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Ecology Flashcards

1
Q

Ecology

A

The study of the interaction between groups of organisms and their environment

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2
Q

Energy flow

A

A food chain shows the energy flow from one organism to the next

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3
Q

Producer

A

Used the suns energy to make food through photosynthesis

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4
Q

Grazing food chains

A

always start with a producer

eg: grass -> grasshopper -> frog

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5
Q

Decomposer

A

Will break down dead organic matter and return nutrients to the ground (eg:) bacteria and fungi

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6
Q

Detritus Food Chain

A

Starts with dead organic matter (hummus) (eg:) fallen oak leaves

fallen leaves -> earthworm -> blackbird

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7
Q

The consumer

A

Eats the producer or other consumers

Grass -> rabbit -> fox

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8
Q

Primary consumer

A

Herbivore
Organism that feeds on the producer; eats vegetation

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9
Q

Secondary Consumer

A

Carnivore/Omnivore
Orgasm that feeds on the primary consumer

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10
Q

Tertiary consumer

A

Carnivore/ Predator
Organism that feeds on the secondary consumer

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11
Q

Food web

A

Consists of two or more food chains interlinked together

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12
Q

Trophic level

A

Refers to the feeding stages of an organism in a food chain

Eg: Grass T1 -> rabbit T2 -> Fox T3

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13
Q

Pyramid of numbers

A

a diagram showing the numbers of organisms at each trophic level/ stage in a food chain

size of individuals increase, number of individuals decrease

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14
Q

Inverted pyramid of numbers example

A

Oak -> greenfly -> mites -> bacteria

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15
Q

Niche

A

The functional role of an organism in an ecosystem

two species of the same niche can’t survive for long in the same habitat as they would be in competition

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16
Q

Limitations of pyramid of numbers

A

Numbers don’t account for the size of an organism
Parasitic food chains give rise to inverted pyramid
Numbers can be so great that it’s not drawn to scale

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17
Q

Biosphere

A

The part of the earth containing living organisms

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18
Q

Ecosystem

A

a community of organisms and their non living environment interacting together

Eg pond, woodland, bog

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19
Q

Habitat

A

The place where an organism lives and to which it is adapted

(nettle sting/ camouflage)

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20
Q

Abiotic factors

A

Non living factors
Aspect (direction a surface is facing)
Exposure (to wind, water and currents)
Salinity (salt concentration)

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21
Q

Aquatic Factors

A

Relate to organisms living in/ near water based environments

Light (may not penetrate)
Currents (may wash away algae, plants)
Wave action (creates currents physical damage to organisms)
Oxygen concentration (less co2 in water than air. gills)

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22
Q

Biotic Factors

A

Living factors

Food (more populous)
Predation (reduces number of prey)
Competition (scarce resources)
Parasitism (Reduces number of host organisms)
Human influences (increase of decrease no)
Animals (aid pollution and seed dispersal)

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23
Q

Climatic Factors

A

Temperature - grow faster in higher temperatures
Rainfall - need water to grow
Light Intensity - photosynthesis
Wind - increases evaporation and damage

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24
Q

Edaphic factors

A

Relate to the soil
Soil pH (prefer)
Soil type (sandy vs clay)
Humus (increases growth of plants)
Water, air and mineral content (increase growth of roots)

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25
Population
A group of individuals of the same species living in a habitat Eg number of daisies in a lawn
26
Size of population is determined by:
Competition Predation Parasitism Symbiosis
27
Competition
Is the struggle for a resource that is in short supply
28
Competition occurs for
Food space mates shelter light water and minerals
29
Two types of competition
Contest Scramble
30
Contest competition
an active physical confrontation between two organisms which allows one to win Eg two stags compete for mates
31
Scramble competition
Occurs when each organism tries to acquire as much of the resource as possible Eg a thrush trying to feed too many chicks
32
Adaptions are developed
to avoid competition
33
Adaption example
Grass roots lie near the surface, tap roots of dandelion takes water from further down Lady birds can fly and are red to warn others that they’re full of acid
34
Predation
Is the killing and eating of one organism (the prey) by another (predator) Eg: Blackbirds are predators of earthworms
35
Adaptive techniques of predators
Catch large, rather than many small prey Catch whatever is easy, prevents wasting energy Able to move to areas of more plentiful prey
36
Adaptive techniques of Prey
Animals Camouflage colouration (greenfly) Warning colouration (peacock butterfly eyes) Mimicry (hover fly looks like wasp) Plants Stings - nettles
37
Parasitism
Is a relationship in which one organism (the parasite) in or on another organism (the host) and from which it gets its food Examples include disease causing bacteria like cholera bacterium, viruses, tapeworms, mould on leaves, fleas and ticks on animals
38
Endoparasites
Lives inside their host Tapeworm
39
Ectoparasites
Lives on the outside/surface of the host Fleas, athletes foot fungus
40
Symbiosis
Is a relationship between two species involving benefit Clover (glucose) and nitrogen fixing bacteria (nitrate) Bacteria (vitamin K) in large intestine (we give them food)
41
Mutualism
is where both organisms benefit form the relationship and neither suffers harm Nitrogen fixing bacteria living in the root nodules of pea plants
42
Population fluctuations
Most populations in an ecosystem show fluctuations in numbers over a period of time
43
These fluctuations occur because
Births Death Immigration Emigration The effect of other species in the form of competition, predation, symbiosis
44
Why does the human population continue to rise despite war, famine, disease and contraception
healthcare eg vaccines
45
What are adaptations for
to help organisms increase their chance of survival Grassland -> dandelion -> seeds have parachutes -> easily dispersed and no overcrowding Grassland -> ladybird -> brightly coloured -> easily seen and recognised and avoided: acid
46
Why did you use a quadrat
Random sampling -> To avoid bias
47
5 flora
Grass Doc leaves Nettles Buttercup Daisy
48
5 Fauna
Birds Mouse Snail Spider Worm
49
Equipment used
Pooter Pitfall trap Beating tray Sweep net Quadrat
50
Study of animals - Capture recapture method
Capture Mark Release Week later return Recapture same amount Count number marked Calculate population size C1 x C2 ———— M2
51
Survey of an ecosystem - Abiotic factors
Soil pH - pH meter/ universal indicator Soil temperature - soil thermometer Light intensity - light meter
52
Nutrient recycling
nutrient recycling is the way in which elements are exchanged between living and non-living components of an ecosystem this ensures no long term drain on the earths nutrients
53
Carbon is removed from the environment by:
Photosynthesis in plant and under certain conditions over long periods of time, some of these plants may form fossils fuels such as oil, coal, peat and natural gas
54
Carbon dioxide is returned to the environment by:
Respiration in plants, animals and micro organisms Decay caused by micro organisms Combustion (burning fossil fuels)
55
Organisms involved in carbon cycle
Plants Animals Fungi and Bacteria (decomposer)
56
Global Warming (concentration on CO2 in air rising) Due to:
Increased burning of fossil fuels (coal oil) Destruction of world’s forests (deforestation)
57
Increased levels of CO2 causes
global warming and acid rain
58
Nitrogen Fixation
Nitrogen fixing bacteria in the soil converts N2 gas in the air into nitrates - this accounts for the majority of all n2 fixation Lightning storms and fuel burning in car engines produce nitrates (washed into soil water)
59
How is plant protein formed
Nitrates are absorbed by plant roots and converted to plant protein
60
How are animal proteins formed
Plant proteins are passed along food chains to become animal protein When organisms die their proteins are converted to ammonia by bacterial decomposition
61
Nitrification
When organisms die their proteins are converted to ammonia by bacterial decomposition Nitrifying bacteria in the soil then convert ammonia into nitrites then into nitrates Nitrates can be absorbed by other plants to continue the cycle
62
Denitrification
Denitrifying bacteria convert soil nitrates into N2 gas This is a loss of n2 from the cycle Only happens in anaerobic conditions. When O2 levels are low- due to flooding or accumulation of sewage Nitrate also enters the cycle through the addition of nitrogen rich fertilisers to the soil - made industrially from N2 gas
63
Decomposition
Bacteria and fungi of decay turn to ammonia ( dead organic matter)
64
Simple: Nitrogen fixation
the conversion of nitrogen gas into nitrate
65
Simple: Nitrification
is the conversion of ammonia and ammonium compounds to nitrite and then nitrate
66
Simple: Denitrification
conversion of nitrates to nitrogen gas
67
Human impact on an Ecosystem
Pollution (grassland) Conservation Waste management
68
Pollution
Any harmful human addition to the environment Most harmful human impact and affects air, fresh, water, sea, soil and land. Pollutants are substances that caused pollution.
69
Types of pollution
Industrial/ air pollution Agricultural pollution (slurry in river or pond) Domestic pollution River/ Water pollution
70
Effect of one pollutant from one area
Area: agricultural Pollutant: slurry and fertiliser Source: washed or leashes from land Effects: formation of algal blooms and eutrophication
71
Eutrophication and Algal Bloom
Eutrophication: a condition where lakes/rivers become over enriched with nutrients from excess artificial fertilisers washed into rivers and lakes There is a rapid increase in the growth of alga (algal bloom) as they use up the nutrients When all nutrients are used up the algae die and are broken down by bacteria which use up the oxygen in the water resulting in the death of aquatic organisms such as fish
72
Control of pollutants
Area: agricultural Pollutant: slurry and fertiliser Control measures —> avoid spreading these on: Wet, waterlogged, frozen or steeply sloping land Within 1.5 m if any water course
73
Conservation
The management of our existing natural resources, in order to maintain a wide range of habitats and prevent the death and extinción of organisms
74
Benefits of conservation
Prevents organisms from becoming extinct Maintains a balance of nature Maintains a wide variety of living things Organisms may be found to be useful in the future Organisms and habitats are enjoyable to visit and see We have no right to wipe out other life forms
75
Waste management
Role of micro organisms Bacteria and fungi in both the soil and sewage break — down biodegradable materials
76
Control of waste production
Reduce Reuse Recycle
77
Important problems with waste disposal are:
Waste may cause disease Poisonous chemicals from water can enter drinking water Waste nutrients can result in eutrophication and death of aquatic plants and animals Dumping at sea: pollution of the sea incinerators may release toxic fumes

LC Biology (41 decks)

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