Definitions

Question 1

Ecology

Answer 1

The study of the interactions between organisms, and between them and their environment

Question 2

Ecosystem

Answer 2

A group of clearly distinguished organisms that interact with their ecosystem as a unit e.g grassland

Question 3

Abiotic

Answer 3

Non-living factors e.g pH

Question 4

Biosphere

Answer 4

The part of the planet in which living organisms can be found

Question 5

Biotic

Answer 5

Living factors e.g bacteria

Question 6

Carnivore

Answer 6

An organism which eats meat only e.g fox

Question 7

Competition

Answer 7

The struggle between organisms for the same resource

Question 8

Contest competition

Answer 8

An active physical confrontation between two organisms in which there is only one winner eg mate

Question 9

Decomposer

Answer 9

An organism which feeds on dead organic matter eg earthworm

Question 10

Denitrification

Answer 10

The conversion of nitrates to nitrogen gas

Question 11

Community

Answer 11

All the different populations of species living in a habitat

Question 12

Food chain

Answer 12

A sequence of organisms in which each one is eaten by the next in the chain
LEAF —> GREENFLY —> SPIDER —> BIRD

Question 13

Food web

Answer 13

A series of interconnecting food chains

             HARE……
            /
Grass  — RABBIT……
           \
            APHID…..

Question 14

Habitat

Answer 14

The place where an organism lives

Question 15

Herbivore

Answer 15

An organism that feeds solely off plants eg rabbit

Question 16

Omnivore

Answer 16

An organism which feeds off both plants and animals eg humans

Question 17

Parasite

Answer 17

An organism which feeds off and causes harm to living matter eg fleas

—> Endo
—> Exo

Question 18

Endoparasite

Answer 18

A parasite that lives IN an organism eg tapeworms

Question 19

Exoparasite

Answer 19

An organism that lives ON a parasite eg fleas

Question 20

Population

Answer 20

All the members of the same species living in a habitat

Question 21

Consumers

i. ) Producers
ii. ) Primary
iii. ) Secondary
iv. ) Tertiary

Answer 21

1. (Autotroph) makes its own food
2. Feeds on producers eg herbivores
3. Feeds on primary eg carnivores
4. Feeds on secondary eg omnivores

Question 22

Pyramid of biomass

Answer 22

A diagram which shows the weight of organic matter at each stage in the food chain

Question 23

Pyramid of numbers

Answer 23

Diagram that shows number of organisms at each stage in the food chain

Question 24

Scramble competition

Answer 24

Organisms try to acquire as much of a resource as possible

Question 25

Saprophyte

Answer 25

Bacteria and fungi that feed on dead organic matter eg Rhizopus

Question 26

Symbiosis

Answer 26

A close relationship between two or more organisms of different species in which at least one benefits

Question 27

Trophic level

Answer 27

Position of an organism in a food chain

Question 28

Nutrient recycling

Answer 28

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

Question 29

Decomposition

Answer 29

The breaking down of plant and animal waste and bodies

Question 30

Edaphic

Answer 30

Anything soil related

Eg pH level

Question 31

Nitrogen fixation

Answer 31

The conversation of nitrogen gas into nitrates

Question 32

Nitrification

Answer 32

The conversion, by bacteria into ammonia, and ammonium compounds into nitrates, and then nitrates

Question 33

Predation

Answer 33

The hunting, catching, and killing of prey by its predator

Question 34

Key

Answer 34

A set of questions based on the external structure of an organism that will eventually lead to its identification

Question 35

Fauna

Answer 35

All animal life in an ecosystem

Question 36

Flora

Answer 36

All plant life in an ecosystem

Question 37

Niche

Answer 37

The role an organism plays in its ecosystem

Question 38

Conservation

Answer 38

Is the wise management of our environment to ensure the survival of organism and their habitats