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BIOLOGY LC > ECOLOGY > Flashcards

ECOLOGY Flashcards

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AP® Biology flashcards Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Ecology

A

Study of living organisms, their interactions with each other and the environment.

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2
Q

Ecosystem

A

A community of organisms and their environment

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3
Q

Biosphere

A

The part of the Earth and atmosphere inhabited by living organisms

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4
Q

Habitat

A

Place where an organism lives.

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5
Q

Niche

A

The role a species plays in the ecosystem.

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6
Q

Ecological Niche

A

The functional role played by an organism in the ecosystem.

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7
Q

Community

A

Populations of different species living and interacting with each other in the same habitat

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8
Q

Population

A

Group of individuals of the same species living in the same habitat.

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9
Q

Biotic factors are living or non-living?

A

Living

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10
Q

Examples of biotic factors?

A

Food - more rabbits = more foxes
Competition - between organisms for various resources e.g. red and grey squirrel
Predation - predators reduce the population of their prey.
Parasitism - Parasitic organisms reduce the health of their hosts causing many to die
Humans - Can bring positive or negative effects on the organisms.

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11
Q

Abiotic factors are living or non-living?

A

Non - living

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12
Q

Examples of abiotic factors

A

Edaphic
Climatic
Aquatic

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13
Q

What are edaphic factors?

A

Factors that effect soil condition

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14
Q

Altitude is a abiotic factor why?

A

Higher altitudes are colder and wetter and trees cannot live on very high altitudes.

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15
Q

What are climatic factors

A

Weather conditions over a long period of time.

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16
Q

Temperature is climatic factor why?

A

It affects the rate of reactions in living things.

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17
Q

Why is light intensity a climatic factor?

A

It affects the rate of photosynthesis

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18
Q

Name three more climatic factors

A

Day length
Humidity
Wind

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19
Q

Soil pH is an edaphic factor, why?

A

Plants and animals are adapted to specific pH values.

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20
Q

Why is water content an edaphic factor?

A

Plants need to absorb the water through their roots for functions like photosynthesis.

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21
Q

Name three other edaphic factors.

A

Air content
Mineral content
Soil type

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22
Q

How do aquatic habitats differ from terrestrial habitats?

A

They have different abiotic factors.

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23
Q

Currents are an aquatic factor why?

A

They move organism, plants and animals are washed away.

24
Q

Wave action is an aquatic factor why?

A

Moves and damages organisms

25
Q

Why is oxygen an aquatic factor?

A

In lower concentration

26
Q

What is an autotroph/producer?

A

An organism which makes its own food e.g. photosynthesis and chemosynthesis

27
Q

What is an consumer/heterotroph

A

An organism that obtains its food from another organism e.g. herbivores and carnivores.

28
Q

What is a herbivore?

A

An animal which eats plants only!

29
Q

What is a carnivore

A

An animal which eats meat only!

30
Q

What is an omnivore?

A

An animal which eats both plants and meat e.g. crow

31
Q

What is a decomposer?

A

It feeds on dead organic matter e.g. earthworm

32
Q

What is a saprophyte?

A

bacteria and fungi that feed on dead organic matter e.g. Rhizopus

33
Q

What is a primary consumer?

A

An animal which feeds on producers e.g. herbivores

34
Q

What is a secondary consumer?

A

An animal that feeds on primary consumers. e.g. carnivores

35
Q

What is a tertiary consumer?

A

Feeds on secondary consumers.

36
Q

What is the primary source of energy?

A

The Sun

37
Q

What happens in a food chain?

A

Energy flows from one organism to the next.

38
Q

What is a food chain?

A

A sequence of organisms which shows the feeding relationships within a habitat.

39
Q

E.g. of a food chain

A

(Producer)Rosebush -> (Primary consumer) Greenfly -> (Secondary Consumer) Ladybird -> (Tertiary Consumer) Hawk

40
Q

What is a trophic level?

A

The feeding position of a species in the food chain.

41
Q

What is a grazing food chain?

A

A sequence of organisms where each one is eaten by the next member in the chain.

42
Q

What is a detritus food chain?

A

A food chain where the primary consumer feeds on dead organic matter e.g. dead leaves -> woodlouse -> blackbird.

43
Q

What is a food web?

A

A web that consists of two or more interlinked food chains.

44
Q

What is a pyramid of numbers?

A

A diagram showing the number of organisms at each stage in a food chain.

45
Q

What is a limitation of the pyramid of numbers?

A

Can’t represent large numbers correctly.

46
Q

What other pyramid of numbers can there be?

A

Inverted pyramid of numbers.
They are usually shown if a parasite is involved.

47
Q

What are the two biological similarities between the nitrogen cycle and the carbon cycle?

A

Death and decay
Excretion

48
Q

Describe the role of plants in the nitrogen cycle and carbon cycle.

A

Absorb nitrates and absorb CO2.

49
Q

Describe the role of animals in the nitrogen cycle and carbon cycle.

A

They respire and consume plants.

50
Q

Why is it important that nutrients are recycled in nature?

A

To be used time and time again.

51
Q

During the nitrogen cycle, nitrogen from the air is converted to nitrates. Of what benefit is this?

A

So it can be used by living things.

52
Q

Nitrates are formed directly from other molecules in the soil. Name one of these molecules.

A

Nitrifying bacteria.

53
Q

Mention one role of animals, other than consumers, in the nitrogen cycle.

A

Decomposers feed off of their remains.

54
Q

Name the family of plants which have a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

A

Fungi

55
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

Nitrogen-fixing

56
Q

What is the role of modern fertilizers in the nitrogen cycle?

A

Provide soluble nitrates.

57
Q

Why do organisms need nitrogen?

A

To produce proteins.

BIOLOGY LC (6 decks)

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