Biology section 7 key words

Question 1

Abiotic factors

Answer 1

The no living aspects of an ecosystem e.g. temperature, light intensity, moisture, wind direction, wind intensity, soil Ph, soil mineral content, co2 levels and oxygen levels

Question 2

Adaptation

Answer 2

A feature of an organism that increases its chance of survival in its environment such features may be behavioural, structural or functional

Question 3

Biodiversity

Answer 3

The variety of living organisms in an ecosystem

Question 4

Biotic factors

Answer 4

The living components of an ecosystem e.g. food availability, pathogens, predators and other species

Question 5

Carbon cycle

Answer 5

The cycle through which carbon(in the form of co2) moves between living organisms and the environment, involving respiration, photosynthesis and combustion

Question 6

Community

Answer 6

All of the populations of different species living together in a habitat

Question 7

Competition

Answer 7

When different organisms compete for the same resources in an ecosystem. this limits population size and stimulates evolutionary changes

Question 8

Deforestation

Answer 8

The removal of trees from land which is subsequently used to grow crops or provide space for cattle

Question 9

Ecosystem

Answer 9

The community of organisms (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components of an area and their interactions

Question 10

Efficiency of biomass transfer

Answer 10

The efficiency of biomass transfer between trophic levels is calculated using
efficiency=biomass available after transfer/ biomass available before transfer x100

Question 11

Extremophiles

Answer 11

Organisms that can live in extreme environments e.g. high temperature, high salinity

Question 12

Food chain

Answer 12

Describes the feeding relationship between organisms and the result stages of biomass transfer

Question 13

Global warming

Answer 13

The gradual rise in the average temperature of the earth due to increasing atmospheric levels of co2 and methane gas

Question 13

Interdependence

Answer 13

The dependence of different organisms on each other for survival e.g. plants depend on pollinators

Question 14

Mean

Answer 14

The average of a set of numbers calculated by dividing the sum of the values by the number of values

Question 15

Median

Answer 15

The middle number in a list of values ordered from lowest to highest

Question 16

Microorganisms

Answer 16

Very small organisms involved in recycling of materials in an ecosystem. they return mineral ions to the soil and convert carbo to carbo dioxide which is realised into the atmosphere

Question 17

Mode

Answer 17

The number that occurs most commonly in a set of data values

Question 18

Peatlands

Answer 18

Areas of peat soil in wetland habitats formed by the accumulation of partially decayed organic matter. peat is commonly used as a garden compost

Question 19

Pollution

Answer 19

Contamination or destruction of the natural environment due to human intervention

Question 20

Population

Answer 20

All organisms of the same species living with one another in a habitat

Question 21

Predators

Answer 21

Consumers that prey on and eat other animals

Question 22

Prey

Answer 22

Animals that are eaten by predators

Question 23

Producers

Answer 23

Photosynthetic organisms at the start of the food chain that provide biomass for all living things

Question 24

Transect

Answer 24

A line along an area used in sampling to determine the abundance and distribution of organisms in an ecosystem

Question 25

Quadrat

Answer 25

A square grid of known area used in sampling to determine the abundance and distribution of organisms in a ecosystem

Question 26

Water cycle

Answer 26

The cycle through which water moves between living organisms and the environment, involving evaporation, transpiration, condensation and precipitation