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Biology > Chapter 23 - Ecosystems > Flashcards

Chapter 23 - Ecosystems Flashcards

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AP® Biology flashcards Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Ecosystem

A

all the interacting living organisms and the non living conditions in an area

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2
Q

Name and give 2 examples of abiotic and biotic factors

A

Biotic- living factors (e.g. presence of shrubs and forests for competition for food, sunlight space and breeding partners)
Abiotic- non living (e.g. rainfall or sunlight)

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3
Q

Name adaptation of plants for light

A

Low light- larger leaves
develop chloroplast that require less light
reproductive systems that operate only when light availability is optimum

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4
Q

What does temperature affect?

A

the enzyme controlling metabolic reactions

migration or hibernation/ leaf fall or flowering

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5
Q

Aquatic organisms beneficial to have fast or slow flowing water cold or hot

A

fast flowing cold water a it has high conc of oxygen

If too warm or too slow drop in o2 and die

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6
Q

Describe and explain the different soil types

A

Clay- easily waterlogged and forms clumps when wet
Loam- different sized particles and retains water but NOT WATERLOGGED
Sandy- free draining- doesn’t retain water easily and is eroded easily

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7
Q

Define biomass

A

The mass of living material present in a particular place or in a particular organism

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8
Q

To calculate biomass..

A

biomass present in each organism x total n. of organisms in that trophic level

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9
Q

Disadvantages of calculating biomass

A

Represent the biomass at a given time therefore does not take into account seasonal changes

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10
Q

What methods are used to calculate the biomass of an organism

A

Scientists dry out an animal to get rid of the water to obtain the dry mass
Placed in oven until water evaporated (2 identical readings)
only small sample of organism taken

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11
Q

units for biomass

A

Land- gm-2

water- gm-3

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12
Q

in an organism what is the biomass?

A

All cells and tissues, carbohydrates and other organic compounds

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13
Q

Energy available at trophic level is measured in?

A

kJm-2(meter) yr-1

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14
Q

Ecological efficiency

A

The efficiency of biomass or energy transferred from one trophic level to another

energy/biomass available after / before x100

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15
Q

How much percent do producers convert

A

1-3% of light energy into chemical energy

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16
Q

Why do produced convert so little

A
  • Not all solar energy is used for photosynthesis ( a lot is reflected, and some are transmitted through leaf)
  • Other factors might limit photo. e.g. water availability
  • proportion of energy is lost bc used for photo.
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17
Q

What is the gross product? and how much is used

A

The total solar energy plants convert into organic matter

  • some is used for respiration
  • remaining energy is converted into biomass
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18
Q

Net product=

A

gross product-respiratory losses

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19
Q

Why is not all the energy converted at consumer level?

A
  • not all the biomass of an organism is eaten (bones)
  • Some energy is transferred to environment for heat bc of movement and respiration
  • Some eaten parts of organism is indigestible so is EGESTED as FAECES
  • Some energy from animal is lost from excretion such as urea
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20
Q

How have humans manipulated biomass transfer?

A

Plant and animal survive more:
-enough food and warmth
-Competition is removed
predators removed

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21
Q

Describe food chain for agriculture of animal and plant

A

producer= animal feed
primary consumer = cow
secondary consumer = us

producer= crop
primary= us
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22
Q

decomposer

A

an organism that feeds on and breaks down dead plan or animal matter thus turning organic compounds into smaller molecules

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23
Q

detritivores

A

help speed up the decay process by feeding on dead matter (detritus)
break down into smaller molecules increasing SA for decomposers (e.g woodlice)

24
Q

What happens during nitrogen fixation?

A

Nitrogen from the air (N2) is combined with hydrogen to form ammonia (NH3) by nitrogenase which can be absorbed into plant
- many live inside root nodules

25
Q

Where are root nodules?

A

leguminous plants like peas and beans
bacteria have a symbiotic relationship
-plant gains aa from bacteria
-bacteria gains carbohydrates produced by plant during photosynthesis (used as an energy store)

26
Q

What is nitrification

A

ammonium compounds in soil are converted into nitrogen contain molecules used by plants
-nitrifying bacteria
oxidation reaction therefore only in enough o2

  1. nitrifying bacteria oxidise ammonium compounds into nitrites
    2.nitrifying bacteria oxidise nitrites into nitrates
    (nitrate=highly soluble)
27
Q

What is denitrification?

A

Absence of o2
denitrifying bacteria convert nitrates in the soil back to nitrogen gas
(only anaerobically)
bacteria use nitrates for source of energy for resp.)

28
Q

What is ammonification?

A

decomposers convert nitrogen containing molecules in dead organisms into ammonium compounds

29
Q

name the forms of succession

A

primary- area newly formed or exposed (e.g. rock)

secondary-areas of land where soil is present but no plants and animals (e.g. after forest fire)

30
Q

Give examples of primary succession

A
  • volcanoes erupting, depositing lava (rock is created)
  • sand blown by wind creating sand dunes
  • Silt and mud depositing in rivers
  • Glaciers retreating exposing rock
31
Q

list the main seral stages

A

pioneer community, intermediate and climax community

32
Q

describe and explain adaptations of pioneer species

A
  • arrive as spores or seeds carried by the wind from land or birds
  • The ability to produce large quantities of seeds or spores which can be blown by the wind
  • seeds that germinate rapidly
  • ability to photosynthesise to produce their own energy
  • tolerance to extreme environments
  • Ability to fix nitrogen from atmosphere adding to mineral content in soil
33
Q

what is humus?

A

the small organic products are released into the soil when pioneer specie die and decompose

34
Q

name common characteristics of tertiary plants

A

waxy cuticle from water loss
can survive without water
need to get most of water and mineral salts from soil

35
Q

how does dead matter contribute to other communities?

A

the dead matter forms nitrates in the soil which can retain water, allowing more favourable conditions for other communities)

36
Q

When does biodiversity peak?

A

during mid-succession

37
Q

give an example of an animal primary consumer

A

insects and worms

38
Q

what is plagioclimax

A

the final stage of succession when it is stopped artificially

39
Q

what is the main reason deflected succession occurs?

A

agriculture

  • grazing and trampling on vegetation by animals
  • removing existing vegetation to plant crops as these become final community
  • burning to clear forest (increased bd as it gives space and nutrient rich ash)
40
Q

how can plant distribution be measured?

A

belt or line transect giving systematic sampling

41
Q

why does the abundance of organisms fluctuate?

A
  • immigration and births

- emigration and death

42
Q

what is a population

A

a group of similar organisms living in a given area at a given time

43
Q

estimated number in population=

A

n. individuals in sample/ area of sample

44
Q

describe the method used to estimate the population of zebras

A
  1. capture as many zebras as possible in a sample area
  2. mark or tag each zebra
  3. release the zebras and allow time for redistrubution
  4. recapture as many zebras
  5. record n. unmarked and marked
  6. use lincoln index to estimate the pop size
45
Q

equation to find pop size of animals

A

n. in first sample x n. in second over n. recaptured in marked indi.

46
Q

what is the max population size called

A

carrying capacity

47
Q

define migration

A

the movement of individual organisms into a particular area

48
Q

define emigration

A

the movement of individual organisms away form an area

49
Q

Density independent factors are?

A

factors that have effect on the whole pop (e.g. earthquakes, fire volcanoes)

50
Q

what does interspecific competition result in?

A

competition for the same resources resulting in reduction for both species

51
Q

describe and explain the events which follow when two species compete for food source

A

less food is available for organisms of each species, therefore will not be able to grow and reproduce. Therefore a smaller populaiton

52
Q

what is the competitive exclusion principle

A

where 2 species are competing for limited resources and the one who uses the resource more effectively will survie

53
Q

describe an example of interspecific competion

A

between red and grey squirrels, the grey ones were introduced from US. They could eat a wider range of food than grey ones, they then grew more and could store more fat.
increasing chances of survival and reproduction compared to red
slowly grey one took over, therefore less food for red and slowly pop decreased

54
Q

what are the effects of intraspecific competition

A

fluctuations in n. of organisms present in a particular pop. over time

  1. resource plentiful, organisms can reproduce and survive on resources = increase in population size
  2. as a result of increased pop. many organisms have to share food or space. resources limited = pop decrease
  3. less competition as smaller pop-> less indivi. competing for same resources = pop increase
55
Q

define conservation

A

the maintenance of biodiversity through human action or management

Biology (15 decks)

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