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biology > ecology > Flashcards

ecology Flashcards

1
Q

give a brief biological explanation - food chains are limited in length

A

low amount of energy passed on at each trophic level

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2
Q

give a brief biological explanation - there is always competition between members of a species

A

resources are limited

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3
Q

explain each of the following terms - ecosystem

A

organisms and their environment

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4
Q

explain each of the following terms - habitat

A

a place within the ecosystem where an organism lives

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5
Q

explain each of the following terms - niche

A

a functional role it plays in the community

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6
Q

name the type of ecological relationship that exists between ash trees and the pathogen that caused ash dieback(2023)

A

parasitism

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7
Q

from the passage, or otherwise, state a way that ecologists could ensure the survival phase of ash trees in ireland(2023)

A

diversifying species

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8
Q

write down a food chain based on the information given in the passage above(2023)

A

ash-moth-robin

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9
Q

suggest two possible effects on the ecosystem if all as he trees in Ireland died(2023)

A

moth population falls, robin population falls

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10
Q

name the type of ecological relationship that exists between the robin and the moth(2023)

A

predation

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11
Q

explain the importance of this type of ecological relationship in nature(2023)

A

population control

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12
Q

describe the the main events of the nitrogen cycle

A

-nitrogen(gas) to usable compounds
-plant protein to animal protein
-waste releasing N compounds
-decomposers releases N compounds

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13
Q

describe the main events of the carbon cycle

A

-carbon dioxide is fixed into plant carbohydrate
-plant carbohydrate to animal carbohydrate
-living organisms releases carbon dioxide
decay of organisms release carbon dioxide

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14
Q

explain the term ecology

A

the study of how living things relate to each other and their environment

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15
Q

explain the term population

A

all members of the same species living in an area

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16
Q

explain the term community

A

population of different species of organisms

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17
Q

explain the term parasite

A

an organism that lives in or on an organism of another species causing harm

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18
Q

explain the term saprophyte

A

an organism that feeds on dead organic matter

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19
Q

explain the term qualitative

A

where the presence of absence of a species

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20
Q

explain the term quantitative

A

where the number of organisms

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21
Q

explain the term nutrient recycling

A

elements are exchanged between living sonf non-living components of an ecosystem

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22
Q

name two nutrient cycles found in nature

A

carbon, nitrogen

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23
Q

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)

A

abiotic-temperature
biotic-otters

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24
Q

what type of nutrition do trout demonstrate(2022 deferred)

A

heterotrophic

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25
Q

what type of ecological relationship exists between trout and otters(2022 deferred)

A

predator-prey

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26
Q

suggest one effect that fewer numbers of trout may have on otters(2022 deferred)

A

otter population falls

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27
Q

from the text, or otherwise, suggest one behavioural adaption that trout possess(2022 deferred)

A

trout migrate

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28
Q

explain the term food chain

A

sequence of organisms showing transfer of energy from one to the next

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29
Q

explain the term edaphic factors

A

soil factors

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30
Q

explain the term omnivore

A

only eats plants and animals

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31
Q

explain the term contest competition

A

organisms actively struggle for a resource that is in short supply

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32
Q

explain the term nitrogen fixation

A

convert nitrogen gas into nitrates

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33
Q

explain the term biosphere

A

part of the earth where life can exist

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34
Q

explain the term symbiosis

A

relationship between species involving benefit

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35
Q

suggest one reason why dragonflies are such successful predators(2022)

A

compound eyes

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36
Q

give two benefits for dragonfly populations living near freshwater vegetation(2022)

A

protection and laying eggs

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37
Q

suggest a benefit of the adult and the nymph having different food sources(2022)

A

not in competition for same resource

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38
Q

what type of ecological relationship exists between swallows and dragonflies(2022)

A

predator-prey

39
Q

suggest one possible effect on the dragonfly population - a disease affecting the swallows(2022)

A

increase in population

40
Q

suggest one possible effects on the dragonfly population-cutting of vegetation along the river banks(2022)

A

decrease in population

41
Q

suggest one reason why volunteers are being asked to identify dragonflies(2022)

A

conservation

42
Q

what might a volunteer use to help them identify a dragonfly(2022)

A

key

43
Q

explain why the carbon cycle is critical to life on earth

A

so carbon dioxide won’t run out

44
Q

explain the term pollution

A

any harmful addition to the environment

45
Q

give one example of waste management from agriculture or fishery or forestry

A

slurry is stored and spread on dry land

46
Q

give two factors that can have an effects on the human population

A

war,famine

47
Q

why do organisms need nitrogen

A

to make protein

48
Q

give one limitation of the use of pyramids of numbers one colony

A

may be inverted

49
Q

suggest one advantage of females giving birth in early summer and not in spring(2021)

A

warmer

50
Q

name and explain one human activity that impacts on Irish bat populations(2021)

A

increase use of pesticides- decreases bat population die to poisoning of bats

51
Q

name one type of adaption necessary for organisms to survive(2021)

A

structural

52
Q

from the text, or otherwise, give two adaptions that bats possess(2021)

A

can fly, hibernate

53
Q

why is it necessary for an organism to possess an adaption to its habitat

A

increase chance of survival

54
Q

name two type of adaption that an organism can exhibit

A

structural, behavioural

55
Q

give two methods by which gunnera outcompetes native Irish plants(20202)

A

creeping surface rhizomes, scatter of plant fragments

56
Q

what method is usually used to control the population of gunnera(2020)

A

glyphosate

57
Q

suggest one reason why gunnera is so successful at growing in poor quality soil(2020)

A

fix its own nitrogen

58
Q

biological control, using herbivores, might not be successful at controlling the population of gunnera. suggest one reason why(2020)

A

toxic bacteria

59
Q

suggest two ways how gunnera may invade and colonise new areas(2020)

A

creeping surface rhizomes, scatter of plant fragments

60
Q

name two abiotic factors that have limited the spread of gunnera in Ireland(20202)

A

water, humidity

61
Q

what is the importance in nature of recycling elements such as carbon and nitrogen

A

elements can be reused

62
Q

name two types of bacteria that play a role in the nitrogen cycle

A

nitrifying, denitrifying

63
Q

explain the term predation

A

the catching, killing and eating of another organsims

64
Q

explain the term conservation

A

management of the environment

65
Q

suggest why the mink has become a successful predator of the gulls(2019)

A

lack of competition

66
Q

mink are omnivores. why is this an advantage when mink invade an island(2019)

A

they benefit from both animal and plant matters as food

67
Q

other then predation, suggest a way in which mink could cause by the presence of mink on these island(2019)

A

introduce disease

68
Q

suggest another impact on food chains in this ecosystem cause by the presence of mink on these island(2019)

A

decline in other predators

69
Q

explain the term biotic factor

A

living factors

70
Q

what term is used to describe the organisms at the top of the food chain

A

tertiary consumer

71
Q

explain why pyramids of numbers are usually restricted to three of four levels

A

due to large energy loss

72
Q

factors which influence the size of human population

A

war-high death rate
-famine-high death rate
-contraception-low birth rate

73
Q

write a note on organism adaptions

A

a physical or behavioural d
feat of an animal that helps them better survive in their environment

74
Q

why is it important that nutrients are recycled in nature

A

can be reused

75
Q

during the nitrogen cycle, nitrogen from the air is converted to nitrates. of what benefit is this

A

plants can absorb nitrate

76
Q

nitrates are formed directly from other molecules in the soil, name one of these molecules

A

nitrite

77
Q

mention one role of animals, other than as consumers, in the nitrogen cycle

A

excrete nitrogen

78
Q

name the family on plants which have a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen fixing bacteria

A

legumes

79
Q

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

A

denitrification

80
Q

what is the role of modern fertilisers in the nitrogen cycle

A

supply nitrate

81
Q

draw a food web from the ecosystem you have studied

A

grass-grasshopper-bird-hawk
dandelion-aphid-blackbird-fox
grass-worm-bird-fox

82
Q

some animals have adaptive features that may help them escape capture. give an example of one such adaptive feature

A

worm - streamlined shape

83
Q

explain how this adaption helps the animal escape capture

A

allows them to burrow through soil

84
Q

suggest why ecological surveying is important

A

detects change

85
Q

explain the term scramble competition

A

all competing organisms get some of the resource

86
Q

list two species from an ecosystem you have studied, which are involved in a predator-prey realtionship

A

fox,rabbit

87
Q

outline a role in nature of such a predator-prey relationship

A

population control

88
Q

what is meant by the term trophic level

A

position on the food chain

89
Q

explain why food chains are generally short

A

little energy passed on the next level

90
Q

give a possible reason why the secondary consumer may decline naturally

A

predation

91
Q

explain the term fauna

A

plants found in ecosystem

92
Q

what is meant by the term variation

A

differences within a population

93
Q

give a reason why there might be a variation in the height of a matte plant species in the ecosystem

A

difference in a named factor

biology (35 decks)

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