Ecology Flashcards
habitat
place where an organism lives
population
all the organisms of one species living in a habitat
community
the populations of different species living in a habitat
abiotic factors
non-living factors of the environment
biotic factors
living factors of the environment
ecosystem
the interaction of a community of biotic and abiotic factors
what resources to plants compete for to survive
- light
- space
- water
- mineral ions (nutrients) from the soil
interdependence
all species in a community depends on each other to survive (food, shelter, pollination and seed dispersal)
why can a change in the ecosystem have massive effects
because of the interdependence of all living things and how they all use and need each other to survive and function
food chain
what eats what
what is the stable communities like in a tropical rainforests
all the species and environmental factors in a community are in balance so the population size stays roughly constant
examples of abiotic factors
- moisture level
- light intensity
- temperature
- carbon dioxide levels
- wind intensity and direction
- oxygen levels
- soul pH and mineral content
a change in the environment could be
- an increase or decreases in abiotic factors (increase in temperature)
- introduction of a new biotic factor (new predator or pathogen)
decrease in mineral content or the soil could cause
nutrient deficiencies and affect plant growth, decrease population size
adaptations
organisms or microorganisms change a function and features to better suit living in a different condition
extremophiles
microorganisms that are adapted to live in very extreme conditions
food chains always start with what
a producer
how do producers make their own food
use energy from the Sun
how is energy transferred through living organisms in an ecosystem
when organisms eat other organisms
who are producers eaten by
primary consumers
who are primary consumers eaten by
second consumers
who are secondary consumers eaten by
tertiary consumers
example: producer
dandelions
example: primary consumers
rabbits
example: secondary consumers
fox
quadrat
a square frame enclosed on a area to compare how common an organism is in two areas
how to use quadrants to study the distribution of small organisms
1) place a 1m*2 quadrat on ground at random point in first sample area (field)
2) count all organisms within quadrat
3) repeat steps 1and 2 as many times as possible
4) work out the mean number of organisms per quadrat
5) repeat steps 1-4 in second sample area (under tree in shade)
6) compare the means of the two sample areas
how to use transects to study the distribution of organisms along a line
1) mark out a line with a tape measure in area your studying
2) count all organisms that touch the line
water cycle: stage 1
energy form sun heats water to make water vapour, makes it evaporate
water cycle: step 2
water evaporates from plants (transpiration)
water cycle: step 3
water vapour goes up, cools, condenses, forms clouds
water cycle: step 4
precipitation falls from clouds (rain) onto land
water cycle: step 5
water that’s not absorbed by soil will runoff into rivers or streams
water cycle: step 6
water drains into seas (cycle restarts)
biodiversity
variety of different species of organisms within an ecosystem
why is high biodiversity important
make sure ecosystems are stable because different species all depend on each other for food and some maintain a healthy physical environment
what human actions are reducing biodiversity
- waste production
- deforestation
- global warming
what is currently happening to the population of the world
rising very quickly
why is the population of the world rising quickly
- use of modern medicine (reduce death)
- farming methods (reduce hunger)
- natural increase
effects of increasing demands on the environment
people demand higher standard of living so use more raw materials and energy to manufacture it, taking lots of resources, run out soon
what are the effects of increasing waste
- makes waste chemicals
- if not properly handled, cause harmful pollution
- pollution affects water, land, air and kill plants and animals (reducing biodiversity)
water pollution/waste
- sewage and toxic chemicals from industry pollute lakes, rivers and oceans
- can affect or kill animals and plants
- chemicals used on plants (fertilisers, pesticides, herbicides) wash and contaminate water
land pollution/waste
- toxic chemicals used for farming (pesticides, herbicides)
- we bury nuclear waste underground
air pollution/waste
smoke and acidic gases released into atmosphere pollute the air (sulfur dioxide causes acid rain)
temperature of the Earth is a balance between what
- the energy it gets from Sun
- energy it radiates back out into space
gases in the atmosphere naturally act like what
an insulating layer, absorb most energy radiated out into space and re-radiate it in all directions (back to Earth) increases temperature of planet
consequences of global warming
- high temperatures cause animals to move habitats and sea levels to rise, leads to flooding and loss of habitats
- biodiversity may be reduced if animals go extinct
problems of deforestation
- more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
- less carbon dioxide taken in
- less biodiversity
problems of deforestation (more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere)
- carbon dioxide released when trees burned
- microorganisms feed on dead wood release carbon dioxide a waste product of respiration
problems of deforestation (less carbon dioxide taken in)
- trees store up carbon that they absorb during photosynthesis in their wood
- remove trees, carbon dioxide escapes into atmosphere
problems of deforestation (less biodiversity)
habitats like forests contain huge amounts of biodiversity because of huge number of species, forest cut down biodiversity is reduced, species go extinct
what are bogs
areas of land that are acidic and waterlogged
what are the plants like that live in bogs
- die because not enough oxygen, then don’t fully decay
- rotted plants build up to form peat
in a bog where is the carbon stored in a plant
in the peat instead of being released into the atmosphere
what often happens to peat bogs
- often drained so area can be used for farming
- peat is cut up and dried to use as fuel
- sold to gardens as compost
what is happening with the resource of peat
being used faster than it forms
what happens when peat is drained
comes in contact with air and microorganisms decompose that respire and release carbon dioxide, contributing to global warming
what are the effects of destroying bogs
- contributing to global warming
- destroys habitats so reduces biodiversity
programmes set up by humans to minimise damage to ecosystems and biodiversity
- breeding programmes
- recycle waste
- reduce level of deforestation
- reintroduce hedgerows and field margins around fields on farms
breeding programmes
- made to prevent endangered species become extinct
- bred in captivity (protected) to then be released back into wild to re-establish population
reintroduce hedge grows and field margins in fields
- in fields on farms where only one type of crop is grown
- provide a habitat for variety of organisms
field margins
areas around edges of fields where wild flowers and grasses left to grow
cons of protecting biodiversity
- costs a lot
- may impact local human livelihood
- conflict between protecting biodiversity and our food security
biodiversity: costs a lot
government pay farms a subsidy to reintroduce hedgegrows and field margins
biodiversity: may impact local human livelihood
reduce deforestation reduces jobs makes people unemployed and reduces local economy
biodiversity: conflict between protecting biodiversity and our food security
farmers kill organisms that can be pests to crops, this protects our crops and livestock and produces more food but affects the food chain and biodiversity
what resources do animals compete for to survive
- space (territory)
- food
- water
- mates
Seals are adapted to cope with extreme temperatures because they have a layer of __________. What one word completes the sentence?
fat
