ecology Flashcards

Question

4 ways the aerobic decay process is made faster (and why)

Answer 1

More microorganisms so more decomposition More oxygen available so microorganisms can aerobically respire Temperature is increased, more kinetic energy for enzymes to break down microorganisms quicker Some moisture, as decomposes need water to survive as it makes up their cytoplasm

Answer 2

- anaerobic, bacteria - source, electricity - organic, bacteria - methane, 75, 45, vapour, gases - hydrocarbon - renewable

Answer 3

Because air contains oxygen and so if there’s lots of oxygen then the bacteria will aerobically respire more and make more CO2 than is wanted - this is annoying as there is less methane so it doesn’t burn as well

Answer 4

Is put on field as fertilisers as it may contain lots of minerals eg nitrate ions which help with growth

Answer 5

Because it contains the most lipid/ fat content (substrate)

Answer 6

Make sure solution is an alkaline solution (with a pH of more than 8.3)

Answer 7

Turns pink, as it’s an alkaline solution greater than 8.3 pH

Answer 8

- more land is needed for building houses and roads - more land needs to be cleared via deforestation for farming - dig up land for quarries to obtain minerals and ores - human waste pollutes the environment

Answer 9

1. farmer add fertilisers to soil 2. Minerals are washed into streams and rivers etc 3. They stimulate growth of algae and aquatic plants 4. Too much competition for light and many plants die. Also die as they are trapped under algae 5. Microorganisms feed on dead and decaying plants 6. Microorganisms respire, using lots of oxygen 7. larger organisms eg fish don’t have enough O2 to survive so die 8. Microorganisms feed on decaying animals so more O2 is used up 9. Is a vicious cycle till all aerobic organisms die

Answer 10

They wash into waterways, then plants in soil grow containing these chemicals and by bioaccumulation animals eat these and gain some and humans gain lots of these toxic chemicals

Answer 11

Acid rain Smoke

Answer 12

Increases amount of particulates in air which reflect sunlight so could lead to cooling effect and lack of photosynthesis Particulates can damage lungs/ cardiovascular system if breathed in

Answer 13

Sulphur in fossil fuels react when burned with oxygen to form sulphur dioxide - can cause breathing problems Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides can also dissolve and rain water to make acid rain - can kill leaves, buds etc and can make water acidic which can mean aquatic pants and animals die. Also travels to countries who don’t overuse sulphur dioxide.

Answer 14

Using low sulphur fuels eg gas instead of fuel to reduce sulphur dioxide emissions

Answer 15

- global warming and climate change - affects of acid rain - pollution from farms and factories scientists help by - maintaining rainforests - reducing water pollution and monitoring pH - restricting access to sites if special scientific interest - conservation measures

Answer 16

Overall increase in global temperature as more heat energy is being trapped in our atmosphere due to the enhance greenhouse effect

Answer 17

- loss of habitat, due to melting glaciers and rising sea levels which flood and destroy habitats - changes in distribution - more animals in one space or less in another due to changes in climate - changes in migration patterns - changes in seasons may mean species like birds migrate at different times and may affect breeding seasons

Answer 18

- more land is needed for building houses etc which destroys habitats and reduces biodiversity - more land needs to be cleared by deforestation for farming - human waste pollutes the environment meaning animals have to move/ migrate as they are unable to live there

Answer 19

Unique ecosystems made of plant material that can’t decay properly that act as habitats for many species many of them rare

Answer 20

Peat is burnt as a fuel releasing CO2 Also used as fertilisers - a problem cause it’s cheap and easy for compost which we need to grow but it destroys the natural habitat Also as peat is only made very slowly, the habitat is being destroyed far quicker than it can be generated and also contributes to global warming

Answer 21

1. Clear land to grow food 2. Rear cattle for food 3. Grow crops to be used to make biofuels based on ethanol eg sugarcane or maize

Answer 22

Burning trees released CO2 and also due to dead vegetation being decomposed, their decomposes respire meaning more CO2 released Trees can no longer remove CO2 Can directly kill animals/ plants during the process or harm their habitat and reduces biodiversity Many undiscovered species may be destroyed which destroys potential food or medicine

Answer 23

- litter and waste is dumped which can reduce area where a species can live or kill a species - landfill takes up room and destroys habitats - toxic or hazardous chemical from either household or industrial eg nuclear waste can be spread and stored which can pollute areas - eg lambs in wales couldnt be sold as they’d consumed radioactive grass - farmers use chemicals on their crops which can pass up food chain and higher tropics levels eat lots of the chemicals

Answer 24

Biodiversity

Answer 25

It ensures stability, and reduces dependence on a particular species, so if one species decreases it is less likely to affect the other species in the ecosystem

Answer 26

Producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, tertiary consumers and quaternary consumers

Answer 27

- population density - agricultural inputs - changing diets in developed countries / conflicts and wars - climate eg decrease in rainfall - new pests and pathogens

Answer 28

At top is the quaternary consumer and at bottom is the producer

Answer 29

People have a shorter life expectancy and are iller - also 842 million people don’t have enough food to eat

Answer 30

Feeding animals high protein foods to increase growth, restricting movement, controlling temp - these all mean less energy is released to the environment and so more can be used for growth and to maximise amount of meat

Answer 31

Close confinement and risk of disease Lack of movement and nature of pens/ cages is unethical Poor transportation and slaughtering

Answer 32

Growth of plants on rock wool with no soil Mineral supplies and conditions are controlled and unused materials are recycled Lower production costs and no pollution risk System is under cover so less risk of disease

Answer 33

Energy is transferred to surroundings Light is reflected Only green parts can photosynthesise so if it hits a non green part it can’t

Answer 34

- fishing quotas are in place to ensure that if number of fish gets too low fishing is restricted - control of net size to ensure young fish nature and breed - fish are fed high protein food to grow quickly

Answer 35

Sustainable fishing security

Answer 36

using living organisms to make a product to improve quality of life - eg GM crops, human insulin and mycoprotein

Answer 37

Large quantities of microorganisms are cultured in vats for food Fungus fusarium is used to make mycoprotein Fusarium grows and reproduces rapidly on glucose syrup in aerobic conditions and can double its biomass every 5 hours Biomass is then harvested, purified and dried to make mycoprotejn and then flavored

Answer 38

GM bacterium

Answer 39

Suns rays pass through atmosphere due to low wavelength and are then reemitted back forwards greenhouse gases and most will absorb this. Heat energy becomes trapped by greenhouse gases like CO2 and CH4 which is called green house effect. And with increased greenhouse gases there is more global warming

Answer 40

More extreme weather, area levels rise, as ice is melting, warming water expands so more flooding and islands disappear.So a change in environment and species may need to adapt or will die.