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A2 Biology > BY5 - Ecology > Flashcards

BY5 - Ecology Flashcards

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0
Q

Define autotroph

A

An organism that obtains organic food molecules without eating other organisms. Autotrophs use energy from the sun or from the oxidation of inorganic substances to make organic molecules.

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1
Q

Define the term abiotic

A

A factor which makes up the non-biological environment

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2
Q

Define biodiversity

A

An expression of the number of different species living in a given ecosystem

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3
Q

Define biomass

A

The dry mass of organic matter composed of a group of organisms in a particular habitat

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4
Q

Define biotic

A

An ecological factor that makes up part of the living environment

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5
Q

Define the term ecosystem

A

A natural unit of living components (biotic) in a given area as well as all the nonliving (abiotic) factors they interact with e.g. Desert, arctic, forest

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6
Q

Define the term population

A

A group of organisms of the same species living in the same area at the same time e.g. population of bluebells in deciduous wood

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7
Q

Define the term ecology

A

The study of interrelationships between organisms and their environment

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8
Q

Define the term community

A

Populations of different species that occupy a particular area e.g. woodland community (flowers, insects, mice etc)

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9
Q

Define the term habitat

A

A particular area occupied by a population

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10
Q

Define the term microhabitat

A

Small localities within habitats with its own characteristics within a larger habitat

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11
Q

Define the term niche

A

An organism’s role in an ecosystem including all of its interactions within a community and its environment

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12
Q

What is a food web?

A

A food web shows the energy flows within an ecosystem, in any food web there will be several trophic levels

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13
Q

Define the term nutrition

A

It is the process by which living organisms obtain energy to maintain life functions and matter to create and maintain structure

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14
Q

What is a detritivore?

A

They are holozoic organisms that feed off detritus e.g. woodlice and dungbeatles

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15
Q

What are saprobionts (decomposers)?

A

Are microbes such as bacteria or fungi that obtain nutrients from dead organisms extracellular digestion

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16
Q

Define the term trophic efficiency

A

The percentage of energy at one trophic level that is incorporated into the next trophic level

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17
Q

Define the term gross ecological efficiency

A

The rate at which energy is passed from one trophic level to another. This varies from one ecosystem to another

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18
Q

Why is a large proportion of light energy not absorbed?

A

They are the wrong wavelength

Is reflected or transmitted

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19
Q

In plants what happens to the light energy absorbed?

A

Used up during photosynthesis and transpiration
Are incorporated into organic plant products (e.g: glucose)
Used up in respiration

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20
Q

Define photosynthetic efficiency

A

A measure of the ability of a plant to absorb light energy. It depends on external factors such as light intensity and temperature.

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21
Q

Define biological productivity

A

The rate at which biomass accumulates in an ecosystem

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22
Q

Define primary productivity

A

The production of new organic matter by green plants

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23
Q

Define secondary productivity

A

The production of new organic matter by consumers

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24
Q

Give the equation for primary productivity

A

NPP = GPP - respiration

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25
Q

Define conversion efficiency

A

The quantity of material taken in and incorporated in biomass

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26
Q

Give the advantages of using a pyramid of energy

A

Takes into account rate of production and shows energy transfer per unit time
No inverted pyramids
Can compare ecosystems

27
Q

Give the disadvantages of a pyramid of energy

A

Obtaining data to construct them is complex and difficult

Energy is lost at each trophic level and heat through respiration

28
Q

Define succession

A

New organisms replace existing ones as abiotic factors alters the conmunity

29
Q

Define primary succession

A

Introduction of plants and animals into areas that have not previously supported a community (bare rock)

30
Q

Define secondary succession

A

Reintroduction of organisms into a bare habitat previously occupied by plants and animals

31
Q

What is the term used to describe the different stages in succession?

A

Sere

32
Q

What is the stable stage in succession?

A

Climax community

33
Q

What colonises bare rock?

A

Pioneer species (lichen, mosses)

34
Q

Give two factors that aid the colonisation of a habitat

A

Seeds and spores may survive and remain in the soil and begin to germinate
Migrating animals defecate which decomposes improving the nutrient content of the soil

35
Q

Give the six ways humans interfere in the development of a climax community

A 
Grazing
Moorland management
Farming
Deforestation
Industry
Urban development
36
Q

Define conservation

A

The planned preservation of wildlife

37
Q

List the factors that can lead to extinction

A 
Overhunting
Competition from introduced species
Deforestation
Pollution
Drainage of wetland
38
Q

Give seven conservation techniques

A

Reintroduction programmes: red kite in mid Wales
Protection and breeding programmes for endangered species
UK nature Conservancy Council
Eco-tourism: responsible travel minimising impact on the environment
Gene Banks: sperm and seed banks
Rare breed societies
Legislation and international corporation to restrict trading of endangered species (CITES) and global organisations (WWF) to increase public awareness

39
Q

Why is the conservation of existing gene pools is important

A

For ethical reasons – we have a stewardship role to help other species survive
Plant species are an important human assets: they are a source of food, medicines, chemicals and disease resistant genes

40
Q

Give four examples of agricultural exploitation

A

Removal of hedgerows to make larger fields
Monoculture
Use of chemicals by farmers (herbicides, pesticides, inorganic fertilisers)
Damage to bog habitats

41
Q

What do fertilisers contain

A

Nitrates and phosphates

42
Q

Why do crops need fertilisers

A

Harvesting removes these minerals, elements and interrupts natural recycling of nutrients

43
Q

Give three ways high nitrate levels in waterways can be overcome

A

Restrict the amount of fertiliser applied to the soil
Only apply fertiliser when crops are actively growing
Leave a strip of land 10 m wide next to watercourses

44
Q

Briefly outline eutrophication

A

Leeching of fertilisers
Algae grow
Plants are shaded
Plants and algae die
Dead algae and plants decomposed by micro
Microbes multiply and use up the dissolved oxygen in water
Dissolves oxygen levels decreases
Aquatic animals die because their biochemical oxygen demand are not met

45
Q

Define deforestation

A

The removal of trees in an unsustainable way

46
Q

Give five reasons for deforestation

A 
Demand for timber as building material
Wood used for charcoal
To clear land for farming
To improve transport infrastructure by building new roads
To make paper and cardboard packaging
47
Q

What are the consequences of deforestation

A

Climate change: if trees are cut down less CO2 is removed from the atmosphere by photosynthesis
Destruction of natural habitats: reduces biodiversity and potential loss of plant species that are potential source of new medicines
Soil erosion,: digging and ploughing loosens soil increasing erosion; removal of trees on higher slopes can lead to low land flooding after heavy rainfall; removal of vegetation affects regional climates by also reducing the rainfall leading to desertification

48
Q

Define forest management

A

The sustainable replanting and regeneration of forests

49
Q

What are the techniques employed in managed forestry

A

Coppicing
Selective cutting
Long rotation times

50
Q

How can forestry efficiency be improved

A

Planting trees optimum distances apart so they grow thicker and have less competition for sunlight
Remove only high-quality timber sorts of fewer trees are felled
Control pest and disease so higher quality timber is grown

51
Q

Define overfishing

A

Unsustainable fishing, the rate of removal exceeds the rate at which they reproduce due to measured intensity and efficiency of farming methods

52
Q

Give an effect of overfishing on other wildlife

A

Predators have no food as overfishing decreases the fish population which are their prey

53
Q

Give the controls that can be used to reduce the impact of overfishing

A

Impose fishing quotas
Restrict mesh size of nets
International corporation limiting the size of catches allow fish stocks to be preserved to support marine ecosystems
Enforcement of closed seasons for fishing
Enforcement of exclusion zones
Legislate size of fishing fleets and number of days at sea
Encourage fishing of non-traditional varieties
Discard young fish that are caught
Consumer pressure to buy ethically sourced fish

54
Q

What is fishfarming or aquaculture

A

Used for species such as salmon and trout. Fish are bred and grown to maturity in ponds/lakes/estuaries in managed enclosures

55
Q

Give the problems associated with fish farming

A

Very dense stocks lead to disease that can spread to wild fish
Antibiotics are used to keep the fish healthy
Pesticides are used to control marine parasites also harm marine invertebrates
Fertilisers are used to increase phytoplankton for feeding
Waste from excretion, fertiliser and waste food can need to eutrophication
Farmed fish could interbreed with wild fish and weakeb stocks

56
Q

Give two main reasons of increased atmospheric carbon dioxide levels

A

Deforestation and burning of fossil fuels

57
Q

Give examples of greenhouse gases

A

Carbon dioxide
Methane
Chlorofluorocarbons
Nitrogen dioxide

58
Q

How do greenhouse gases contribute to climate change

A

They form an insulating layer in the atmosphere

They only allow light through but prevent heat from escaping into the atmosphere

59
Q

Give examples of climate change

A 
Polar ice caps melting
Rise in sea levels
Changes in rainfall patterns
More droughts, hurricanes and forest fires
Increased crop yields and pest numbers
60
Q

Give three sources of biofuels

A

Wood
Biogas (methane, ethanol)
Biodiesel (corn, sugarcane, rapeseed)

61
Q

Net primary productivity

A

The energy in an ecosystem available to consumers

62
Q

Detritus

A

Dead organic matter

63
Q

Primary productivity

A

The production of new organic matter by green producers

64
Q

Secondary productivity

A

The production of new organic matter by consumers

A2 Biology (6 decks)

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