Ecology

Question 1

Define “Ecology”

Answer 1

The study of relationships between organisms and their environment.

Question 2

Species

Answer 2

Organisms of the same species are able to breed and produce fertile offspring.

Question 3

Habitat

Answer 3

The environment in which a species lives

Question 4

Population

Answer 4

Members of the same species living in a given area at a given time

Question 5

Community

Answer 5

All the species living together in a given area

Question 6

Ecosystem

Answer 6

The community and the abiotic factors

Question 7

Biotic factors

Answer 7

All the living organisms in the environment

Question 8

Abiotic factors

Answer 8

All the non-living conditions within the environment

Question 9

Hydrosphere

Answer 9

Water

Question 10

Lithosphere

Answer 10

Rocks

Question 11

Atmosphere

Answer 11

Gases

Question 12

Autotrophs/Producer

Answer 12

Produce organic matter from CO2 i.e. produces own energy

Question 13

Heterotrophs

Answer 13

Obtain organic matter from other organisms

Question 14

Parasites

Answer 14

Feed on living organisms without killing

Question 15

Food Web

Answer 15

A “web” showing the different feeding relationships between species

Question 16

Food Chain

Answer 16

It shows the flow of energy through trophic levels

Question 17

What are the different trophic levels?

Answer 17

T1 - Producers (plants), T2 - Primary Consumers, T3 - Secondary Consumers, T4 - Tertiary Consumers, T5 - Quartenary Consumers

Question 18

Why is energy not 100% transferred between trophic levels?

Answer 18

Lost by excretion, not eating the full species (think about how you wouldn’t eat the fat or bone on a steak)

Question 19

What is a Energy Pyramid?

Answer 19

A graph of energy flow in a community

Question 20

What are the different types of Greenhouse Gases?

Answer 20

Methane, CO2, Nitrous Oxide

Question 21

Why do greenhouse gases cause global warming?

Answer 21

Solar radiation (heat) is put through the atmosphere, into the earth. The solar radiation is utilized then reflected out. The atmosphere prevents a percentage of the radiation from escaping and reflects back into the earth. Increasing greenhouse gas emissions causes the atmosphere to reflect or “trap” more solar radiation inside the earth, causing temperature levels to rise.

Question 22

What are some ways that CO2/Carbon enters the earth from the atmosphere?

Answer 22

Photosynthesis

Question 23

What are some ways that CO2 is released back into the atmosphere?

Answer 23

Burning (particularly fossil fuels), Respiration

Question 24

Name the type of bacteria that has evolved to become resistant to antibiotics?

Answer 24

MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)

Question 25

Define Evolution

Answer 25

Evolution is “the process of cumulative change in the heritable characteristics of a population”

Question 26

What are the types of genetic variation?

Answer 26

1. Mutation

2. Sexual reproduction

Question 27

What are three examples of evolution?

Answer 27

1. MRSA
2. Peppered Moths
3. Colorado potato beetle - pesticide resistance

Question 28

What are homologous structures?

Answer 28

Different species have structures with very similar form and function -> shows a common ancestor

Question 29

What are Transitional Fossils?

Answer 29

Fossils from an intermediate/common ancestor that shows change