) 
Cell wall
Membrane 
Cytoplasm
113
Q

3 types of bacteria grouped according to their shape

A

Rod shaped - bacilli
Spiral - spirilli
Round - cocci

114
Q

Protist belong to which kingdom

A

Protista

115
Q

What are protists

A

Unicellular
Live in water
Not animal. Plant, MONERA, fungi

116
Q

Example of a protist

A

Amoeba
Red algae
Slime
Moods

117
Q

What are fungi

A

Not plant or animal but related
May be uni cellular - yeast
My be multi cellular- mushroom

118
Q

How to fungi grow

A

Spreading network of branches called hyphae- they release enzymes that digest the food

119
Q

Know diagram of mould

A

Sporanglum
Spores
Sporanglephore
Rhizoids

120
Q

Micrograph

A

A magnified image of a micro organism

121
Q

Diseases caused by micro organisms

A 
Tb
AIDS 
Meningitis
Diarrhoea 
Malaria
122
Q

tuberculosis

A 
Bacteria that attacks the lungs 
Causes coughing up blood
Fever 
Night chills
X-ray and blood test confirms 
Long term antibiotic treatment
123
Q

AIDS

A 
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)
124
Q

Malaria

A

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

125
Q

Water borne diseases

A

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

126
Q

Preventing infections by micro organisms

A 
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
127
Q

Why has life expectancy increase in the last 100 years

A

Development of vaccines that help body build up antibodies against microorganism

128
Q

Examples of waterborn illness

A

Cholera,

129
Q

What is cholera, how does it spread, how can people prevent themselves getting it, how is it treated

A

Caused by a bacteria, spread in fecal matter, don’t drink dirty water, wash hands, cook food well, antibiotic

130
Q

How to reduce risks of being contaminated by micro organisms

A

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.

131
Q

Who was Louis Pasteur

A

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.

132
Q

Name som helpful uses of microorganisms

A

Breaking down decomposing materials
Certain foods - yoghurt
Medicines

133
Q

Why is decomposition a good thing

A

Releases nutrients that were stored back into the environment

134
Q

Medicinal use of microorganisms

A

Alex Fleming discovered penicillin

135
Q

Microorganisms in food

A 
Yoghurt
Yeast in bread
Beer 
Wine 
Cheese

Kirsty Biology (3 decks)

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