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Ecology Flashcards

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AP® Biology flashcards Biology 101 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
Q

Population

A

A group of individuals of the same species living in a habitat

Eg number of daisies in a lawn

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26
Q

Size of population is determined by:

A

Competition
Predation
Parasitism
Symbiosis

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27
Q

Competition

A

Is the struggle for a resource that is in short supply

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28
Q

Competition occurs for

A

Food
space
mates
shelter
light
water and minerals

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29
Q

Two types of competition

A

Contest
Scramble

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30
Q

Contest competition

A

an active physical confrontation between two organisms which allows one to win
Eg two stags compete for mates

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31
Q

Scramble competition

A

Occurs when each organism tries to acquire as much of the resource as possible
Eg a thrush trying to feed too many chicks

32
Q

Adaptions are developed

A

to avoid competition

33
Q

Adaption example

A

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
Q

Predation

A

Is the killing and eating of one organism (the prey) by another (predator)

Eg: Blackbirds are predators of earthworms

35
Q

Adaptive techniques of predators

A

Catch large, rather than many small prey
Catch whatever is easy, prevents wasting energy
Able to move to areas of more plentiful prey

36
Q

Adaptive techniques of Prey

A

Animals
Camouflage colouration (greenfly)
Warning colouration (peacock butterfly eyes)
Mimicry (hover fly looks like wasp)

Plants
Stings - nettles

37
Q

Parasitism

A

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
Q

Endoparasites

A

Lives inside their host
Tapeworm

39
Q

Ectoparasites

A

Lives on the outside/surface of the host

Fleas, athletes foot fungus

40
Q

Symbiosis

A

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
Q

Mutualism

A

is where both organisms benefit form the relationship and neither suffers harm

Nitrogen fixing bacteria living in the root nodules of pea plants

42
Q

Population fluctuations

A

Most populations in an ecosystem show fluctuations in numbers over a period of time

43
Q

These fluctuations occur because

A

Births
Death
Immigration
Emigration
The effect of other species in the form of competition, predation, symbiosis

44
Q

Why does the human population continue to rise despite war, famine, disease and contraception

A

healthcare eg vaccines

45
Q

What are adaptations for

A

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
Q

Why did you use a quadrat

A

Random sampling -> To avoid bias

47
Q

5 flora

A

Grass
Doc leaves
Nettles
Buttercup
Daisy

48
Q

5 Fauna

A

Birds
Mouse
Snail
Spider
Worm

49
Q

Equipment used

A

Pooter
Pitfall trap
Beating tray
Sweep net
Quadrat

50
Q

Study of animals - Capture recapture method

A

Capture
Mark
Release
Week later return
Recapture same amount
Count number marked
Calculate population size

C1 x C2
————
M2

51
Q

Survey of an ecosystem - Abiotic factors

A

Soil pH - pH meter/ universal indicator
Soil temperature - soil thermometer
Light intensity - light meter

52
Q

Nutrient recycling

A

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
Q

Carbon is removed from the environment by:

A

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
Q

Carbon dioxide is returned to the environment by:

A

Respiration in plants, animals and micro organisms
Decay caused by micro organisms
Combustion (burning fossil fuels)

55
Q

Organisms involved in carbon cycle

A

Plants
Animals
Fungi and Bacteria (decomposer)

56
Q

Global Warming (concentration on CO2 in air rising) Due to:

A

Increased burning of fossil fuels (coal oil)
Destruction of world’s forests (deforestation)

57
Q

Increased levels of CO2 causes

A

global warming and acid rain

58
Q

Nitrogen Fixation

A

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
Q

How is plant protein formed

A

Nitrates are absorbed by plant roots and converted to plant protein

60
Q

How are animal proteins formed

A

Plant proteins are passed along food chains to become animal protein

When organisms die their proteins are converted to ammonia by bacterial decomposition

61
Q

Nitrification

A

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
Q

Denitrification

A

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
Q

Decomposition

A

Bacteria and fungi of decay turn to ammonia ( dead organic matter)

64
Q

Simple: Nitrogen fixation

A

the conversion of nitrogen gas into nitrate

65
Q

Simple: Nitrification

A

is the conversion of ammonia and ammonium compounds to nitrite and then nitrate

66
Q

Simple: Denitrification

A

conversion of nitrates to nitrogen gas

67
Q

Human impact on an Ecosystem

A

Pollution (grassland)
Conservation
Waste management

68
Q

Pollution

A

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
Q

Types of pollution

A

Industrial/ air pollution
Agricultural pollution (slurry in river or pond)
Domestic pollution
River/ Water pollution

70
Q

Effect of one pollutant from one area

A

Area: agricultural
Pollutant: slurry and fertiliser
Source: washed or leashes from land
Effects: formation of algal blooms and eutrophication

71
Q

Eutrophication and Algal Bloom

A

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
Q

Control of pollutants

A

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
Q

Conservation

A

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
Q

Benefits of conservation

A

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
Q

Waste management

A

Role of micro organisms
Bacteria and fungi in both the soil and sewage break — down biodegradable materials

76
Q

Control of waste production

A

Reduce
Reuse
Recycle

77
Q

Important problems with waste disposal are:

A

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

Biology (41 decks)

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