Ecology Flashcards
What is a Abiotic factor
non-living factor Light intensity Temperature Water Soil pH and mineral content Wind intensity and direction co2 levels for plants o2 levels for aquatic animals
How are extremophile adapted?
Organism that are adapted to live in extreme conditions
high pressure and temp
very high con of salt
THERMOPHILE-high temp have enzymes that is not damaged by high temp
What is the method for investigation the population size of a common species in a habitat?
1) Place a quadrat on the ground
2) Count the number of individual plants of one species in the quadrat
3) Repeat the process a number of times and work out the mean in 1m2
4) Measure area of the whole habitat and multiply the number of plants in 1m2 by the whole area
What is Decomposition
Dead plant material is put on a compost heap and over time bacteria and fungi decompose the plant material and produce compost and use it as a natural fertiliser
How does carbon enter the cycle?
1) Starts with the carbon in the atmosphere
2) Photosynthesis-only way carbon can enter the cycle
3) respiration- returns carbon dioxide back to the atmosphere
How are clouds formed in the water cycle?
1) Energy from the sun cause the water to evaporate from the surface of the sea
2) Water vapours now travel in the air and cools down
3) When it cools the water vapour condenses to form clouds
What type of consumers are there in the food chain?
At the start of a food chain is the PRODUCER(synthesise complex molecules) which is a green plant in the sea it could be algae or seaweed PRODUCER-Trophic L1 PRIMARY CONSUMER-Trophic L2 SECONDARY CONSUMER-Tropic L3 TERTIARY CONSUMER-Trophic L4
What is pollution and where does it occur?
Reduces biodiversity by killing plants and animals
Pollution can occur in:
water from sewage
air from gases eg sulfur dioxide-produces acid rain
on land from landfills eg pesticides
What happens to the animals in the carbon cycle?
6)Animals release waste and eventually all plant and animals die the broken remains are then decomposed-carbon in the waste and dead remains is returned to the atmosphere as co2
Why are pyramid of biomass used/How much energy does the pyramid transfer?
Used to show the energy flow through ecosystems Produce transfers 1% and every level above adds 10%
What is global warming/what is causing it?
Gradual increase in the temperature of the earth
Change in various gases ( carbon dioxide/methane) caused by pollution and deforestation
How do human affect the land?
by building, quarrying, farming and dumping waste.
destructing peat bogs and producing garden compost
The decay or burning of the peat releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
What is a biotic factor?
living Availability of food Arrival of a new predator One species outcompeting with another New pathogen
What are the conditions for decomposition?
Warm temperature (enzymes are used to break down the plant material)
Water (moist soil needed for chemical reaction in decay)
Oxygen (because of aerobic respiration)
What happens if there is no oxygen in decomposition?
microorganism carry out respiration but if there’s no oxygen the decomposing microorganisms carry out anaerobic decay -produces mixture of gases and methane (biogas)
