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Biology > Ecology > Flashcards

Ecology Flashcards

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AP® Biology flashcards Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Habitat

A

Environment where an organism lives

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2
Q

Population

A

The total number of organisms of the same species living in the same geographical area

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3
Q

Community

A

The populations of all the different species that live in the same habitat
Unlike the population, which is the same species

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4
Q

Biotic

A

Living things

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5
Q

Examples of biotic things

A

Animals plants and bacteria
Anything that is living

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6
Q

Abiotic

A

Un living things in an environment

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7
Q

Examples of abiotic things in an environment

A

Water and minerals in a soil

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8
Q

Ecosystem

A

A combination of the biotic and abiotic parts of an environment and how they interact

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9
Q

What is competition and what is it caused by?

A

In an ecosystem, organisms require ‘resources’ / ‘materials’
Like food from plants
However these are limited and in short supply so they have to compete with other

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10
Q

How do plants compete with each other?

A

Light and space for photosynthesis
Water and mineral ions in the soil for photosynthesis

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11
Q

How do animals compete with each other?

A

Food and water
Mating partners and territory

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12
Q

Food factor

A

If food availability falls population decreases of species

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13
Q

New predator factor

A

Pray population will fall
Competing predator will fall

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14
Q

Pathogen factor

A

Can wipe out a population if it spreads

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15
Q

Light intensity

A

Plants need it for photosynthesis
But if it’s too low it falls thus plants grow slower
So animals that feed on them won’t have enough food thus decrease

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16
Q

Temperature

A

Causes distribution to change
As animals migrate or plants disappear

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17
Q

Water

A

Needed for plants and animals

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18
Q

PH and mineral soil

A

Some plants can’t grow on soil too acidic or alkaline
Also need nitrate ions

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19
Q

Wing intensity and direction

A

Winds blowing can cause plants to lose water

20
Q

CO2 and H2O factors

A

Needed for photosynthesis
If it decreases so does growth decrease

21
Q

Oxygen factor

A

Needed for aerobic respiration
Or dissolved in the oxygen effecting fish

22
Q

Structural adaptations

A

Adaptations of body shape or structure

23
Q

Camel adaptations

A

Hump = store of fat as insulator to allow heat loss in other parts of the body
By reducing water loss from sweating
Also metabolic reactions in fat to produce water
Thick coat to insulate top of camel from the sun and reduce water loss by sweating
Inside mouth of leathery = chew desert plants good source of water
Eyelashes to keep dust out of eyes
Wide feet to prevent sinking in sand

24
Q

Functional adaptations

A

Adaptations of body functions

25
Q

Camel functional adaptations

A

Concentrated urine and dry feces to reduce water loss
Can cope with intense heat changes

26
Q

Behavioural adaptations

A

Changes in animals behaviour to adapt to environmental

27
Q

Kangaroo ray behaviour adaptations

A

Nocturnal so they avoid heat if day time
Live in burrows to keep them cool

28
Q

Arctic fox structural adaptations

A

Thick fur to provide insulation and reduce heat loss
Fur on soles of feet to reduce heat loss to ground
Small wars to reduce surface area thus reduce heat loss
Camouflage of fur to help hunt it

29
Q

Cactus adaptations

A

Small leaves to reduce water loss or no leaves
Spine to protect from animals
Shallow and extensive roots to catch as much water as possible
Store water in stem so can survive without rain for many months

30
Q

Extremophiles

A

Adapted for extreme conditions

31
Q

Example of extremophiles

A

Bacteria living in deep sea vents

32
Q

Producer

A

Beginning of food chain
Normally a green plant

33
Q

Why are producers important?

A

Synthesise important molecules
Source of all biomass in a community

34
Q

Biomass

A

Important molecules like food that gets passed down food chains

35
Q

Primary consumer

A

Eats the producer

36
Q

Secondary consumers

A

Eat the primary consumer

37
Q

Tertiary consumer

A

Eats the secondary consumer

38
Q

Predators

A

Animals that kill and eat other animals

39
Q

Prey

A

Animal that gets eaten

40
Q

Predator prey numbers graph

A

Numbers of predators and prey rises and falls in cycles
Eg if pray increases so does the predator after some time
Therefore the prey will decrease and over time the predator falls
And prey can therefore increase as less predators
So it’s a cycle

41
Q

Stable community

A

All biotic and abiotic factors are in balance

42
Q

Carbon cycle 2 key process

A

Carbon dioxide in atmosphere enters through plants taking it in for photosynthesis
Returns back to atmosphere by aerobic respiration

43
Q

Carbon cycle stages

A

Carbon in atmosphere
Taken in by plants and algae to make carbohydrates, fats or proteins
These respire so some released back into atmosphere
But some plants eaten by animals which are eaten by other animals
So co2 becomes part of the molecules in cells of animals
Animals also respire so released back into atmosphere
But released as waste products and die
Decomposition of this broken down by bacteria and fungi
And respiration of this returns carbon dioxide back to atmosphere

44
Q

De composers

A

Bacteria and fungi
Release carbon dioxide into atmosphere through respiration
Return minerals to soil

45
Q

What happens if there aren’t enough decomposed conditions like oxygen?

A

Carbon from dead remains = fossil fuels

46
Q

Decomposition conditions

A

High temperature = enzymes work faster in hotter conditions
But not too hot so the enzymes denature or die
Moist = chemical reactions in decay require water
Oxygen = bacteria need it for respiration

47
Q

What if there’s no oxygen for decomposition?

A

Anaerobic decay
Produces biogas
Could be used as fuel

Biology (55 decks)

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