Ecology Flashcards
Ecology
Is the study of plants, animals and their enviroment, and the relationship between them.
Enviroment
The enviroment is everything that surrounds an animal or plant ( for example air, water, rocks and soil )
Habitat
The habitat is the place where a plant or animal lives
Woodland habitat
Each habitat has its own community of organisms for example hedgehogs, snails, foxes and primroses.
Interdependance
Is how organisms depend on each other for their survival e.g. Buttercups depend on bees, bees need buttercups!
Ecosystem
All the plants and animals in an area interacting with each other and their enviroment. E.g. desert, tropical rainforest, grasslands, seashore.
Seaside habitat
Crabs, seaweed, shrimp and starfish.
Producer
Plants that make their own food e.g. grass, dandelion, nettles.
Omnivore
An animal that eats both plants and animals e.g. badger, thrush, blackbird, humana.
Competition
Competition occurs when two or more organisms seek a resource that is limited.
Plants compete
Plants compete for light, water, minerals and space
Animals compete
Animals compete for food, shelter, territory and mates.
Adaptations
Adaptations are features that give an organism a better chance of surviving in their habitat.
The dandelion has a long root
Which means it reaches below the short root of grass to get water.
Dandelions are able to compete for space
Because they are able to spread their seeds in the wind
Hedgehogs have an excellent sense of smell
To make them good at finding food
Hedgehogs have spikes
To fight off predators.
Camouflaged
Hedgehogs have colour which makes thrm camouflaged so predators cant find them easy
Conservation
The protection, preservation and careful use of our natural resources.
Our natural resources
Land, River, Seas, Plants and animals.
If we dont protect our natural resources
The enviroment could be destroyed and plants and animals may even become extinct.
Pollution
Adding unwasted wastes to the enviroment causing damage to it.
Air pollution
Caused by smoke, dust and harmful gases- most of these come from cars, buses, factories and power stations.
Acid rain
A mixture of Carbonic acid and sulfric acid also known as acid rain damages plants and buildings.
Soil pollution
Caused by pesticides, artificial fertilisers and acid rain.
Water pollution
Rivers, lakes and seas are polluted by fertilisers, sewage, oil and detergants.
Fertilisers
Fertilisers seep into rivers and cause too much plant growth, bacteria populations boom as they feed on dead plants and no oxygen is left for fish.
Incineration
Burning the waste, this can release dangeroud gases into the atmosphere, difficulties with location noboday wants to live near an incinerator.
Landfill
Burying the waste in ground-damages soil, rivers, disease causing, bad smell, difficulties as nobody wants to live near landfill sites.
Recycling
Paper, glass, some metals and plastics can be processed and reused.
Reduce
Use your own bag, do not pick up the items wirh extra packaging ( use less extra packaging)
Reduce, reuse and recycle
To make sure that we do not damage our enviroment and that future generations will have a nice place to live.
