Ecology Flashcards
Define ecology
Study of the interactions of organisms and their environment
Define biosphere
Part of the planet where all life exists
Define ecosystem
A group of organisms that interact with their environment as a unit
Define habitat
A place where plants and animals exist
Define species
A group of organisms that can interbreed and produce offpsring
Define population
Organisms of the same species living together
Define community
Different populations in an area
Define abiotic factor
A non living factor
Define climatic factor
Factor relating to the weather over a long period of time
Define edaphic factor
Factor relating to the soil
Define biotic factor
A living factor
Define niche
Functional role of an organism in an ecosystem
Define pollution
Any harmful addition to the environment
Define pollutant
Substances that cause pollution
Give examples of abiotic factors and how they are measured
- Altitude (altimeter) - Height above sea level. Higher means colder, wetter
- Aspect (compass) - North facing is cooler
- Sunlight (light meter/luxmeter) - More light for plants
Give examples of climatic factors and how they are measured
- Temperature (thermometer) - Animals and plants are adapted to living at a certain temperature
- Rainfall (rain gauge) - Water is essential for life
- Wind speed (anemometer) - Causes physical changes
- Wind direction (Wind vane) - Causes physical changes
What type of climate does Ireland have?
Temperate oceanic climate
Give examples of edaphic factors and how they are measured
- Soil temperature (thermometer) - Animals and plants are adapted to living in certain temperatures
- Oxygen concentration (oxygen meter) - Animals and plants are adapted to living in a certain 02
- Soil pH (pH meter) - Animals and plants are adapted to living in a certain pH
- Soil type (soil sieve) - Drainage of soil
Name and explain some biotic factors
- Food - More food allows more organisms to survive
- Competition - Fighting for scarce resources
- Predation - Reduces the numbers of prey
- Parasitism - Weakens the host and reduces its numbers
What are some special factors in aquatic environments
- Light
- Currents
- Wave action
- Salt concentration
- Oxygen concentration
Draw out nitrogen cycle
N/A
What is the primary source of energy for out planet
Sun
What is a producer
An autotroph that carries out photsynthesis
Define consumer
A heterotroph. An organism that takes in food from other organisms
Define autotroph
An organism that makes its own food
Define heterotroph
An organism that takes in food from another organism
What kind of organisms are primary consumers?
Herbivores, decomposers and detritus feeders
What kind of organisms are secondary consumers?
Carnivores
What kind of organisms are tertiary consumers
Omnivores
Draw an energy flow chart
Sun -> leaves -> slug -> thrush -> hawk
Define food chain
Sequence of organisms showing transfer of energy from one to another
Draw an example of a food chain
Cabbage -> caterpillar -> robin
Define trophic level
Feeding stage
Why are food chains so short?
Only 10% of energy is passed on, 90% goes towards moving, respiring, heating itself, releaseing heat etc.
Define food web
Two or more food chains interlinked
Draw a food web
N/A
What effect do chorofluorocarbons (CFCs) have?
They create a hole in the ozone layer which can cause increased cancers and damage crops
Where are chlorofluorocarbons found?
Fridges and aerosols
What are ways to control chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)?
Use hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), don’t dump fridges, avoid aerosols
Draw a predator/prey relationship graph
N/A
Define conservation
Wise management of our existing natural resources/organisms
What are the benefits of conservation?
- Medicinal use
- Prevents organisms from going extinct
- Maintains a wide range of living things - biodiversity
- Recreational use
What environmental problems are associated with fisheries and what solutions are there to these problems?
Problems: Pollution, overfishing, using small nets to catch baby fish
Solutions: Analysing water samples, fishing quotas, using bigger mesh sizes in nets
Give an example of waste management in agriculture
Slurry is stored and spread on land
Give an example of waste management in fishing industries
Waste parts of fish used as fertilizer or pig feed
Give an example of waste management in forestry
Any parts not removed from forest decay and return nutrients to soil
What problems are there associated with waste disposal
- Causes disease
- Unsightly
- Attracts vermin
- Incinerators produce harmful gases
What role do microorganisms play in waste management/pollution control?
Landfill sites: Waste is covered with soil. Bacteria and fungi break down organic matter (biological treatment)
Sewage: Primary treatment - Settling and physically screening
Secondary treatment - Bacteria and fungi break down organic matter (biological treatment)
Tertiary treatment - Removes mineral nutrients
How to minimise waste?
Reduce
Reuse
Recycle
Draw the carbon cycle
N/A
Define pyramid of numbers
Represents the number of organisms at each trophic level
What happens to the number of organisms in a pyramid of numbers as you go up the chart ?
It decreases
What happens to the body size of organisms as you go up the chart?
It increases
What are some limitations of the pyramid of numbers?
It does not take into account the size of an organism
It cannot be drawn to scale
Draw a normal pyramid of numbers
N/A
Draw an inverted pyramid of numbers
N/A
Draw a parasitic pyramid of numbers
N/A
What are some factors that affect the control of a population?
- Competition
- Predation
- Parasitism
- Symbiosis
- Biological control
Define competition
Struggle between organisms for resources in short supply
Define intracompetition
Competition between members of the same species
Define intercompetition
Competition between members of different species
Define contest
Physical contest where one gets all the resources
Define scramble
All individuals competing get a share of the resources
Define predation
Catching, killing and eating an organism of a different species
Define predator
Catches, kills and eats an organism
Give an example of an adaptation of a predator
- Hawks have excellent eyesight
- Ladybirds have strong mouth parts
Define prey
Eaten by predator
Give an adaptation of prey
- Frogs are camouflaged
- Ladybirds contain formic acid which is unpalatable
What are the three different types of adaptations
Structural, behavioural and competitive
Define parasitism
Lives on a live host causing harm
Define exoparasite
Lives outside the host
Give an example of an exoparasite
Fleas on a dog
Define endoparasite
Lives inside the host
Give an example of an endoparasite
Liverfluke in cattle
Define symbiosis
Two or more organisms living in or on another organism and at least one benefits
Define mutualism
A form of symbiosis where both benefit
Give an example of mutualism
- Bacteria in intestines produce vitamin B and K and get food and shelter from us, nitrogen fixing bacteria gain food and shelter and clover gets nitrates
Define biological control
When one organism is used to control another
Give an example of biological control
Ladybirds are used to control aphids/greenfly
What factors cause population numbers to change?
- Predator-prey relationships: Due to availability of food, concealment, movement of predators
- Human population growth: Due to war, famine, disease and contraception
