Ecology Flashcards

1
Q

When levels of carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere increase what does that contribute to

A

Global warming

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2
Q

How do humans reduce the amount of land available for other animals and plants

A

By building, quarrying, farming and dumping waste

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3
Q

Pollution kills plants and animals which reduces what

A

Biodiversity

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4
Q

How can pollution occur

A

In water (Sewage, fertilizer or toxic chemicals)
In air (Smoke and acidic gases)
On land (Landfill and toxic chemicals)

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5
Q

What is biodiversity

A

Biodiversity is the variety of all the different species of organisms on earth or within the ecosystem

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6
Q

Define habitat

A

The habitat is the environment in which an organism lives in

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7
Q

Define population

A

A population is the total number of organisms of the same species living in the same geographical area

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8
Q

Define a community

A

A community is the populations of all the different species that live in the same habitat

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9
Q

What does the word biotic mean

A

Living

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10
Q

What does the word abiotic mean

A

Nonliving

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11
Q

Define an ecosystem

A

Ecosystem is both the biotic and abiotic parts of an environment and how they interact

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12
Q

What do plants compete for

A

Water and mineral ions in the soil
light and for space 

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13
Q

What do animals compete for

A

Food and water
Mating partners and territory

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14
Q

What do organisms require to survive and reproduce

A

A supply of materials from their surroundings and from their living organisms

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15
Q

Within a community what does each species depend on

A

On other species for food, shelter, pollination

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16
Q

Describe interdependence 

A

All of the different species in a community depend on each other if one species is removed it’s gonna affect the whole community.

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17
Q

Define a stable community

A

A stable community is where all species and environmental factors are in balance so that the population sizes remain fairly constant

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18
Q

What are the four biotic factors which can affect the community

A

Availability of food
new predators arriving
new pathogens
one species outcompeting another so the numbers are no longer significance to the breed and may become extinct

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19
Q

What are the seven abiotic factors which can affect a community

A

Light intensity
temperature
moisture levels
soil pH and mineral contains
wind intensity and direction
carbon dioxide levels for plants
oxygen levels for animals 

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20
Q

What is extremophiles

A

Organisms that are adapted to live in extreme conditions For example high temperature, pressure or salt concentration

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21
Q

What type of features do organisms have and what do they enable them to do

A

Adaptations. Enable them to survive in their conditions which they normally live in these adaptations may be structural behavioral functional.

22
Q

Name three adaptions

A

Behavioral functional structural

23
Q

What are bacteria living in the deep sea vents called

A

Extremophiles

24
Q

Explain the food chain

A

Produces are eaten by primary consumers which are then eaten by secondary consumers then territory consumers

25
Q

What are consumers that kill and it’s animals called

A

Predators which eat prey

26
Q

What happens in a stable community

A

The number of predators and prey rise and fall in cycles

27
Q

Why are producers important in food chains

A

Because they synthesize complex molecules

28
Q

What do scientists call molecules such as glucose

A

Biomass

29
Q

How does a green plant or alga make glucose

A

By photosynthesis

30
Q

Why are all materials in the living world recycled?

A

To provide the building blocks for the future organisms

31
Q

What does the carbon cycle do

A

Carbon cycle returns carbon from the organisms to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide to be used by plants in photosynthesis

32
Q

What does the water cycle do?

A

The water cycle provides fresh water for plants and animals on land before draining into the seas

33
Q

What does the future of human species on Earth rely on

A

Maintaining a good level of biodiversity

34
Q

What does rapid growth in human population and an increase in the standard of living mean

A

This means more resources are used and more waste is produced unless waist and chemical materials are properly handled more pollution will be caused 

35
Q

What are peats used for

A

To produce cheap compost for gardens and farms and in some countries its burnt to release energy for example to generate electricity 

36
Q

What happens if the decay or burning of the peat gets released 

A

Carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere this causes climate change

37
Q

What are the advantages and disadvantages of destruction of peat bogs and other areas of peat

A

Advantage:
It’s cheap
Creates garden compost
Cheaper pricing of food

Disadvantage:
Reduces the area of habitat and variety of different plants
Decreases biodiversity (ex. Animals and microorganisms)

38
Q

How is Methane produce

A

By bacteria in Paddy Fields which are used to grow rice
Buy cows when they pass wind

39
Q

What are both carbon dioxide and methane

A

Greenhouse gases (They trap heat in the atmosphere)

40
Q

What is peer review

A

When information discovered is checked by other scientists before publishing

41
Q

What has large scales of deforestation in tropical areas occurred to

A

Provide the land for cattle and rice fields
Grow crops for biofuels 

42
Q

What did scientists and concerned citizens put to Reduce the negative effects

A

They have put in place programs to reduce the negative affects of humans on ecosystems and biodiversity

43
Q

Name decomposers and what they do

A

Bacteria and fungi are decomposers which break down dead organisms in a process called decomposition or rotting

44
Q

What process do decomposers speeds up

A

Decay 

45
Q

What do decomposers produce

A

Enzymes which release into dead matter to digest it

46
Q

What type of traps catch small mammals

A

Pitfall traps

47
Q

What is a transect

A

An imaginary line used as a part of symmetric sampling

48
Q

What does a great bio diversity ensure

A

The stability of ecosystems by reducing one species on another for food shelter and maintenance of the physical environment.

49
Q

What are humans doing to biodiversity

A

Human activities are reducing biodiversity and are trying to stop this reduction

50
Q

What can we learn from fossil fuels

A

How much or how little different organisms have changed as life developed on earth

51
Q

Many early forms of life were soft bodied what does this mean

A

Meaning that they have left few traces behind