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Biology > Ch: 4,5,6 Ecology > Flashcards

Ch: 4,5,6 Ecology Flashcards

1
Q

Biosphere

A

The part of the earth where life can exist

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2
Q

Ecosystem

A

The community of organisms that interact with their environment

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3
Q

Habitats

A

A place where an organism lives

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4
Q

Population

A

Members of the same species living in a habitat together

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5
Q

Community

A

All the different populations in an area

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6
Q

Abiotic factors

A

Non living factors that affect an organism

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7
Q

Biotic factors

A

living factors that affect an organism

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8
Q

Climatic factors

A

Weather conditions that affect an organism
Ex: rainfall, wind, temperature, humidity

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9
Q

Edaphic Factors

A

Factors relating to the soil and the geology of the land that affect living organisms

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10
Q

Examples of biotic factors

A

Food, competition, predation, parasitism and human activity

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11
Q

Main source of energy?

A

The sun

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12
Q

Producers

A

The green plants that make their own food using energy from the sun

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13
Q

Consumers

A

Organisms that feed on other organisms

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14
Q

Food chain

A

A flow diagram that shows how food/energy is passed through a series of organisms in a community

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15
Q

Trophic level

A

The position an organism occupies in a food chain

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16
Q

The energy flow - where does the energy go

A

10% is transferred through organisms
90% is used for growth, reproduction, movement and heat

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17
Q

Pyramid of numbers

A

A diagram that represents the numbers of organisms at each trophic level in a food chain

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18
Q

Types of pyramid of numbers

A

Upright, inverted, partially upright and partially inverted

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19
Q

Limitations of pyramid of numbers

A

-The size of the organisms is not considered
-Some numbers are soo great the pyramid cannot be drawn to scale

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20
Q

Niche

A

The functional role an organism plays in its habitat

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21
Q

Why organisms live in populations?

A

The habitat provides food and shelter
Safer for individuals
Breeding purposes

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22
Q

What controls the size of a population?

A

Competition
Predation
Parasitism
Symbiosis

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23
Q

Competition

A

When two or more organisms fight for a resource that is in short supply

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24
Q

Resources that animals fight for?

A

Food
Water
Shelter
Territory
Mates

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25
Resources plants fight for?
Light, water, space, minerals
26
Two types of competition
Contest and scramble
27
Contest competition
The direct fight between two organisms for a resource that is in short supply and there is only one winner
28
Scramble competition
The struggle amongst a number of organisms for a resource in short supply and all competing individuals get some of the resource
29
Predation
The catching, killing, and eating of another organism
30
Predator
The organism that hunts, kills and eats its prey
31
Prey
The organism that is eaten by the predator
32
Pros of predation:
- stabilises the community - controls the number of herbivores - prevent overgrazing - eliminate the weaker prey and unwanted species
33
Examples of adaptations in predators
- Hawks have excellent eyesight - ladybirds have strong mouth parts - cheetahs run very fast
34
Examples of adaptations in prey:
Frogs are well camouflaged Zebras have stripes- hard to identify them Ladybirds contain large amounts of formic acid so they are unpalatable to taste
35
No. Of predators increase due to:
-immigration -lots of mates -plenty of food
36
No. Of predators decrease due to:
- emigration - disease - prey numbers reduce
37
Symbiosis
Where two organisms of different species have a close, specific relationship with each other where at least one of them benefits
38
Mutualism
When both organisms benefit from a symbiotic relationship
39
Parasitism
Where one organism (aka parasite) lives in or on another organism (aka host) and the host is harmed
40
Population dynamics
The study of the changes that occur in a population and the factors that cause these changes
41
Population changes due to :
- Birth and death - Emigration and immigration - Effect of other species in the form of competition, predation and symbiosis
42
High DR is important as:
- protects the stock of food - eliminates the less adapted organisms/ survival of the fittest
43
Factors affecting human population;
War, disease, famine and modern medicine
44
Carbon cycle
Process through which elemental carbon is exchanged between living organisms and their environment
45
How CO2 is removed from the atmosphere ?
- photosynthesis - formation of fossil fuels
46
How CO2 is released or returned back into the atmosphere?
respiration Decomposition Combustion
47
Role of plants in the carbon cycle
Remove co2 through photosynthesis Return co2 through respiration
48
Role of animals in the carbon cycle
Obtain carbon from eating plants Release co2 through respiration
49
Role of microorganisms in the carbon cycle
Returns carbon back into the environment when they break down organisms
50
Decomposer
An organism that feeds off and breaks down dead organisms
51
Global warming
The warming of global temperatures due to increase in co2 levels
52
Reasons for co2 levels increase
Increased usage and combustion of fossil fuel Deforestation
53
Greenhouse gas
Group of gases that are able to trap heat in the atmosphere, keeping the earths surface warmer than it should be
54
Nitrogen cycle
Process through which elemental nitrogen is exchanged between living organisms and their environments
55
Nutrient recycling
The way in which elements are exchanged between the living and the non living components of an ecosystem
56
Nitrogen fixation
The conversion of nitrogen gas to nitrates
57
Nitrification
Conversion of ammonia to nitrites and then to nitrates
58
Pollution
Any harmful addition to the environment
59
Pollutants
Substances that cause pollution
60
Effects of pollutants
Agriculture- slurry and fertiliser - algal blooms and eutrophication Industrial - sulphur dioxide - forms acid rain Domestic - plastic bags - litter/ non biodegradable
61
Eutrophication
A process where water receives too many nutrients that stimulate excessive algal growth
62
Eutrophication
A process where water receives too many nutrients that stimulate excessive algal growth
63
Conservation
Protection and wise management of natural resources and the environment
64
Conservation
Protection and wise management of natural resources and the environment

Biology (10 decks)

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