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

Ch: 4,5,6 Ecology Flashcards

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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
Q

Resources plants fight for?

A

Light, water, space, minerals

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26
Q

Two types of competition

A

Contest and scramble

27
Q

Contest competition

A

The direct fight between two organisms for a resource that is in short supply and there is only one winner

28
Q

Scramble competition

A

The struggle amongst a number of organisms for a resource in short supply and all competing individuals get some of the resource

29
Q

Predation

A

The catching, killing, and eating of another organism

30
Q

Predator

A

The organism that hunts, kills and eats its prey

31
Q

Prey

A

The organism that is eaten by the predator

32
Q

Pros of predation:

A
  • stabilises the community
  • controls the number of herbivores - prevent overgrazing
  • eliminate the weaker prey and unwanted species
33
Q

Examples of adaptations in predators

A
  • Hawks have excellent eyesight
  • ladybirds have strong mouth parts
  • cheetahs run very fast
34
Q

Examples of adaptations in prey:

A

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
Q

No. Of predators increase due to:

A

-immigration
-lots of mates
-plenty of food

36
Q

No. Of predators decrease due to:

A
  • emigration
  • disease
  • prey numbers reduce
37
Q

Symbiosis

A

Where two organisms of different species have a close, specific relationship with each other where at least one of them benefits

38
Q

Mutualism

A

When both organisms benefit from a symbiotic relationship

39
Q

Parasitism

A

Where one organism (aka parasite) lives in or on another organism (aka host) and the host is harmed

40
Q

Population dynamics

A

The study of the changes that occur in a population and the factors that cause these changes

41
Q

Population changes due to :

A
  • Birth and death
  • Emigration and immigration
  • Effect of other species in the form of competition, predation and symbiosis
42
Q

High DR is important as:

A
  • protects the stock of food
  • eliminates the less adapted organisms/ survival of the fittest
43
Q

Factors affecting human population;

A

War, disease, famine and modern medicine

44
Q

Carbon cycle

A

Process through which elemental carbon is exchanged between living organisms and their environment

45
Q

How CO2 is removed from the atmosphere ?

A
  • photosynthesis
  • formation of fossil fuels
46
Q

How CO2 is released or returned back into the atmosphere?

A

respiration
Decomposition
Combustion

47
Q

Role of plants in the carbon cycle

A

Remove co2 through photosynthesis
Return co2 through respiration

48
Q

Role of animals in the carbon cycle

A

Obtain carbon from eating plants
Release co2 through respiration

49
Q

Role of microorganisms in the carbon cycle

A

Returns carbon back into the environment when they break down organisms

50
Q

Decomposer

A

An organism that feeds off and breaks down dead organisms

51
Q

Global warming

A

The warming of global temperatures due to increase in co2 levels

52
Q

Reasons for co2 levels increase

A

Increased usage and combustion of fossil fuel
Deforestation

53
Q

Greenhouse gas

A

Group of gases that are able to trap heat in the atmosphere, keeping the earths surface warmer than it should be

54
Q

Nitrogen cycle

A

Process through which elemental nitrogen is exchanged between living organisms and their environments

55
Q

Nutrient recycling

A

The way in which elements are exchanged between the living and the non living components of an ecosystem

56
Q

Nitrogen fixation

A

The conversion of nitrogen gas to nitrates

57
Q

Nitrification

A

Conversion of ammonia to nitrites and then to nitrates

58
Q

Pollution

A

Any harmful addition to the environment

59
Q

Pollutants

A

Substances that cause pollution

60
Q

Effects of pollutants

A

Agriculture- slurry and fertiliser - algal blooms and eutrophication
Industrial - sulphur dioxide - forms acid rain
Domestic - plastic bags - litter/ non biodegradable

61
Q

Eutrophication

A

A process where water receives too many nutrients that stimulate excessive algal growth

62
Q

Eutrophication

A

A process where water receives too many nutrients that stimulate excessive algal growth

63
Q

Conservation

A

Protection and wise management of natural resources and the environment

64
Q

Conservation

A

Protection and wise management of natural resources and the environment

Biology (8 decks)

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