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Biology > Chapter 7 - Ecology > Flashcards

Chapter 7 - Ecology Flashcards

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AP® Biology flashcards Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

What is a population ?

A

the number of organisms of the same species living in the same area.

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2
Q

What is a habitat ?

A

The area where a population lives

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3
Q

What is a community ?

A

Where several different populations are found living close together.

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4
Q

What is an abiotic factor ?

A

A non-living factor

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5
Q

What is a biotic factor ?

A

A living factor

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6
Q

What piece of equiptment is used for sampling ?

A

A quadrat

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7
Q

How do you obtain reliable results in fieldwork ?

A
  • sample needs to be as large as possible
  • samples taken at rando locations within the habitat
  • repeat and average
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8
Q

How would you measure plant distribution ?

A

Use percentage cover (usually round up to the nearest 10%)

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9
Q

How can wind affect the distribution of plants and animals ?

A

Can be measured using anemometers. Can affect distribution in exposed areas e.g sand dunes

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10
Q

How can water affect the distribution of plants and animals ?

A

soil moistures can be found by weighing them then drying them out and the difference in the two weights was the water.

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11
Q

How can pH affect the distribution of plants and animals ?

A

It can be measured using test kits or probes. Some plants will only grow in acidic/alkaline soils.

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12
Q

How can light affect the distribution of plants and animals ?

A

Can be measured using light meters. All plants need light to photosynthesise.

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13
Q

How can temperature affect the distribution of plants and animals ?

A

Can be measured using a thermometer.

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14
Q

what does the term biodiversity mean ?

A

a measure of the different species living in an area

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15
Q

Where does all the energy in our food webs come from ?

A

All the energy comes from the sun and is trapped by green plants (producers)

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16
Q

What do the arrows on a food web represent ?

A

transfer of energy through the food web

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17
Q

Why are food webs always not 100% efficient ?

A

Due to respiration, excretion, egestion and uneaten parts of the animal

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18
Q

Why are shorter food chains more efficient ?

A

Because less energy is lost between trophic levels

19
Q

What are the advantages/disadvantages of a pyramid of biomass ?

A

Advantages: more accurate to show the relationships in a community

Disadvantages: Harder to get value for biomass

20
Q

What are the disadvantages/advantages for a pyramid of numbers ?

A

Advantages: Easy to obtain value for number

Disadvantage : Can be misleading (tree = 1 but is 100 kg insect = 1 but is 1 g)

21
Q

What is the name for bacteria that secrete enzymes ?

A

saprophytic

22
Q

How do saprophytic break down organisms ?

A

They secrete enzymes onto the soil or dead organism. The enzyme breaks it down and then the bacteria absorb it.

23
Q

How is humus formed ?

A

It’s formed from decomposing plant and animal material

24
Q

What are the three optimum features for the rate of decomposition ?

A
  • a warm temperature
  • adequate moisture
  • a large SA in the decomposing organism
25
Q

How is photosynthesis involved in the carbon cycle ?

A

carbon dioxide is taken up by plants

26
Q

How is feeding involved in the carbon cycle ?

A

animals eat plants and the carbon built up in the organic compounds is passed on

27
Q

How is respiration involved in the carbon cycle ?

A

When anything respires they return carbon back to the atmosphere as CO2

28
Q

How is decomposition involved in the carbon cycle ?

A

The decomposers gain carbon from decomposing dead organisms. They return carbon by respiration

29
Q

How is fossilisation involved in the carbon cycle ?

A

The dead organism does not decay. Theses fossils can eventually turn into fossil fuels.

30
Q

How is combustion involved in the carbon cycle ?

A

When fossil fuels are burned they release Carbon back into the atmosphere

31
Q

What are the problems of global warming ?

A
  • increasing temperatures (melting ice caps)
  • increasing frequency of extreme weather
  • loss of habitats
32
Q

What are the two main causes of global warming ?

A

Deforestation and burning fossil fuels.

33
Q

Explain nitrification :

A

Plants absorb nitrogen as nitrates to from proteins. They are eaten. Eventually the nitrogen is returned to the ground as urine or death and decay. A special group of bacteria convert ammonia to nitrates in the soil.

34
Q

Explain Nitrogen fixing bacteria :

A

The bacteria gain carbohydrates from the legumes and they provide a source of nitrates.

the process of converting nitrogen from the atmosphere into nitrates is called nitrogen fixation.

35
Q

Explain denitrifying bacteria

A

Found mostly in waterlogged soils. They convert nitrates into nitrogen gas.

36
Q

How does a root hair cell do active uptake ?

A

It requires oxygen for aerobic respiration to provide the energy needed for this active uptake

37
Q

What is calcium needed for in a plant ?

A

for cell walls

38
Q

What is magnesium needed for in plants ?

A

for chlorophyll

39
Q

How are root hair cells adapted for their function?

A

They have an extended shape which increases the SA so they can increase the uptake of nitrates

40
Q

What does eutrophication mean ?

A

The process occurring in areas of fresh water which have too many nitrates, leading to the death of animal species

41
Q

How can the plants on the water bed be affected by eutrophication ?

A

Not enough sunlight will reach them and they will die because they cannot photosynthesise

42
Q

How can the fish be affected by eutrophication ?

A

The plants on the surface will use up all the oxygen in the water and will leave not enough for the fish

43
Q

What are the features of a sustainable woodland ?

A
  • only a small number of large trees are harvested at a time
  • sapling are planted to replace every tree cut down (reforestation)
  • harvesting only takes place in one area every 25-30 years (allows trees to grow again)
44
Q

Name one international protocol to help with climate change.

A

Kyoto protocol 1997. 195 countries agreed to try and help the fight against climate change

Biology (16 decks)

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