Ecology Flashcards
1
Q
Definition of habitat.
Provide an example of a habitat.
A
- The environment in which an organism lives
- The elephants living in the grasslands of Africa
2
Q
Definition of population
A
The total number of organisms of the same species living in the same geographical area.
3
Q
Definition of community
A
The populations of all of the different species that live in the same habitat.
4
Q
Definition of biotic & abiotic factors
A
Biotic : Living parts in an environment
Abiotic : Non living parts in an environment
5
Q
Definition of ecosystem
A
The biotic and abiotic parts of an environment and how they interact.
6
Q
Definition of stable community
A
When the populations of organisms are in balance with each other and the abiotic resources.
7
Q
Name 4 things plants have to compete with each other for.
Name 4 things animals have to compete with each other for.
A
Plants: Space, Minerals ions in the soil, Water, Light
Animals: Food, water, mating partners, territory.
8
Q
Definition of interdependence
A
How all of the organisms in an ecosystem depend on each other.
9
Q
Give 3 examples of interdependence.
A
- Every animal depends on other living organisms for food. Eg lions eat zebras
- Shelter - trees provide shelter from the sun.
- Plants depend on Animals: Plants depend on bees to spread their pollen.
10
Q
State and explain the 4 biotic factors
A
- Availability of food: Animals rely on other organisms for food. If availability of food falls, so do the organisms in that community.
- The arrival of a new predator: Can cause the population of the prey species to fall. Can also affect the population of the rival predator species if they’re competing for the same prey.
- Competition between species: If a species is outcompeted their species population can fall so much that they can no longer breed + go extinct.
- New pathogens: A new disease can spread and wipe out the population of a species.
11
Q
State and explain the 7 abiotic factors.
A
- Light intensity: If there is less light, the rage of photosynthesis slows and the plants grow slower. Less plants = less food for animals.
- Temperature change: Could cause the distribution of a species to change - animals could migrate.
- Water: Plants and animals need water to survive.
- pH and mineral content of soil: many plants cannot grow of soil is too acidic or alkaline.
- Wind intensity + direction: Strong winds blowing inwards from sea can cause plants to lose water, which is needed for photosynthesis.
- Carbon dioxide: Needed for photosynthesis.
- Oxygen: Oxygen is need for respiration. The level of dissolved oxygen in water can fall on hot days. This can be dangerous for aquatic organisms eg fish.
12
Q
What are structural adaptations?
Provide 3 examples of structural adaptations
A
- Structural adaptations are adaptations to the body shape or structure of an organism.
Examples:
- Camels have long eyelashes to keep dust out of their eyes.
- Camels have wide feet to prevent them from sinking into the ground.
- Camels have a hump that stores fat. B/c it’s stored in one place, it allows heat lose from other parts of its body.
13
Q
What are behavioural adaptations?
Provide 2 examples of behavioural adaptations
A
- Behaviours adaptations are adaptations to an animals lifestyle or behaviour.
Examples:
- Kangaroo rats are nocturnal, which means they are asleep during the day to escape the heat.
- Kangaroo rats live in burrows underground to protect them from predators.
14
Q
What are functional adaptations?
Provide 2 examples of functional adaptations
A
- Functional adaptations are adaptations to the body functions of an organism.
Examples:
- Certain Snake species produce venom
- Plants photosynthesise
15
Q
What are extremophiles?
What kind of environments can they live in?
provide an example of an extremophile.
A
- Extremophiles are organisms that are adapted to live in very extreme conditions. They can live in high pressure and high temperature environments.
- An example is the bacteria that live on the seabed.
16
Q
What are producers? Provide 2 examples.
A
- Producers are the organisms at the start of the food chain.
- Trees, Algae
17
Q
What is a primary consumer?
A
A primary consumer is an organisms that eats a producer
18
Q
What is a secondary consumer?
A
A secondary consumer is an organism that eats a primary consumer.
19
Q
What is a tertiary consumer?
What is an apex predator?
A
A tertiary consumer is an organism that eats the secondary consumer.
An apex predator is an organism tat he top of the food chain.
20
Q
What is a quadrat?
What is a transect?
A
Transect: A line or a piece of rope
Quadrat: A square frame of wire
21
Q
What are the two types of sampling?
A
Random sampling, Sampling along a transect
22
Q
What is random sampling used for?
What is sampling along a transect used for?
A
- Random sampling is used to estimate the total numbers of organisms in an area.
- Sampling along a transect is used to investigate the distribution of organisms in a habitat.
23
Q
Why must we use a random generator to calculate coordinates?
Why must you place the quadrat down a large number of times.
A
- Random generator prevents bias + provides a more reliable answer.
- Because that way you are sampling a lager percentage of the area and are more likely to get valid results.
24
Q
What process allows carbon to enter the carbon cycle?
What process allows carbon to return back to the atmosphere
A
- Photosynthesis enters carbon into the carbon cycle.
- Respiration returns carbon back to the atmosphere m
25
Explain the process of the Carbon cycle.
1. Plants and Algae release carbon dioxide into the carbon cycle through photosynthesis.
2. The carbon is used to make carbohydrates, fats and proteins which make up the cells of algae.
3. Plants and algae respire so some of the carbon is returned back to the atmosphere as CO2.
4. Plants and algae can be eaten by animals. The carbon in the plants becomes part of the carbohydrates, fats and proteins in the animal cells.
5. Animals also respire. Some of the carbon is released back into the atmosphere as CO2.
6. Animals release waste products such as faeces + eventually die. There is carbon in the waste and dead remains of animals.
7. The waste products and dead remains are broken down by decomposers, such as bacteria and fungi.
8. When the decomposers respire, carbon is returned back into the atmosphere as CO2.
26
What are decomposers + their roles (2)
Decomposers: micro-organisms such as bacteria and fungi that break down the dead remains and waste products of animals.
- Decomposers also return carbon to the atmosphere as CO2 and release mineral ions to the soil.
27
When are decomposers unable to function effectively?
If animals dead remains aren’t decomposed what happens to them?
- Under certain conditions, for example a lack of oxygen, decomposers cannot function effectively.
- They are slowly converted to fossil fuels.
28
Explain the process of the water cycle.
1. Almost all of the water found in earth is found in oceans. This is salt water.
2. Energy from the sun causes the water to evaporate from the surface.
3. The water vapour then travels into the air and condenses to form clouds. The water in clouds then falls to the ground as precipitation.
4. Once the water hits the ground, some of it evaporate back into the atmosphere as water vapour.
5. Some of the water forms aquifers. Lots of the water forms rivers or streams.
6. The water from rivers and and streams eventually drains back into the sea.
29
What does the water cycle show us?
Give 2 examples of how living organisms are involved in the water cycle
- The water cycle shows us how water is cycled through ecosystems.
- Plants take up water in their roots. The water travels to the xylem and passes out of the leaves through the stomata as water vapour.
- Animals take in water through drinking + food. Animals release water in their urine + faeces when they exhale.
30
Definition of precipitation.
Is precipitation fresh water?
- Precipitation is rain or snow or sleet etc that falls and condenses on the ground.
- Yes, precipitation is fresh water
31
Definition of aquifer.
A rock that holds water.
32
Definition of biodiversity.
How does biodiversity help an ecosystem?
Biodiversity: The variety of different species of organisms on earth or within an ecosystem.
2. Many different species mean the ecosystem is less dependent on one species. If the population of a species falls, it’s less likely to affect the whole ecosystem.
33
Name 2 reasons why a high biodiversity is important
1. Increase the stability in an ecosystem.
2. Species rely on each other for food and shelter.
34
Why is deforestation having a negative impact on biodiversity?
Name 2 reasons for deforestation.
1. Deforestation destroys the habitats of many species, and kills lots of individuals in that species. If the population falls so far, they can no longer breed with each other and the species will become extinct.
- The land can be used to grow crops for biofuel eg corn.
- Logging - valuable trees such as mahogany can be cut for timber and used to make furniture.
35
1. Explain how water pollution is produced.
2. What are the effects of water pollution?
1. Humans produce lots of sewage, which contains urine and faeces.
- In some countries, the sewage is released into different water sources straight away, but in the UK it’s treated first.
- However, accidental untreated sewage spills still happen, and are released into our water.
2. It can lower dissolved oxygen rates for in water, making it harder for aquatic organisms to respire and they can die.
36
What are fertilisers?
How do their pollute the environment?
1. Fertilisers are substances that are applied to the soil to enhance plant growth.
2. Fertilisers can be released from farms and pollute rivers and streams. This can lower dissolved oxygen levels, which lowers respiration rates for aquatic organisms and kills them.
37
How do toxic chemicals contribute to water pollution?
Toxic chemicals can be released into rivers from factories.
Aquatic organisms can ingest these toxic chemicals, giving them diseases and killing them.
38
Two types of air pollution are sulphur dioxide and carbon particulates.
How are these created?
- Combustion of diesel in vehicle engines can release sulphur dioxide. This can cause acid rain.
- Burning coal in factories can result in incomplete combustion. This releases carbon particulates which can cause global dimming.
39
Two types of land pollution are Landfills and Toxic chemicals.
What impact do these have on the environment/ biodiversity?
1. Lots of waste is dumped in landfills. Landfills destroy the habitats of plants and animals.
2. Toxic chemicals can also leak out of the landfills and pollute the soil, which can kill plants if they absorb the toxic chemicals / don’t receive enough mineral ions.
40
Name 2 effects of acid rain on the environment.
1. Acid rain can lower the pH of rivers and oceans, killing some aquatic organisms because the conditions are too acidic for them to survive.
2. Acid rain can damage tree bark and leaves, making them more susceptible to pest infestation and increasing the difficulty for them to absorb the mineral ions they need to survive.
41
Name 3 things that humans use space for.
How does a reduced amount of space impact biodiversity?
42
What is peat?
What do peat bogs and peat lands contain?
Peat: a substance that consists of partially decayed vegetation.
Peat bogs and peat lands contain large amounts of dead plant materials.
43
Why do peat lands contain lots of trapped carbon?
Because conditions in the peat mean that decay is very slow.
44
Name 2 uses of peat.
- Peat is used to produce cheap compost for gardens and farms
- peat is burned to release energy eg to generate electricity.
45
How does the destruction of peat contribute to a loss in biodiversity?
1. Destruction of peat bogs + lands destroys areas of the habitat, killing a variety of organisms belonging to different species, therefore reducing biodiversity.
46
Name 2 other problems with destroying peat.
- Once peat has been extracted, and used for compost it starts to decay which releases lots of CO2 into the atmosphere.
- Lots of peat is burned which also releases CO2 and contributes to climate change.
47
What have farmers replaced peat compost with?
Farmers have started using peat free compost, but it’s more expensive which pushes food prices up.
48
Why is the earths temperature rising?
Because human activities such as burning fossil fuels are increasing the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases such as methane and CO2 are trapping heat in the atmosphere, causing the earths temperature to rise.
49
What is peer review?
Peer review is a checking process that helps to detect false claims and makes sure that the scientific evidence published in scientific journals is valid.
50
Why may media reports contain misinformation?
Media reports are not subject to peer review, therefore they may contain misinformation.
51
Name 3 consequences of global warming
1. Loss of habitats + falling populations eg ice reduction in the arctic causing polar bear populations to fall.
2. Animal migration - birds + insects may migrate to cooler temperatures. This could also lead to diseases such as malaria being brought to the UK.
3. Plants flowering earlier due to warmer conditions. Some plants may be unable to grow in countries they once could if the climate is too hot.
52
How can we maintain biodiversity?
1. Loss of habitats + falling populations eg ice reduction in the arctic causing polar bear populations to fall.
2. Animal migration - birds + insects may migrate to cooler temperatures. This could also lead to diseases such as malaria being brought to the UK.
3. Plants flowering earlier due to warmer conditions. Some plants may be unable to grow in countries they once could if the climate is too hot.
53
How do breeding programs help biodiversity?
Endangered species in zoos will often be lent to other zoos in the hope that they will breed to increase the population of that species.
54
1. What are wetlands?
2. Why were they destroyed + what problem did this cause?
3. What are people doing to protect + regenerate them?
1. Wetlands are areas where water covers the soil. They have very high levels of biodiversity.
2. They have been drained to create space to produce crops. This destroyed the habitats of many organisms and greatly reduced biodiversity.
3. Large areas of wetland have become protected areas, so that they can’t be drained. In some cases, wetlands are being re - flooded.
55
1. Why is biodiversity often low in farms?
2. What are field margins?
3. What are hedgerows?
1. Because only one type of crop is grown.
2. Field margins: A strip of land around fields where wild plants and animals can live.
3. Hedgerows: Hedges planted between fields where lots of wild plants and animals can live.
56
How are governments contributing to the maintenance of biodiversity?
1. To reduce the amount of habitats getting destroyed by deforestation, governments are attempting to reduce deforestation and establish more national parks.
2 To reduce the amount of habitats being destroyed by global warming, governments are trying to increase the amount of renewable resources producing energy.
57
How does recycling help maintain biodiversity?
If we recycle, less waste ends up in landfills, which reduces the number of habitats getting destroyed.
