Disruption To Food Chains And Webs Flashcards
What is the literal meaning of bio accumulation ?
BIO: involving living organisms
ACCUMULATION: the act or process of collecting or gathering
What is interdependence?
The way in which living organisms depend on each other to survive, grow and reproduce
State an example of interdependence
Some crops depend on bees to pollinate their flowers and pollination leads to the production of fruits and vegetables that we buy in the shops
What can be shown in a food web ?
That most animals eat more than one type of organisms
What happens when organisms feed on other organisms ?
A 10% transfer of energy
Both ___ and ___ depend on each other
Animals and plants
What happens when there is a change in population of one organism ?
It has a direct effect on other organisms in that food chain or food web
What is the original source of energy in food webs/chains ?
The light energy form the sun used in photosynthesis
Is all energy transferred along a food web/chain ?
No
What can be transferred along with energy through a food chain/web ?
Some chemicals such as insecticides can also be passed on
What is bioaccumulation ?
The collection of a substance, such as toxic chemicals in various tissues of a living organism, this can lead illness or death
Describe the processes of bioaccumulation ?
Insecticides are sprayed onto a field
Insecticides are washed into rivers by rain
Microorganisms absorb a tiny amount of insecticide
Each small crustaceans east many microorganisms
The level of insecticide is therefore higher in the crustaceans than the microorganisms
Each small fish eats many crustaceans
Each large fish eats many small fish
Top predators are poisoned by the high level of insecticide in their food
