ECOLOGY Flashcards
What is the role of microorganisms in recycling materials?
Microorganisms help return minerals and nutrients back to the environment so that the materials can then be used by other organisms. As the bacteria and fungi decompose dead matter, they also respire and so release carbon dioxide to the environment, contributing to the carbon cycle.
What is decomposition/decay?
Decomposition, or decay, is the breakdown of dead matter.
How can differences in temperature affect the rate of decomposition?fridge?
At colder temperatures decomposing organisms will be less active, therefore the rate of decomposition remains low. This is why we keep food in a fridge. As the temperature increases, decomposers become more active and the rate of decay increases.
How can differences in water affect the rate of decomposition?
With little or no water there is less decomposition because decomposers cannot survive.
How can differences in oxygen affect the rate of decomposition?
Similar to water, decomposers need oxygen to survive and without it there is little or no decomposition.
How can decay lead to the production of biogas?
Anaerobic decay occurs when bacteria and fungi break down dead matter without oxygen. The products of anaerobic decay are methane and carbon dioxide. Together the methane and carbon dioxide produced are called biogas.
What is biodiversity?
The degree of variation of species in a certain area.
What is the impact humans have on biodiversity?how do we reduce it?
Overuse of fertilisers can cause eutrophication and reduces biodiversity.
Fish farming can reduce biodiversity.
Introduction of non-indigenous species can reduce biodiversity.
Deforestation and destroying of habitats can reduce biodiversity.
What is the need for biodiversity?
Without a wide range of animals, plants and microorganisms, we cannot have the healthy ecosystems that we rely on to provide us with the air we breathe and the food we eat. And people also value nature of itself.
What is the greenhouse effect?
The trapping of solar energy in a planet’s atmosphere by certain gases.
What are examples of greenhouse gases?
Methane.
Water vapour.
Carbon dioxide.
What is air pollution?
Combustion of fossil fuels and other fuels releases carbon dioxide. This contributes to the greenhouse effect and leads to global warming.
What is land pollution?
The rubbish we throw out that is not recycled goes into a land fill and can end up in the ocean.
What is water pollution?
Fertilisers are very soluble in water and are easily washed off fields by the rain and then into rivers etc. (eutrophication).
What are pollution indicators?
Indicator species are organisms that can tell us about the levels of pollution in an area by their presence or absence.
What is an example of a pollution indicator?
- no lichens = air is heavily polluted
- because lichen will grow more successfully where there is less air pollution.
Explain the rise in pollution?
Increasing human population has led to an increase in pollution:
more fossil fuels being burnt for heat and power
more food being grown
land taken over for industry and housing
What is the effect of pollution on plants and animals?
Air pollution can affect the growth of a plant and damage to respiratory systems of both animals and plants.
Eutrophication.
No clean water for animals or plants.
What is the impact of the destruction of peat bogs?
Peat bogs are a very important store of carbon. We call them carbon sinks . If all the peat was removed and burned this would quickly release a huge volume of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and contribute to the greenhouse effect and global warming/climate change.
What are the impacts of deforestation?
Less biodiversity.
Carbon is released into the atmosphere as it is stored in trees and used for photosynthesis. If trees are cut down, carbon is released and contributes to global warming/climate change.
Flooding.
Loss of habitas.
What are the reasons for deforestation?
Extraction of materials (wood).
Agriculture and farming.
Cattle-grazing.
Plantations (palm oil)
What are the biological consequences of global warming?
Causes sea level to rise which will flood habitats animals and plants.
Melting of ice which will destroy habitats for polar bears and penguins.
Climate change so storms or drought.
What are detritivores?
organisms start the decay process by eating dead animals and plants, producing waste products (which fungi and bacteria feed off and adds nutrients to the soil).
What are decomposers?
Group of bacteria/fungi that feed on dead animals and plants.
Explain the recycling of materials.
Dead animal —> nutrients into soil from decomposers/detritivores —> plants absorb these through their roots —> plants are eaten by animals REPEAT
Explain the water cycle.
Evaporation
Condensation (moist air rises and cools into water droplets)
Precipitation (water droplets become heavier)
Respiration (loss of water vapour from plants and animals)
Transpiration (loss of water vapour from plants)
What are factors that increase the CO2 in the atmosphere?
Increase use of fossil fuels by humans.
Deforestation of peat bogs (they store carbon).
Deforestation of trees (less trees to absorb carbon and also releases carbon when burnt).
What does anthropogenic mean?
Things that are caused by humans.
How is land used by humans?
Obtaining materials from the ground.
Crops/agriculture.
Housing/hospitals/schools.
What can you use to measure water pollution.
Rain gauge.
Thermometer.
Oxygen meter.
Bio-indicators.
