ECOLOGY

Question 1

4.1 Species, communities and ecosystems

Understanding: Define the term species.

Answer 1

Species are groups of organisms that can potentially interbreed to produce fertile offspring

Question 2

4.1 Species, communities and ecosystems

Understanding: Can members of the same species be dispersed in different populations?

Answer 2

Members of a species may be reproductively isolated in separate populations

Question 3

4.1 Species, communities and ecosystems
Understanding: What is the term to define “populations of different species living together and interacting with each other”?

Answer 3

A community

Question 4

4.1 Species, communities and ecosystems

Understanding: Define abiotic and biotic factors.

Answer 4

Abiotic factor definition, a nonliving condition or thing, as climate or habitat
A biotic factor is a living organism that shapes its environment.

Question 5

4.1 Species, communities and ecosystems

Understanding: What is an ecosystem?

Answer 5

A community forms an ecosystem by its interactions with the abiotic environment

Question 6

4.1 Species, communities and ecosystems

Understanding: Define autotrophic species and give an example of one.

Answer 6

Autotrophs obtain inorganic nutrients from the abiotic environment
Ex: Algae, plankton, seaweed

Question 7

4.1 Species, communities and ecosystems

Understanding: Define heterotrophic species and name one.

Answer 7

Consumers are heterotrophs that feed on living organisms by ingestion

Question 8

4.1 Species, communities and ecosystems

Understanding: How do detritivores obtain organic nutrients?

Answer 8

Detritivores are heterotrophs that obtain organic nutrients from detritus by internal digestion

Question 9

4.1 Species, communities and ecosystems

Understanding: Heterotrophs that obtain organic nutrients from dead organisms by external digestion are …….

Answer 9

Saprotrophs

Question 10

4.1 Species, communities and ecosystems
Understanding: How does nutrient cycling work?

https://ib.bioninja.com.au/_Media/nutrient-cycling_med.jpeg

Answer 10

The nutrient cycle is a system where energy and matter are transferred between living organisms and non-living parts of the environment.

Question 11

4.1 Species, communities and ecosystems

Understanding: Define sustainability.

Answer 11

Sustainability refers to the ability of a system or process to continue indefinitely.

Question 12

4.1 Species, communities and ecosystems

Understanding:Which process allows ecosystems to be sustainable over long periods of time?

Answer 12

Nutrient cycle
Waste products of species should be detoxified and used by others
Energy must be available, usually from the sun or
heat

Question 13

4.1 Species, communities and ecosystems
Skills: Are these animals consumers or producers? What do they consume?

https://ib.bioninja.com.au/_Media/consumer_med.jpeg

Answer 13

Consumers

Question 14

4.1 Species, communities and ecosystems

Skills: Name three factors that can affect the sustainability of a mesocosm

Answer 14

Light availability, Types and populations of producer species, types and populations of consumer species

Question 15

4.1 Species, communities and ecosystems

Skills: What is the chi-squared test?

Answer 15

The Chi-square test is a statistical test used to compare observed results with expected results.

Question 16

4.2 Energy Flow

Understanding: An organism that can make its own food is called?

Answer 16

A producer

Question 17

4.2 Energy Flow

Application: What percentage of energy is passed on to each tropic level?

Answer 17

10%

Question 18

4.2 Energy flow
Application: What is this diagram called

https://www.guyhowto.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/93_1-Ecological-Pyramids.jpg

Answer 18

An energy pyramid

Question 19

4.2 Energy flow

Skills: A consumer gets energy by doing what?

Answer 19

Feeding on other organisms

Question 20

4.3 Carbon cycling

Understanding: What converts carbon dioxide into carbohydrates and other carbon compounds?

Answer 20

Autotrophs

Question 21

4.3 Carbon cycling

Understanding: In what type of ecosystem is carbon present as dissolved carbon dioxide and hydrogen carbonate ions

Answer 21

In aquatic ecosystems

Question 22

4.3 Carbon cycling

Understanding: Carbon dioxide diffuses from the atmosphere or water into …………

Answer 22

Autotrophs

Question 23

4.3 Carbon cycling

Understanding: Carbon dioxide is produced by ………. and diffuses out of organisms into water or the atmosphere

Answer 23

Respiration

Question 24

4.3 Carbon cycling

Understanding: What does organic matter in anaerobic conditions by methanogenic archaeans create?

Answer 24

Methane

Question 25

4.3 Carbon cycling | Understanding: Methane is oxidized to ………. and water in the………..

Answer 25

Methane is oxidised to carbon dioxide and water in the atmosphere

Question 26

4.3 Carbon cycling | Understanding: Why is Peat formed when organic matter is not fully decomposed?

Answer 26

Peat forms when organic matter is not fully decomposed because of acidic and/or anaerobic conditions in waterlogged soils

Question 27

4.3 Carbon cycling | Understanding: What happens to Partially decomposed organic matter from past geological eras

Answer 27

They are either converted to coal or into oil and gas that accumulates in rocks

Question 28

4.3 Carbon cycling | Understanding: What substance is produced by the combustion of biomass and fossilised organic matter

Answer 28

Carbon dioxide

Question 29

4.3 Carbon cycling Understanding: Animals such as reef-building corals and mollusca have hard parts that are composed of calcium carbonate and can become fossilized in ......... ?

Answer 29

Limestone

Question 30

4.3 Carbon cycling | Skill: Construct a diagram of the carbon cycle

Answer 30

https://www.sciencefacts.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Carbon-Cycle-Diagram.jpg

Question 31

4.3 Carbon cycling | Application: What are the 3 main carbon sinks

Answer 31

Plants, the ocean and soil.

Question 32

4.3 Carbon cycling | Application: What are annual fluctuations in terms of carbon fluxes?

Answer 32

The annual fluctuations in CO2 levels are caused by changes in rates of photosynthesis. During winter months, rates decrease which causes the atmospheric levels to increase and vice versa in summer.

Question 33

4.4 Climate Change | Understanding: What are greenhouse gasses?

Answer 33

Greenhouse gases are those that absorb long wave radiation and re-emit it as heat energy.

Question 34

4.4 Climate Change | Understanding: List the four major greenhouse gases and their sources.

Answer 34

- Carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere through cell respiration and by combustion. It is removed by photosynthesis. - Water vapor is added to the atmosphere through evaporation. It is removed as condensation (rain, snow, hail, etc.) - Methane is emitted from: Waterlogged habitats, Landfills, Fossil fuel extraction, Melting polar ice - Nitrous oxides are released by: Bacteria in some habitats, Agriculture, Vehicle exhausts

Question 35

4.4 Climate Change | Understanding: What does the impact of a greenhouse gas depend on?

Answer 35

Its ability to absorb long wave radiation | Its concentration in the atmosphere

Question 36

4.4 Climate Change | Understanding: Outline the greenhouse effect.

Answer 36

The ability of greenhouse gases to absorb longwave radiation has the overall effect of retaining heat in the Earth’s atmosphere. This effect is known as the greenhouse effect.

Question 37

4.4 Climate Change | Understanding: True or False. Climate change is affected by Greenhouse gasses.

Answer 37

True

Question 38

4.4 Climate Change | Understanding: What is global warming? What is the cause of it?

Answer 38

Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. These shifts may be natural, but since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels (like coal, oil and gas), which produces heat-trapping gases.

Question 39

4.4 Climate Change | Understanding: Compare longer wave and shorter wave radiation.

Answer 39

Longer wave radiation is absorbed by greenhouse gases which retains the heat in the atmosphere. The Earth’s surface absorbs short-wave radiation (UV) from the sun and re-emits it as longer wavelength, mostly infrared.

Question 40

4.4 Climate Change | Understanding: Identify the types of radiation absorbed and emitted by the Earth’s surface.

Answer 40

The Earth’s surface absorbs short-wave radiation (UV) from the sun and re-emits it as longer wavelength, mostly infrared.

Question 41

4.4 Climate Change | Understanding: Describe the effects of increasing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere.

Answer 41

if the concentration of gases increases, it follows that overall temperatures will increase as well.

Question 42

4.4 Climate Change | Understanding: Outline correlations between atmospheric CO2 levels and global temperatures.

Answer 42

When there's more CO2 in the atmosphere, it makes the atmosphere warmer by trapping heat. Since humans are adding more CO2 to the atmosphere, that helps explain why temperatures are increasing around the world.

Question 43

4.4 Climate Change | Understanding: Describe the effect of the Industrial Revolution on atmospheric CO2 levels.

Answer 43

There is a correlation between rising atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide since the start of the industrial revolution 200 years ago and average global temperatures.

Question 44

4.4 Climate Change | Understanding: What are the more recent increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide due to?

Answer 44

During the 19th century, the combustion of oil, natural gas and coal become more widespread. Increases in fossil fuel combustion were most rapid from the 1950’s onwards, resulting in a steep rise in CO2.

Question 45

4.4 Climate Change | Applications: Evaluate claims that human activities are not causing climate change.

Answer 45

Despite strong correlations being observed, many claim that human activities are not causing climate change. Many such arguments use outlying years as evidence and ignore natural fluctuations on temp. their actions are, the excess use of fossil fuels etc...

Question 46

4.4 Climate Change | Applications: Describe correlations between global temperatures and carbon dioxide concentrations on Earth.

Answer 46

When the carbon dioxide concentration goes up, temperature goes up. When the carbon dioxide concentration goes down, temperature goes down.

Question 47

4.4 Climate Change | Application: Describe the effects of CO 2 levels on coral reefs.

Answer 47

Coral reefs are very sensitive to water temperature and increased CO2 levels cause temperatures to rise. More CO2 decreases the water's ph when it is dissolved Because of increased temperatures, there could be melted sea ice which can change sea levels