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Ecology Flashcards

1
Q

State the levels of organisation in an ecosystem.

A

Individual, population, community,
ecosystem.

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2
Q

What is an ecosystem?

A

The interaction between the living
components and non-living components.

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3
Q

State the factors that plants may
compete for.

A

● Light
● Space
● Water
● Mineral ions from soil

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4
Q

State the factors that animals might compete for.

A

● Food
● Mates
● Territory

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5
Q

What is interdependence?

A

Different species in a ecosystem depend
on each other for various resources, if
one species is removed, the whole
community may be affected.

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6
Q

What is a stable community?

A

A community in which all the biotic
factors (the different species) and all
abiotic factors are balanced so that
population sizes remain relatively
constant.

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7
Q

What are abiotic factors?

A

Non-living factors.

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8
Q

State the abiotic factors that may affect an
ecosystem.

A

● Light intensity
● Temperature
● Moisture
● Soil pH and mineral content
● Wind intensity and direction
● Carbon dioxide level
● Oxygen level

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9
Q

Why might light intensity affect an ecosystem?

A

Different species of plants may have different
optimum light intensities for growth.

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10
Q

Why does temperature affect an ecosystem?

A

Different species of plants and animals may
have different optimum temperatures for
growth and survival

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11
Q

How does soil pH affect an ecosystem?

A

Certain plants may grow better in either
alkaline or acidic soil.
Soil pH may affect the appearance of the
plant

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12
Q

How does wind intensity affect an ecosystem?

A

Plant seeds are more likely to germinate in
locations with lower wind intensity, which may
also attract animals that depend on the plant
to live nearby

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13
Q

State the biotic factors that may affect an ecosystem.

A

● Food
● New predators
● New pathogens
● Competition

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14
Q

What are adaptations?

A

Features that enable organisms to
survive in their living environment.

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15
Q

What are organisms living in extreme environments
called?

A

Extremophiles.

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16
Q

Give 3 examples of extreme living environments.

A

● High temperature
● High pressure
● High salt concentration

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17
Q

Define population

A

A species that occupy the same habitat.

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18
Q

Define habitat

A

The place in which an organism lives.

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19
Q

Define community

A

Populations of different species
interacting.

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20
Q

Define ecosystem

A

The interactions between the biotic and
abiotic factors in an area.

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21
Q

What do food chains show?

A

Food chains show the feeding relationships of
different organisms and the flow of energy between
the organisms.

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22
Q

Define biomass

A

The total mass of living material.

23
Q

Describe a simple food chain

A

producer → primary consumer →
secondary consumer → tertiary consumer.

24
Q

What types of organisms are primary producers?

A

Photosynthetic organisms like green
plants and algae that trap energy from
the sun.

25
Describe the carbon cycle
- Plants fix carbon dioxide into organic molecules during photosynthesis. - The organic carbon-containing molecules are passed onto organisms that eat the plants. - Carbon dioxide is released back into the atmosphere by respiration from animals and plants. - Burning fossil fuels also releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere
26
Why is the carbon cycle important?
Carbon-containing molecules such as glucose are important for living organisms to grow and provide energy for vital functions within cells.
27
Describe the water cycle
- Water from lakes and oceans evaporates. - The evaporated water condenses into clouds and returns to earth as precipitation. - The water from precipitation is useful for life on land. - The water then returns to rivers and oceans through surface runoff.
28
Why is the water cycle important?
Living organisms require water and the water cycle provides organisms on land with a continuous supply of water.
29
Why are microorganisms important for the cycling of materials through an ecosystem?
Microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) return carbon to the environment by releasing carbon dioxide through respiration while they decompose dead matter. The decomposition of dead matter in soil returns mineral ions to the environment for other organisms to use e.g. plants use mineral ions for growth.
30
How can different temperatures be bad for certain communities?
- If the temperature is too low, growth will be slower as organisms will use more energy to stay warm - If the temperature is too high, organisms can die and water will become limited as evaporation increases
31
What detrimental impacts can sulfur dioxide have on the environment?
- Formed when fossil fuels containing impurities are burnt. - Sulfur dioxide can dissolve in water to form acid rain which can erode buildings and pollute water sources.
32
What detrimental impacts can carbon monoxide have on the environment?
- Carbon monoxide is formed from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. - Carbon monoxide binds irreversibly to haemoglobin which prevents it from carrying oxygen. - Too much exposure can cause unconsciousness and death.
33
Name 5 greenhouse gases
- Water vapour - Carbon dioxide - Nitrous oxide - Methane - CFCs
34
Give 3 human activities that contribute to greenhouse gases
- Burning fossil fuels - Deforestation - Large scale livestock farming
35
How do greenhouse gases lead to global warming?
- Greenhouse gases allow heat from the sun to enter the atmosphere. - The gases act as a ‘blanket’ and trap the heat in the atmosphere
36
State 3 negative consequences of global warming
- Sea level rise caused by melting icebergs. - Disrupted farming and agriculture. - Increased spread of diseases in warmer climates.
37
What is biodiversity?
The variety of the different species on earth or within an ecosystem.
38
What is the importance of biodiversity?
To maintain the stability of an ecosystem.
39
How does biodiversity ensure the stability of an ecosystem?
It reduces the dependence on particular species for resources eg. food and shelter, so that even if one species is removed other species can still survive
40
Why have humans’ consumption of resources and waste production increased?
● Rapid rise in human population ● Increase in standard of living
41
Where does pollution occur?
● Air ● Land ● Water
42
State an example of water pollutants.
● Sewage ● Fertiliser ● Chemicals
43
State an example of air pollutants.
● Smoke ● Acidic gases
44
State an example of land pollutants.
● Landfill waste ● Chemicals
45
Which human activities reduce the land available for animals and plants?
● Building ● Farming ● Quarrying ● Disposing of waste
46
Why have peat bogs been destroyed?
To produce compost to increase food production.
47
Why does the destruction of peat bogs greatly contribute to the greenhouse effect?
Peat bogs are stores of carbon (carbon sinks) and burning them releases a large volume of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
48
Why have large-scale deforestation activities occurred?
● To provide land for cattle or rice fields ● To grow crops to produce biofuels
49
What is the greenhouse effect?
Greenhouse gases trap energy from the Sun as heat in the atmosphere, keeping the temperature on earth suitable for life.
50
What is causing global warming?
The increase in levels of greenhouse gases eg. carbon dioxide and methane, causing the temperature on earth to increase.
51
What are the harmful effects of deforestation?
● Destruction of many animals’ habitats ● Releases large amounts of greenhouse gases
52
State the consequences of global warming.
● Rising sea levels ● Melting polar ice caps ● Changing weather patterns ● Migration of animals to find suitable habitats ● Tropical diseases becoming more common ● Extinction of species
53
Describe the steps taken to maintain biodiversity
● Breeding programmes for endangered species. ● Protection and rebuilding habitats. ● Replanting field margins and hedgerows. ● Reduce deforestation. ● Reduce carbon dioxide emissions. ● Recycling rather than disposing in landfills.
54
What is the purpose of replanting hedgerows and field margins?
There is higher biodiversity in the margins than the fields that they surround.

Biology (8 decks)

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