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Biology A2 > Ecology > Flashcards

Ecology Flashcards

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1
Q

Biotic

A

Living parts of an ecosystem that affect another organism

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2
Q

Community

A

An interacting group of species in a common location

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3
Q

Ecosystem

A

Community of living organisms in conjunction with the non-living components of their environment

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4
Q

Environment

A

Surrounding things

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5
Q

Habitat

A

The actual location in the environment where an organism lives and consists of all the physical and biological resources available to a species

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6
Q

Interspecific competition

A

Different species competing for the same resource
Often means both species have lower numbers as they are sharing a food source
One species often ends up out competed if the other species is better adapted

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7
Q

Intraspecific competition

A

Same species competing for limited resources

Can cause a cyclic change in population size where the population grows, shrinks, grows again etc

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8
Q

Niche

A

The status of an organism within its environment (unique to each species)

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9
Q

Population

A

Summation of all the organisms of the same species in a particular area

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10
Q

Species

A

Largest group of organisms where two hybrids are capable of reproducing fertile offspring, typically using sexual reproduction

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11
Q

Adaptation

A

A trait with a current functional role in the life history of an organism that has evolved

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12
Q

Sessile organisms

A

They don’t move

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13
Q

Example of an ecosystem

A

Freshwater lake

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14
Q

2 Abiotic conditions of a lake

A

Temperature and Water pH

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15
Q

2 Biotic conditions of a freshwater lake

A

Fish and water plants

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16
Q

The niche a species occupies is made up of?

A

Biotic interactions - eg what it eats, what its eaten by

Abiotic interactions - eg the temperatures it can survive in, time of day it is active

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17
Q

What happens when two species occupy one niche?

A

They will compete until only one of the species is left

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18
Q

Example of an adaptation

A

A giraffe has a long neck to reach high up vegetation

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19
Q

3 types of adaptation

A
  1. Physiological 2. Behavioural 3. Anatomical
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20
Q

Natural selection

A

Better adapted organisms are more likely to survive, reproduce and pass on the alleles for that adaptation, that adaptation then becomes more common in the population.

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21
Q

2 examples of adaptations of abiotic conditions

A
  1. Otters have webbed paws, allowing them to walk on land and swim efficiently. They can then live and hunt on land and in water so are more likely to survive
  2. Whales have a thick layer of blubber to keep them warm in the coldest seas, increased chance of survival because they can live in places with a plentiful food source
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22
Q

2 examples of adaptations to biotic conditions

A
  1. Chimpanzees use twigs to fish termites out of termite mounds, increased survival as it is access to another food source
  2. Some scorpions dance before mating to make sure they attract a mate of the same species, increased chance of reproduction as successful mating is more likely
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23
Q

Abiotic factors and populations size

A

When abiotic conditions are ideal population size will increase as organisms can survive better and reproduce successfully

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24
Q

Example of interspecific competition

A

Grey squirrels and red squirrels

25
Q

3 biotic factors linked to population size

A
  1. Interspecific 2. Intraspecific 3. Predation
26
Q

Predation

A

When an organism kills and eats another organism

27
Q

The predator prey cycle

A

The populations of a predator and it’s prey are interlinked, when one changes it causes the other to change too
However other factors (such as availability of food for the prey) at play mean it is not as straightforward as this

28
Q

Abundance

A

Number of individuals of one species in a particular area

29
Q

How can abundance be measured?

A
  1. Counting number of individuals in the sample taken
  2. Frequency of samples the species is recorded in
  3. Percentage cover (plants)
30
Q

Distribution

A

Where a particular species is within the area you’re investigating

31
Q

Sampling

A

It is too time consuming to measure the abundance and distribution of a species in the entire area you are investigating, so you take samples

32
Q

Random number generators

A

Divide the area into a grid and use a random number generator to select coordinates, then take samples from these coordinates

33
Q

Running mean

A

every time you collect a new sample, you take a mean of all the data. once the mean is no longer changing by a dramatic amount, you should have data that gives a reliable estimate for the whole area

34
Q

Quadrats

A

quadrats are placed on the ground a different points within the area you are investigating. the species frequency or number of individuals of a species can be calculated, as well as percentage coverage.

35
Q

Line Transects

A

a tape measure is placed along the transect and the species that touch the transect are recorded

36
Q

Transect

A

lines across an area, used to find out about plant distribution

37
Q

Belt Transects

A

quadrats are placed next to each other along the transect to work out species frequency and percentage cover along the transect

38
Q

Interrupted Transects

A

take measurements at intervals along the transect

39
Q

Pitfall traps

A

steep sided containers that are stuck in a hole in the ground, the top is partially open so insects fall in the container and can’t get out again. there is a raised lid to protect trapped organisms from rain and some predators

40
Q

Pooters

A

:( time consuming and requires lots of people to get a representative sample size

41
Q

Beating Trays

A

tray or sheet held under tree, the tree is shaken, and samples fall onto the sheet and are then counted

42
Q

Mark-Release-Recapture

A
  1. capture a small sample of a species
  2. mark them in a harmless way
  3. release them back into their habitat
  4. wait an appropriate amount of time
  5. take another sample and count how many are marked
  6. use population equation to estimate total population size
    ASSUMING THAT
    you left enough time, marking hasn’t affected survival rates, small change due to death/birth/migration
43
Q

Total population size equation

A

Number caught in first sample * number caught in second sample
/
number marked in second sample

44
Q

Risk Assessments

A

must always be carried out before fieldwork

45
Q

Ethical Issues

A

must be kept in mind, such as does the fieldwork negatively affect the environment

46
Q

Birth Rate

A

number of live births per 1000 people per year

47
Q

Death Rate

A

number of deaths per 1000 people per year

48
Q

population growth rate (per thousand people per year)

A

BR-DR

49
Q

The DTM

A

shows death rate, birth rate and total population rate over time

50
Q

stage 1

A

BR and DR fluctuate at a high level

51
Q

stage 2

A

DR falls, BR remains high

52
Q

stage 3

A

BR falls rapidly, whilst DR continues to fall slowly

53
Q

stage 4

A

BR and DR fluctuate at a low level, population is stable but high

54
Q

stage 5

A

BR falls, DR remains stable, population decreases

55
Q

Population growth curves

A

population size against time

56
Q

survival curves

A

shows percentage of all individuals that were born in a population that are still alive at a given age
can be used to work out the survival rate for a given age

57
Q

sex age pyramids

A

shows population structure

58
Q

life expectancy

A

is the age a person born into a population is expected to live to

Biology A2 (5 decks)

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