ecology Flashcards
give a brief biological explanation - food chains are limited in length
low amount of energy passed on at each trophic level
give a brief biological explanation - there is always competition between members of a species
resources are limited
explain each of the following terms - ecosystem
organisms and their environment
explain each of the following terms - habitat
a place within the ecosystem where an organism lives
explain each of the following terms - niche
a functional role it plays in the community
name the type of ecological relationship that exists between ash trees and the pathogen that caused ash dieback(2023)
parasitism
from the passage, or otherwise, state a way that ecologists could ensure the survival phase of ash trees in ireland(2023)
diversifying species
write down a food chain based on the information given in the passage above(2023)
ash-moth-robin
suggest two possible effects on the ecosystem if all as he trees in Ireland died(2023)
moth population falls, robin population falls
name the type of ecological relationship that exists between the robin and the moth(2023)
predation
explain the importance of this type of ecological relationship in nature(2023)
population control
describe the the main events of the nitrogen cycle
-nitrogen(gas) to usable compounds
-plant protein to animal protein
-waste releasing N compounds
-decomposers releases N compounds
describe the main events of the carbon cycle
-carbon dioxide is fixed into plant carbohydrate
-plant carbohydrate to animal carbohydrate
-living organisms releases carbon dioxide
decay of organisms release carbon dioxide
explain the term ecology
the study of how living things relate to each other and their environment
explain the term population
all members of the same species living in an area
explain the term community
population of different species of organisms
explain the term parasite
an organism that lives in or on an organism of another species causing harm
explain the term saprophyte
an organism that feeds on dead organic matter
explain the term qualitative
where the presence of absence of a species
explain the term quantitative
where the number of organisms
explain the term nutrient recycling
elements are exchanged between living sonf non-living components of an ecosystem
name two nutrient cycles found in nature
carbon, nitrogen
from the information in the passage, name on abiotic factor and one biotic factor that could be causing a reduction in trout numbers(2022 deferred)
abiotic-temperature
biotic-otters
what type of nutrition do trout demonstrate(2022 deferred)
heterotrophic
what type of ecological relationship exists between trout and otters(2022 deferred)
predator-prey
suggest one effect that fewer numbers of trout may have on otters(2022 deferred)
otter population falls
from the text, or otherwise, suggest one behavioural adaption that trout possess(2022 deferred)
trout migrate
explain the term food chain
sequence of organisms showing transfer of energy from one to the next
explain the term edaphic factors
soil factors
explain the term omnivore
only eats plants and animals
explain the term contest competition
organisms actively struggle for a resource that is in short supply
explain the term nitrogen fixation
convert nitrogen gas into nitrates
explain the term biosphere
part of the earth where life can exist
explain the term symbiosis
relationship between species involving benefit
suggest one reason why dragonflies are such successful predators(2022)
compound eyes
give two benefits for dragonfly populations living near freshwater vegetation(2022)
protection and laying eggs
suggest a benefit of the adult and the nymph having different food sources(2022)
not in competition for same resource
what type of ecological relationship exists between swallows and dragonflies(2022)
predator-prey
suggest one possible effect on the dragonfly population - a disease affecting the swallows(2022)
increase in population
suggest one possible effects on the dragonfly population-cutting of vegetation along the river banks(2022)
decrease in population
suggest one reason why volunteers are being asked to identify dragonflies(2022)
conservation
what might a volunteer use to help them identify a dragonfly(2022)
key
explain why the carbon cycle is critical to life on earth
so carbon dioxide won’t run out
explain the term pollution
any harmful addition to the environment
give one example of waste management from agriculture or fishery or forestry
slurry is stored and spread on dry land
give two factors that can have an effects on the human population
war,famine
why do organisms need nitrogen
to make protein
give one limitation of the use of pyramids of numbers one colony
may be inverted
suggest one advantage of females giving birth in early summer and not in spring(2021)
warmer
name and explain one human activity that impacts on Irish bat populations(2021)
increase use of pesticides- decreases bat population die to poisoning of bats
name one type of adaption necessary for organisms to survive(2021)
structural
from the text, or otherwise, give two adaptions that bats possess(2021)
can fly, hibernate
why is it necessary for an organism to possess an adaption to its habitat
increase chance of survival
name two type of adaption that an organism can exhibit
structural, behavioural
give two methods by which gunnera outcompetes native Irish plants(20202)
creeping surface rhizomes, scatter of plant fragments
what method is usually used to control the population of gunnera(2020)
glyphosate
suggest one reason why gunnera is so successful at growing in poor quality soil(2020)
fix its own nitrogen
biological control, using herbivores, might not be successful at controlling the population of gunnera. suggest one reason why(2020)
toxic bacteria
suggest two ways how gunnera may invade and colonise new areas(2020)
creeping surface rhizomes, scatter of plant fragments
name two abiotic factors that have limited the spread of gunnera in Ireland(20202)
water, humidity
what is the importance in nature of recycling elements such as carbon and nitrogen
elements can be reused
name two types of bacteria that play a role in the nitrogen cycle
nitrifying, denitrifying
explain the term predation
the catching, killing and eating of another organsims
explain the term conservation
management of the environment
suggest why the mink has become a successful predator of the gulls(2019)
lack of competition
mink are omnivores. why is this an advantage when mink invade an island(2019)
they benefit from both animal and plant matters as food
other then predation, suggest a way in which mink could cause by the presence of mink on these island(2019)
introduce disease
suggest another impact on food chains in this ecosystem cause by the presence of mink on these island(2019)
decline in other predators
explain the term biotic factor
living factors
what term is used to describe the organisms at the top of the food chain
tertiary consumer
explain why pyramids of numbers are usually restricted to three of four levels
due to large energy loss
factors which influence the size of human population
war-high death rate
-famine-high death rate
-contraception-low birth rate
write a note on organism adaptions
a physical or behavioural d
feat of an animal that helps them better survive in their environment
why is it important that nutrients are recycled in nature
can be reused
during the nitrogen cycle, nitrogen from the air is converted to nitrates. of what benefit is this
plants can absorb nitrate
nitrates are formed directly from other molecules in the soil, name one of these molecules
nitrite
mention one role of animals, other than as consumers, in the nitrogen cycle
excrete nitrogen
name the family on plants which have a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen fixing bacteria
legumes
the nitrogen in the air is converted to nitrates but the percentage of nitrogen in the air does not change. what process is responsible for this
denitrification
what is the role of modern fertilisers in the nitrogen cycle
supply nitrate
draw a food web from the ecosystem you have studied
grass-grasshopper-bird-hawk
dandelion-aphid-blackbird-fox
grass-worm-bird-fox
some animals have adaptive features that may help them escape capture. give an example of one such adaptive feature
worm - streamlined shape
explain how this adaption helps the animal escape capture
allows them to burrow through soil
suggest why ecological surveying is important
detects change
explain the term scramble competition
all competing organisms get some of the resource
list two species from an ecosystem you have studied, which are involved in a predator-prey realtionship
fox,rabbit
outline a role in nature of such a predator-prey relationship
population control
what is meant by the term trophic level
position on the food chain
explain why food chains are generally short
little energy passed on the next level
give a possible reason why the secondary consumer may decline naturally
predation
explain the term fauna
plants found in ecosystem
what is meant by the term variation
differences within a population
give a reason why there might be a variation in the height of a matte plant species in the ecosystem
difference in a named factor
