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ecology Flashcards

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1
Q

what is biodiversity

A

the variety of different species of organisms on earth or within an ecosystem

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2
Q

what are 3 things organisms rely on each other

A

food
shelter
maintaining the physical environment

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3
Q

a high biodiversity reduces?

A

species dependence on another for food shelter and maintenance of physical environment

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4
Q

what are human activities that reduce biodiversity

A

producing waste ( have to destroy habitats to make space for waste)
deforestation (destroy habitats that have high amounts of biodiversity)
global warming( causes flooding and extreme weather events)

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5
Q

how do humans rely on biodiversity

A

pollinators (bees) to pollinate our food crops
plants for medicine and oxygen

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6
Q

Suggest the factors for which organisms are competing in a given
habitat

A

animals: space, food, water, mates
plants:light , space , water and mineral ions from soil

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7
Q

Define an ecosystem

A

The interaction of a community of living organisms with the abiotic parts of their environment

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8
Q

Define interdependence

A

all species depend on each other in some way

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9
Q

Suggest how organisms are adapted to the conditions in which they live

A

through structural behavioural and functional adaptations
structural( physical features)
behavioural(way an organism behaves or acts)
functional(processes inside like metabolism)

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10
Q

What is meant by a stable community

A

One where over time the pop size remains fairly constant

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11
Q

List abiotic factors

A

light intensity
wind intensity
ph and mineral content of soil
temperature(increase photosynthesis rate)
moisture levels
co2 conc/o2 conc

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12
Q

List biotic factors

A

predation
food availabilty
competition for food / resources/habitat
amount of disease

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13
Q

Explain how organisms are adapted to live in their natural environment

A

polar bears

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14
Q

Explain how a change in a biotic factor might affect a given community

A

Change in predators can increase pop of prey

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15
Q

Define an extremophile

A

microrganisms like bacteria that are adapted to live in extreme environments.
high pressure high temp high salt conc

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16
Q

Producer meaning

A

Photosynthetic organism that produces glucose by photosynthesis ( using sun’s energy to make biological molecules which when it gets to the plant is called biomass)

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17
Q

Secondary consumer

A

Must be some type of predator

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18
Q

What happens to energy as it passes up the food chain

A

Most gets lost

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19
Q

What are quadrants used for

A

To measure abundance and estimate size of a population or sample a habitat

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20
Q

What are transects

A

To measure how distribution changes

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21
Q

Practical

A

Place many tape measure over the length and width of field
Use a random number generator to find 10 pairs of coordinates
Place quadrants here and count the dandelions in the quadrants
Find the mean no of dandelions per m2
Find total pop size with mean no of dandelions per m2 and total area of field

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22
Q

Recall the carbon cycle

A

Carbon is removed from the environment by producers
By consuming plant matter animals gain carbon compounds
Plants and animals respire releasing carbon back into the atmosphere
When plants and animals die decomposers return locked up carbon back into atmosphere through decay
Combustion of fossil fuels also a source of carbon into the atmosphere

23
Q

Explain the role of microorganisms in cycling materials in an ecosystem

A

They help return minerals and nutrients back into the environment and they respire contributing to the carbon cycle

24
Q

What is decomposition

A

Process where dead organic matter is broken down into simpler organic or inorganic substances like ( co2 water simple sugars minerals)

25
Q

What are detritivores and what are some examples

A

Small animals like worms and wood lice that feed on dead organic matter is

26
Q

What are decomposers

A

Microorganisms like bacteria and fungi

27
Q

Factors that affect rate of decay

A

Temperature (higher rate of reaction)
O2 availability ( more aerobic respiration so more energy so faster decomposition and growth)
Water content( they need water to survive) but if soil becomes water logged the o2 levels fall as air gaps are filled meaning less aerobic respiration and less chemical reactions so decreased rate of decomposition

28
Q

What is the mixture of gas anaerobic respiration produces

A

Biogas and methane

29
Q

What are some ways biodiversity is increased

A

Breeding programs
Protecting rare habitats
Reforestation
Reduction of deforestation

30
Q

How do field margins and hedgerows help increase biodiversity

A

They provide extra food sources and habitats so that more species can survive

31
Q

How can the government encourage businesses to reduce damage to biodiversity

A

Set quotas to harmful practices like deforestation
Pay businesses for doing certain
Practices like planting hedgerows

32
Q

What is global warming

A

The gradual increase of the average surface temperature of the earth

33
Q

What are biological consequences of global warming

A

Climate change
Loss of local species
Flooding
Loss of habitats
Melting polar ice caps
Rising sea levels

34
Q

How are humans trying to reduce the negative effects of global warming

A

Changing energy sourcses to clean and renewable to stop use of fossil fuels
Like solar wind wave and tidal and geothermal power

35
Q

How do humans reduce the land available for other animals

A

Building towns and cities
Quarrying
Farming
Dumping waste

36
Q

Why has large scale deforestation happened

A

To clear land for farming or grow
crops like rice
Raise cattle and grow food cattle eat
Grow crops that are used to make biofuels( plant based fuels that we can burn over fossil fuels)
To get the wood to build or burn as fuel
Logging for wood
Mining
To clear the land for agriculture

37
Q

Consequences of deforestation

A

No trees to take up co2 which causes global warming
Burning trees polluting towns and suffocating animals and contributing to global warming
Reduces biodiversity and more species become extinct

38
Q

What are peat bogs and explain their destruction

A

Areas of land where soil is both acidic and waterlogged with microorganisms which store carbon ( reduces global warming) that are drained to decompose dead plants releasing carbon dioxide which can happens more quickly than they are being built and reduces biodiversity .they can be burnt and used as fuel

39
Q

How does draining peat bogs contribute to global warming

A

Draining of water allows air and oxygen to return to soil allowing microorganisms to respire aerobically and decay the organic matter
This releases carbon dioxide which acts as a greenhouse gas and contributes to global warming

40
Q

Why do tropic levels only go up to 5

A

Energy gets lost at each level and there is not enough energy to sustain energy at much higher tropic levels

41
Q

State the role of decomposers

A

They recycle nutrient from animals and plants to be used again by producers

42
Q

Reasons for losses or biomass

A

Egestation
Not all parts of organism is eaten
Most nutrients eaten are used for respiration and not growth
Organisms may not be able to absorb some material they eat

43
Q

Efficiency =

A

Biomass transferred to next level/ biomass available at previous level

44
Q

What is food security

A

When all are able to access sufficient safe and nutritious food to live a healthy life and is sustainable for the planet in the future

45
Q

Factors affecting food security

A

Rising population
Changing diets as countries become richer( more meat eaten which is less efficient to make than plant based foods)
New pests and pathogens which can kill crops and livestock which can lead to famine
Environmental changes ( higher temps or less rainfall can reduce food production)
Agricultural inputs like fertiliser or pesticides increase price of food due to their costs
Conflicts which disrupt transport and production of food causing prices to rise causing famine

46
Q

2 ways changing diets can negatively affect food security

A

Increased consumption of resource intense foods like meat and increased consumption of foods that have to be transported long distances across the world

47
Q

How can spread of pathogens affect food security

A

Can kill or damage plants which would decrease their yield so less food would be available

48
Q

Explain how factory farming is used

A

To increase efficiency of food production by restricting Energy transfer from food animals to D environment
By limiting the movement
And controlling the temperature of their surrounding

49
Q

List sustainable fishing

A

Increasing size of fishing nets
Fishing quotas

50
Q

List sustainable fishing

A

Increasing size of fishing nets
Fishing quotas

51
Q

Why has food we eat become more intensively to produce

A

Our diets have changed to include food that need more land and resources to produce like meat and dairy and we eat more meat and less grains

52
Q

What have humans done to help increase production of food

A

Use of fertilisers pesticide herbicide
Selective breeding
Genetic modification
Clearing land for agriculture

53
Q

What are traits that can be improved by genetic modification

A

Increased yield
Herbicide tolerance
Virus resistance
Pesticide resistance
Flood resistance
Increased nutrients

Physics (5 decks)

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