Ecology 🦎

Question 1

What are the 3 Abiotic factors ?

Answer 1

Light intensity

Level of Moisture

Temperature

Question 2

What are the two ways to get a sample?

Answer 2

Random sampling

Using a transect

Question 3

How do we do random sampling?

How do we know we need to use random sampling?

Answer 3

1. Place a quadrat on the ground and count number of organisms within it
2. Do a large number of times to gain valid results
3. See if hypothesis is correct

If it in more than one location

Question 4

How do we calculate the total population size ?

Answer 4

Total area / area sampled * no. Of organisms counted in sample

Question 5

What do we uses transects to find ?

Answer 5

How a number of organisms vary across a habitat

Move tape measure along to get valid results

Question 6

What are the two main processes that produce and remove carbon from the carbon cycle ?

Answer 6

1. Carbon cycle starts with co2 in the atmosphere by photosynthesis
2. It then returns back into the atmosphere by aerobic respiration by organisms

Question 7

Explain the carbon cycle .

Answer 7

1. Plants and algae take in co2 by photosynthesis- carbons used to make fats that make up cells in algae
2. The plants respire so some of the co2 is released back into the atmosphere
3. The plants are eaten by animals which becomes eaten by other animals . This causes the carbon that makes fat for cells to be in other animals
4. Then animals respire, releasing co2 into the atmosphere
5. Animals produce poo and plants and animals die - contain carbon
6. They are now broken down and decomposed by microorganisms- carries out respiration- produces co2 back into the atmosphere

Question 8

Why are decomposes important?

Answer 8

They cycle materials through an ecosystem and release mineral ions into the soil.

Question 9

Explain the water cycle .

Answer 9

1. Energy from the sun causes water from the oceans to evaporate
2. Water Vapour travels through the air and cools down and condenses to form clouds
3. Water in clouds falls down as precipitation ( rain snow hail sleet ) FRESH WATER ONLY
4. Some evaporate back into the air as water Vapour or passes through rocks and forms aquifers

Question 10

What are the plants role in the water cycle?

Answer 10

Take up water by roots moves up by the Xylem and passes out the stomata as water vapour (transpiration)

Question 11

What are the animals role in the water cycle? (3)

Answer 11

Releases water in urine and faeces and when they exhale

Question 12

How is compost formed ?

Answer 12

Bacteria and fungi breaking down dead plant waste material

Question 13

What are the 3 conditions for decomposition ?

Answer 13

1. Temperature (warm) optimum for enzymes work faster decomposers carry out aerobic respiration- releases heat

NOT TOO HOT - could denature microorganisms can die

2. Water - faster if moist - chemical reactions require water
3. Oxygen - AEROBIC RESPIRATION- holes break large clumps - increases SA of oxygen

Question 14

What happens if there is no oxygen in decay?

What materials are used to help conduct this ?

What does this fuel ?

What is produced?

Answer 14

Anaerobic decay occurs producing methane - biogas - fuels for home - animal Manure and food waste

Question 15

What are the 3 positives of using pesticides?

Answer 15

1. Increase of crop yield
2. Less effort for farmers
3. Less incests to eat crops / carry disease

Question 16

What are the negatives of using pesticides?

Answer 16

1. Toxins kill other insects
2. Some crops cannot pollinate
3. Humans can get harmed from pesticides

Question 17

How are peat bogs formed ?

Answer 17

1. It rains on a farmers land , causing the plant fertilisers to was to a nearby lake
2. The fertiliser causes algae to grow rapidly, causing algal bloom
3. The algal bloom blocks all sunlight, causing plants to be unable to photosynthesis
4. This leads to the plant dying and to o2 levels being low , causing decomposers to break down the plants dead material via aerobic respiration, releasing more co2 into the water
5. As carbon levels Are so high , fish are unable to breathe and drown leading to death

Question 18

What kind of distribution of species depend on? - abiotic factors

Answer 18

Temp

Water

Gases

Question 19

How do foxes Adapt to the hot conditions of the desert?

Answer 19

Has large is to increase the surface area allowing it to lose more heat

Question 20

What adaptations does the Arctic Fox have ?

Answer 20

Small ears - less surface ares to lose heat

white fur-Camouflage from predators

Question 21

what can temperature as abiotic factors show?

Answer 21

Geographic variation

Question 22

Give an example how do you geographical variation is shown with water

Answer 22

Cacti is found in the desert

whereas it’s not in wetter conditions

Question 23

What else can abiotic factors show?

Answer 23

Seasonal variation - Can affect a population of species - Animals moving between seasons for advantages of food

Question 24

How can abiotic factors be influenced by human activity?

Answer 24

Gases in atmosphere

Lichens is extremely sensitive to gas sulphur dioxide - Produced by burning fossil fuels-

means we find certain amount of lichens where air is not polluted by sulphur dioxide

Gases dissolved in water

If so which is contaminated into the stream decreases the amount dissolved oxygen- Making it hard for some organisms to not survive

So populations of species may fall 

Question 25

What are the humans affect on biodiversity? 2)

Answer 25

Deforestation- Maybes by rice fields and grazing cattle Land can be be used to grow crops to be used to make biofuels

Question 26

How can rivers and streams be polluted ?

Answer 26

Sewage fertilisers from farms - Can cause dissolved oxygen levels to fall and kill aquatic organisms Gas Toxic chemicals Burning coal release acidic gas which can lead to acid rain Air pollution - Co2 - kill plants and animals homes reduces biodiversity 

Question 27

How can land Pollution lead to a decrease in biodiversity?

Answer 27

Land fills taking up Green space destroy habitats Toxic chemicals can leech out into the soils Kill living organisms

Question 28

Why do humans use so much land ?

Answer 28

To build houses and farms + landfills 

Question 29

Why is peat used ?

Answer 29

To produces cheap compost for farms or burned to release energy The destruction of peat bogs are reducing the area of habitats + biodiversity

Question 30

What is a big problem with Peat?

Answer 30

Once it is extracted it starts to decay Releasing large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere contributing to global warming and climate change 

Question 31

What have some farmers done to stop Peat being produced?

Answer 31

Stopped buying but the alternatives are expensive- Could lead to an increase in food prices

Question 32

What is climate change?

Answer 32

The process of the earths temperature increasing Due to the greenhouse gases

Question 33

Explain how global warming has led to climate change

Question 33

Explain how global warming has led to climate change

Question 34

What is reports in the media on climate change not subjected to?

Answer 34

Peer review from other scientists- may be Biased or inaccurate

Question 35

What are the consequences of global warming

Answer 35

Loss of habitat- Melting of ice caps- death of polar bears 🐻‍❄️ Change in migrations and distributions animals- coming north may not be able to survive- but other diseases may occur in different parts of the world- malaria Being able to bring more tropical fruits Flowers flowering earlier than usual Increase in floods due to the increase of melting ice caps increases the sea 🌊 levels 

Question 36

What programs can be set up to protect ecosystems and biodiversity? 4)

Answer 36

Breeding programs for endangered species- bred and reproduced in captivity then released Programs to protect and regeneration their habitats that coral reefs- helps habitats to survive Reduce levels of deforestation- establish national parks 🏞 Re-introduce fieldmargin - Wild glasses and flowers are left to grow helps provide habitats for organisms or plant hedgerows- Helps preserve biodiversity on farms  Recycling waste materials- Less waists will be dumped in the landfills

Question 37

What is food security?

Answer 37

Have enough food to feed a population

Question 38

What may be some biological threats to food security?

Answer 38

Increase of Birthrates

Question 39

What may be the human causes of a decrease of food security

Answer 39

Changing tastes - More countries want exotic fruit all year round- This can decrease the amount of food available and threaten food security New pests and pathogens- Like caterpillars that eat plants- Pathogens can cause infectious diseases like Rose 🥀 blackspot reduce amount of food crops available to eat Environment change- Global warming unpredictable weather- not be able to grow enough crops to feed pop 🥤 Conflict-Farming and food production may be disrupted imports may not be possible and water

Question 40

What resources are used by farmers to tackle food insecurity?

Answer 40

Fertilisers and pesticides - More food for live stocks- May increase the price of food which may cause people to be unable to buy food- threatening food security