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Biology 🧬 > Ecology 🦎 > Flashcards

Ecology 🦎 Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the 3 Abiotic factors ?

A

Light intensity

Level of Moisture

Temperature

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2
Q

What are the two ways to get a sample?

A

Random sampling

Using a transect

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3
Q

How do we do random sampling?

How do we know we need to use random sampling?

A
  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

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4
Q

How do we calculate the total population size ?

A

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

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5
Q

What do we uses transects to find ?

A

How a number of organisms vary across a habitat

Move tape measure along to get valid results

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6
Q

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

A
  1. Carbon cycle starts with co2 in the atmosphere by photosynthesis
  2. It then returns back into the atmosphere by aerobic respiration by organisms
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7
Q

Explain the carbon cycle .

A
  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
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8
Q

Why are decomposes important?

A

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

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9
Q

Explain the water cycle .

A
  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
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10
Q

What are the plants role in the water cycle?

A

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

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11
Q

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

A

Releases water in urine and faeces and when they exhale

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12
Q

How is compost formed ?

A

Bacteria and fungi breaking down dead plant waste material

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13
Q

What are the 3 conditions for decomposition ?

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

NOT TOO HOT - could denature microorganisms can die

  1. Water - faster if moist - chemical reactions require water
  2. Oxygen - AEROBIC RESPIRATION- holes break large clumps - increases SA of oxygen
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14
Q

What happens if there is no oxygen in decay?

What materials are used to help conduct this ?

What does this fuel ?

What is produced?

A

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

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15
Q

What are the 3 positives of using pesticides?

A
  1. Increase of crop yield
  2. Less effort for farmers
  3. Less incests to eat crops / carry disease
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16
Q

What are the negatives of using pesticides?

A
  1. Toxins kill other insects
  2. Some crops cannot pollinate
  3. Humans can get harmed from pesticides
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17
Q

How are peat bogs formed ?

A
  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
18
Q

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

A

Temp

Water

Gases

19
Q

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

A

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

20
Q

What adaptations does the Arctic Fox have ?

A

Small ears - less surface ares to lose heat

white fur-Camouflage from predators

21
Q

what can temperature as abiotic factors show?

A

Geographic variation

22
Q

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

A

Cacti is found in the desert

whereas it’s not in wetter conditions

23
Q

What else can abiotic factors show?

A

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

24
Q

How can abiotic factors be influenced by human activity?

A

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 

25
Q

What are the humans affect on biodiversity? 2)

A

Deforestation- Maybes by rice fields and grazing cattle

Land can be be used to grow crops to be used to make biofuels

26
Q

How can rivers and streams be polluted ?

A

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 

27
Q

How can land Pollution lead to a decrease in biodiversity?

A

Land fills taking up Green space destroy habitats

Toxic chemicals can leech
out into the soils

Kill living organisms

28
Q

Why do humans use so much land ?

A

To build houses and farms + landfills 

29
Q

Why is peat used ?

A

To produces cheap compost for farms or burned to release energy

The destruction of peat bogs are reducing the area of habitats + biodiversity

30
Q

What is a big problem with Peat?

A

Once it is extracted it starts to decay

Releasing large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere contributing to global warming and climate change


31
Q

What have some farmers done to stop Peat being produced?

A

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

32
Q

What is climate change?

A

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

33
Q

Explain how global warming has led to climate change

A
33
Q

Explain how global warming has led to climate change

A
34
Q

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

A

Peer review from other scientists- may be Biased or inaccurate

35
Q

What are the consequences of global warming

A

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



36
Q

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

A

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

37
Q

What is food security?

A

Have enough food to feed a population

38
Q

What may be some biological threats to food security?

A

Increase of Birthrates

39
Q

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

A

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

40
Q

What resources are used by farmers to tackle food insecurity?

A

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

Biology 🧬 (8 decks)

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