Ecology

Question 1

Ecology

Answer 1

Is the study of plants, animals and their environment, and the relationship between them.

Question 2

Environment

Answer 2

Is everything that surrounds an animal or plant (for example air, water, rocks and soil)

Question 3

Habitat

Answer 3

Is the place where a plant or animal lives

Question 4

Woodland habitat

Answer 4

Each habitat has its own community of organisms. For example hedgehogs, snails, foxes and primroses belong to the woodland habitat.

Question 5

Seaside habitat

Answer 5

Crabs, seaweed, shrimps and starfish would be found in this habitat.

Question 6

Interdependence

Answer 6

Is how organisms depend on each other for their survival. For example buttercups depend on bees, bees need buttercups.

Question 7

Ecosystem

Answer 7

All the plants and animals in an area interacting with each other and their environment. For example desert, tropical rainforest, grasslands and seashore.

Question 8

Producer

Answer 8

Plants that make their own food. For example grass, dandelion, nettles.

Question 9

Consumer

Answer 9

Animals that get their food by eating plants or other animals.

Question 10

Herbivore

Answer 10

An animal that eats plants only. For example rabbit, sheep, slug, snail.

Question 11

Carnivore

Answer 11

An animal that eats other animals only. For example fox, hawk, ladybird.

Question 12

Omnivore

Answer 12

An animal that eats both plants and animals. For example badger, thrush, blackbird, humans.

Question 13

Decomposer

Answer 13

Organisms that feed on dead plants and animals. For example earthworms, bacteria, fungi. (Decomposes are very important as they break down dead things and release lots of minerals into the soil).

Question 14

Food Chain

Answer 14

Shows how one organism eats another and so on

Question 15

Food chains must start with green plants

Answer 15

Because they are the only things that can make food.

Question 16

Feeding level

Answer 16

The position of an organism in the food chain.

Question 17

The first feeding level

Answer 17

Is always a green plant.

Question 18

Sun

Answer 18

The energy in any food chain comes from the sun.

Question 19

Plants have the most energy

Answer 19

As they make it from the sun.

Question 20

Each step

Answer 20

Loses more and more energy.

Question 21

Inter- connected

Answer 21

Single food chains are rare, most are inter- connected.

Question 22

Food web

Answer 22

Is two or more interconnected food chains.

Question 23

Competition

Answer 23

Occurs when two or more organism seek a resource that is limited.

Question 24

Plants compete

Answer 24

For light, water, minerals and space.

Question 25

Animals compete

Answer 25

For food, shelter, territory and mates.

Question 26

Adaptations

Answer 26

Are features that give an organism a better chance of surviving in their habitat.

Question 27

The dandelion has a long root

Answer 27

Which means it reaches below the short root of grass to get water.

Question 28

Dandelions are able to compete for space

Answer 28

Because they are able to spread their seeds in the wind.

Question 29

Hedgehogs have an excellent sense of smell

Answer 29

To make them good at finding food.

Question 30

Hedgehogs have spikes

Answer 30

To fight off predators.

Question 31

Camouflage (hedgehogs)

Answer 31

Hedgehogs have a colour which makes them camouflaged so predators can’t find them easily.

Question 32

Conservation

Answer 32

Is the protection, preservation and careful use of our natural resources.

Question 33

Our natural resources

Answer 33

Include land, rivers, seas, plants and animals.

Question 34

If we don’t protect our natural resources

Answer 34

The environment could be destroyed and plants and animals may become extinct.

Question 35

Pollution

Answer 35

Is adding unwanted wastes to the environment causing damage to it.

Question 36

Air pollution

Answer 36

Caused by smoke, dust and harmful gases- most of these come from cars, buses, factories and power stations.

Question 37

Acid rain

Answer 37

(Carbonic and sulphuric acid) damages plants and buildings.

Question 38

Soil Pollution

Answer 38

Is caused by pesticides, artificial fertilisers and acid rain.

Question 39

Water pollution

Answer 39

Rivers, lakes and seas are polluted by fertilisers, sewage, oil and detergents.

Question 40

Fertilisers

Answer 40

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.

Question 41

Incineration

Answer 41

Burning the waste, this can release dangerous gases into the atmosphere, difficulties with location nobody wants to live near an incinerator.

Question 42

Landfill

Answer 42

Burying the waste in the ground- damages soil, rivers and ground water, attracts rodents, disease causing, bad smell, difficulties as nobody wants to live near landfill sites.

Question 43

Recycling

Answer 43

Paper, glass, some metals and plastics can be processed and reused.

Question 44

Reduce

Answer 44

Use your own bag, do not pick the items with extra packaging (use less extra packaging).

Question 45

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Answer 45

To make sure that we do not damage our environment and that future generations will have a nice place to live.