Chapter 10: Ecosystems

Question 1

10.1 The nature of ecosystems

What is an ecosystem?

Answer 1

An ecosystem consists of a network of habitats and the communities of organisms associated with them. This includes ALL the living organisms which interact together.

Question 2

10.1 The nature of ecosystems

What is a habitat?

Answer 2

• Where an organism lives and some organisms live in a very small part of a habitat called a microhabitat.
• Organisms must be adapted to live there. If organisms are not adapted to live there then they cannot.
• A habitat must be able to supply an organism/individual with resources to meet it’s requirements.

Question 3

10.1 The nature of ecosystems

What are the types of habitats?

Answer 3

1. Oak woodland
2. Coniferous woodland
3. Freshwater ponds
4. Savannah
5. Temperate grasslands
6. Deserts
7. Arctic tundra

Question 4

10.1 The nature of ecosystems

What is an endemic species?

Answer 4

Endemic species are those that are naturally found in a specific geographic region and are not found anywhere else in the world.

Question 5

10.1 The nature of ecosystems

What is a community?

Answer 5

A population is a group of THE SAME species that occupy the same habitat, the different populations of different species that occupy a habitat are known as communities.

Question 6

10.1 The nature of ecosystems

Given a map, outline the different biomes that exist within it

Question 7

10.1 The nature of ecosystems

Describe a tropical rainforest biome and its level of biodiversity

Answer 7

• High humidity (rain all year), warm and lots of sunlight
• Very high biodiversity

Question 8

10.1 The nature of ecosystems

Describe a tropical seasonal rainforest biome and its level of biodiversity

Answer 8

• Drier than a tropical rainforest, warm and sunny
• High biodiversity

Question 9

10.1 The nature of ecosystems

Describe a savannah biome and its level of biodiversity

Answer 9

• Dry tropical grassland
• Medium biodiversity

Question 10

10.1 The nature of ecosystems

Describe a tropical woodland biome and its level of biodiversity

Answer 10

• Wetter than a savannah, grassland with thornwoods, bushes and trees
• Medium biodiversity but more than a savannah

Question 11

10.1 The nature of ecosystems

Describe a desert biome and its level of biodiversity

Answer 11

• Very little rainfall, fluctuating extreme temperatures between day and night
• Very low biodiversity

Question 12

10.1 The nature of ecosystems

Describe a temperate grassland biome and its level of biodiversity

Answer 12

• Warm dry and temperate areas
• Medium biodiversity

Question 13

10.1 The nature of ecosystems

Describe a temperate shrubland biome and its level of biodiversity

Answer 13

• Hot dry summers and cool wet winters
• Medium biodiversity

Question 14

10.1 The nature of ecosystems

Describe a temperate forest biome and its level of biodiversity

Answer 14

• Warm, moist regions including decidious and coniferous species
• Less biodiversity than a tropical rainforest

Question 15

10.1 The nature of ecosystems

Describe a taiga biome and its level of biodiversity

Answer 15

• Evergreen forests in cold subartic and subalpine regions
• Low biodiversity

Question 16

10.1 The nature of ecosystems

Describe a tundra biome and its level of biodiversity

Answer 16

• Very cold, artic and mountain regions
• Very low biodiversity

Question 17

10.1 The nature of ecosystems

Describe a high mountain biome and its level of biodiversity

Answer 17

• Very cold, high altitude
• Very low biodiversity

Question 18

10.1 The nature of ecosystems

Describe a polar ice biome and its level of biodiversity

Answer 18

• Very cold and little available water
• Very low biodiversity

Question 19

10.1 The nature of ecosystems

What is a niche?

Answer 19

The niche of an organism is the specific role that it occupies habitat or specifically communities.

Question 20

10.1 The nature of ecosystems

What occurs when two organisms attempt to occupy the same niche within the same habitat?

Answer 20

If individuals occupy the same habitat then they cannot occupy the same niche resulting in competition. This causes a winner/loser and the death/extinction of the one less suited to survive.

Question 21

10.1 The nature of ecosystems

What is the niche of orchids?

Answer 21

1. Some orchids exploit insect behaviour as part of their niches with regards to pollination.
2. Pyramidal orchids scent attract moths. As moths probe for nectar a parcel of pollen in a collar shape attaches to their tongues
3. Over time the pollen curls forward meaning it is the perfect shape to pollinate the stigma on the next flower the moth visits,
4. Some orchids have become so specialised they can only be pollinated by one species of insects.
5. The male mistakes the orchid for a female wasp (partly because of looks and also because the flower scent resembles a females pheromones), pollen sticks to his head when ‘mating’ which is then transferred to the stigma on the next flower he visits

Question 22

10.1 The nature of ecosystems

What is a species?

Answer 22

• Basic unit of biological classification
• Individual organisms that are very similiar in appearance, anatomy, physiology, biochemistry and genetics
• Breed freely to produce FERTILE offspring

Question 23

10.1 The nature of ecosystems

Define a consumer

Question 24

10.1 The nature of ecosystems

Define a producer

Question 25

10.1 The nature of ecosystems

Define a decomposer

Question 26

10.1 The nature of ecosystems

Define an autotroph

Question 27

10.1 The nature of ecosystems

Define a heterotroph

Question 28

10.1 The nature of ecosystems

Define a detritivore

Question 29

10.1 The nature of ecosystems

Define a herbivore

Question 30

10.1 The nature of ecosystems

Define a carnivore

Question 31

10.1 The nature of ecosystems

Define a trophic level