Ecology Flashcards
What is an extremophile?
They are organisms that live in an extreme environment.
What is a biotic factor?
A living factor (plants, animals, bacteria, fungi and microbes).
What is an abiotic factor?
A non-living factor (temperature, light and water).
How does energy flow through a food chain?
From one trophic level to the next.
What is the carbon cycle?
Photosynthesis by plants and algae. Respiration by plants, algae, microbes and animals. Feeding by consumers. Decay by microbes and other decomposers.
How does waste impact biodiversity?
Poor waste management can harm biodiversity both directly (consumption of plastic microbeads by marine wildlife) and indirectly (landfill sites, providing ideal conditions for bacteria to produce methane, contributing to climate change).
How has pollution impacted biodiversity?
Sulfur can lead to excess levels of acid in lakes and streams, and damage trees and forest soils. Atmospheric nitrogen can reduce biodiversity of plant communities and harm fish and other aquatic life.
How has deforestation impacted biodiversity?
It destroys habitats of organisms that live there and, through this kills individuals of many species, individuals of different species are not able to interbreed successfully.
How has global warming impacted biodiversity?
It has increased in the intensity and frequency of fires, storms or periods of drought.
What is the greenhouse effect?
Short wavelength radiation enters the atmosphere and is absorbed by greenhouse gases and re-emitted as longer wavelength radiation, which then can’t escape the atmosphere as easily.
How can biodiversity be restored?
Afforestation, using electric modes of transport and reducing our carbon footprint.
How do we calculate and estimate the total population of an area?
Total population = (Total area ÷ Area sampled) × Number of species in counted samples.
What should happen if the estimate of a population in an area seems off?
Repeat the experiment more times using the quadrat for more area.
