ecology

Question 1

what is ecology

Answer 1

the study of how living things relate to each other and to their environment

Question 2

environment

Answer 2

all the conditions in which the organism lives which affects its growth and development

Question 3

what is an ecosystem

Answer 3

a community of living organisms interacting with one another and their non living environment within particular area

Question 4

what is the biosphere

Answer 4

the part of the earth inhabited by living organisms and the atmosphere in which life can exist

Question 5

what is a habitat

Answer 5

the place within the ecosystem where an organism lives and to which it has adapted to

Question 6

community

Answer 6

populations of different species of organisms

Question 7

population

Answer 7

a species of organism living in a habitat

Question 8

what are the environmental factors

Answer 8

abiotic- non living
biotic- living
climatic- weather conditions
edaphic- the soil

Question 9

what are the abiotic factors

Answer 9

temperature
light intensity
air speed
water current
humidity
pH
dissolved oxygen
salinity
nitrate and phosphate etc

Question 10

what are the biotic factors

Answer 10

plants for food and shelter
predators and prey
parasites and pathogens
decomposers
competitors
pollinators

Question 11

what are the climatic factors

Answer 11

temperature
rainfall
humidity
wind
light intensity
day lenght

Question 12

what are the edaphic factors

Answer 12

soil type
soil pH
available soil water
air and mineral content
humus
soil texture and structure

Question 13

what is energy flow

Answer 13

the pathway of energy transfer from one organism to the next in an ecosystem due to feeding

Question 14

what is a food chain

Answer 14

a feeding relationship between organisms in a habitat

Question 15

what is a grazing food chain

Answer 15

a food chain where the initial plant is living
grass-grasshopper-frogs-hawks

Question 16

what is a detritus food chain

Answer 16

a food chain which begins with dead organic matter and animal waste
dead leaves-earthworms-blackbirds-hawks

Question 17

what is a food web

Answer 17

a chart showing all the feeding connections in the habitat

Question 18

trophic level

Answer 18

the position of an organism in a food chain

Question 19

why is so much energy lost at each trophic level

Answer 19

1. heat being given off from animals
2. waste material ie faeces
3. not all organisms in a feeding level will get eaten by the organisms in the next level

Question 20

limitations of use of the pyramid of numbers

Answer 20

the size of the organisms is not considered

Question 21

how is carbon dioxide is returned to the environment

Answer 21

1. respiration- in plants, animals and microorganisms
2. decay- caused by microorganisms
3. combustion- ie burning fossil fuels