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ecology Flashcards

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
What are detritivores and what are some examples
Small animals like worms and wood lice that feed on dead organic matter is
26
What are decomposers
Microorganisms like bacteria and fungi
27
Factors that affect rate of decay
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
What is the mixture of gas anaerobic respiration produces
Biogas and methane
29
What are some ways biodiversity is increased
Breeding programs Protecting rare habitats Reforestation Reduction of deforestation
30
How do field margins and hedgerows help increase biodiversity
They provide extra food sources and habitats so that more species can survive
31
How can the government encourage businesses to reduce damage to biodiversity
Set quotas to harmful practices like deforestation Pay businesses for doing certain Practices like planting hedgerows
32
What is global warming
The gradual increase of the average surface temperature of the earth
33
What are biological consequences of global warming
Climate change Loss of local species Flooding Loss of habitats Melting polar ice caps Rising sea levels
34
How are humans trying to reduce the negative effects of global warming
Changing energy sourcses to clean and renewable to stop use of fossil fuels Like solar wind wave and tidal and geothermal power
35
How do humans reduce the land available for other animals
Building towns and cities Quarrying Farming Dumping waste
36
Why has large scale deforestation happened
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
Consequences of deforestation
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
What are peat bogs and explain their destruction
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
How does draining peat bogs contribute to global warming
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
Why do tropic levels only go up to 5
Energy gets lost at each level and there is not enough energy to sustain energy at much higher tropic levels
41
State the role of decomposers
They recycle nutrient from animals and plants to be used again by producers
42
Reasons for losses or biomass
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
Efficiency =
Biomass transferred to next level/ biomass available at previous level
44
What is food security
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
Factors affecting food security
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
2 ways changing diets can negatively affect food security
Increased consumption of resource intense foods like meat and increased consumption of foods that have to be transported long distances across the world
47
How can spread of pathogens affect food security
Can kill or damage plants which would decrease their yield so less food would be available
48
Explain how factory farming is used
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
List sustainable fishing
Increasing size of fishing nets Fishing quotas
50
List sustainable fishing
Increasing size of fishing nets Fishing quotas
51
Why has food we eat become more intensively to produce
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
What have humans done to help increase production of food
Use of fertilisers pesticide herbicide Selective breeding Genetic modification Clearing land for agriculture
53
What are traits that can be improved by genetic modification
Increased yield Herbicide tolerance Virus resistance Pesticide resistance Flood resistance Increased nutrients

Physics (5 decks)

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