ecology

Question 1

what is a habitat

Answer 1

where an organism lives

Question 2

what is a population

Answer 2

all the organisms of a particular species that live in a habitat

Question 3

what is a community

Answer 3

different species that live together in a habitat

Question 4

what are biotic factors

Answer 4

living factors of the environment

Question 5

what are abiotic factors

Answer 5

non-living factors of the environment

Question 6

what is an ecosystem

Answer 6

the interaction of a community of living organisms with the non-living parts of their environment

Question 7

what resources do animals need to survive

Answer 7

• space (territory)
• food + water
• mates

Question 8

what resources do plants need to survive

Answer 8

• light
• space
• mineral ions

Question 9

what is interdependance

Answer 9

all species depend on other species in some way

Question 10

list a few biotic factors of an environment

Answer 10

• competition for resources or habitat
• amount of disease
• availability of food

Question 11

list a few abiotic factors of an environment

Answer 11

• light intensity
• CO2 concentration
• temperature
• moisture levels
• wind intensity
• mineral content of soil

Question 12

what are structural adaptations

Answer 12

the physical features eg. shape and colour

Question 13

what are behavioural adaptations

Answer 13

the way an organism behaves or acts

Question 14

what are functional adaptations

Answer 14

the processes inside an organism eg. metabolism and reproductive system

Question 15

what are extremophiles

Answer 15

microorganisms that are adapted to live in extreme environments

Question 16

what happens to energy as you move up the food chain

Answer 16

energy levels decrease as you move up the food chain

Question 16

what happens to energy as you move up the food chain

Answer 16

energy levels decrease as you move up the food chain

Question 17

what is abundance

Answer 17

hoe many organisms there are

Question 18

what is distribution

Answer 18

where the organisms are

Question 19

what is a quadrat

Answer 19

a square frame that has been subdivided into lots of smaller squares, quadrats are used to sample a habitat and estimate the size of a population

Question 19

what is a quadrat

Answer 19

a square frame that has been subdivided into lots of smaller squares, quadrats are used to sample a habitat and estimate the size of a population

Question 20

what does sampling mean and why is it often used

Answer 20

sampling means only counting a subset of the organisms in a habitat as it would impossible or very time consuming to count all the organisms

Question 21

what are the steps of the water cycle

Answer 21

1. water from lakes, rivers and oceans evaporates into water vapour and rises into the atmosphere
2. water can also evaporate from plants through transpiration
3. as the water vapour accumulates it can condense to form clouds
4. later, the water will fall as rain or other forms of precipitation
5. the fallen water will then seep into soil, flow into rivers or lakes, and be taken up by plants
6. the cycle then repeats

Question 22

describe the carbon cycle

Answer 22

1. plants photosynthesise, absorbing some of the carbon dioxide in our atmosphere
2. plants can either release the carbon dioxide back out or pass it on to animals that eat it

Question 22

describe the carbon cycle

Answer 22

1. plants photosynthesise, absorbing some of the carbon dioxide in our atmosphere
2. plants can either release the carbon dioxide back out or pass it on to animals that eat it
3. animals also respire to release carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere

Question 23

what is decomposition

Answer 23

the process by which dead organic matter is broken down into simpler organic or inorganic substances

Question 24

what are detritus feeders/detritivores

Answer 24

small animals that feed on dead organic matter like worms and woodlice

Question 25

what are decomposers

Answer 25

microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi