Chapter 13

Question 1

1. Why is it important to monitor biodiversity?

Answer 1

1) It helps to see whether or not human influences i.e. air pollution and fishing are having an effect on the Earths species.

Question 2

3. What is the definition of ‘population’?

Answer 2

3) All the members of the same species living in a particular area at the same time. The males and females in the group interbreed sexually.

Question 3

2. What is the definition of an ‘ecosystem’?

Answer 3

2) A community of different species that are dependent on each other together with the non-living environment of a relatively self-confined area.

Question 4

4. What is the definition of a ‘community’?

Answer 4

4) All the organisms of all the populations that live in a certain area at the same time.

Question 5

5. What are biomes?

Answer 5

4) All the organisms of all the populations that live in a certain area at the same time.

Question 6

6. What are the different levels in an ecosystem called?

Answer 6

6) The trophic levels.

Question 7

7. What is an ‘open’ ecosystem and what does this mean?

Answer 7

7) These are ecosystems that have species that move between ecosystems.

Question 8

8. Are most ecosystems open or closed?

Answer 8

8) Almost all are open.

Question 9

9. Are any ecosystems totally isolated?

Answer 9

9) No but some small islands like the Galapagos islands have very little habitat mixing.

Question 10

10. Are ecosystems ‘dynamic’?

Answer 10

10) YES – there is always a fluctuation of energy and number and type of species present.

Question 11

11. What is an ‘autotrophic’ species?

Answer 11

11) These are organisms that can use light or chemical energy to fix carbon.

Question 12

12. What is an ‘heterotrophic’ species?

Answer 12

12) These organisms cannot fix carbon but instead take in complex carbon compounds as their source of energy.

Question 13

13. Is decomposition an important process?

Answer 13

13) Yes it is vital in the recycling of carbon and other compounds.