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Biology > Ecology > Flashcards

Ecology Flashcards

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AP® Biology flashcards Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Who was the first person to use the term ecology and when?

A

Ernst Haeckel 1869

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2
Q

What was Ernst Haeckel’s definition of ecology?

A

The study of the homes of organisms.

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3
Q

What is the right definition of ecology and who created it?

A

The study of the distribution and abundance of organisms.

Andrewartha and Birth

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4
Q

Where does life exist of Earth? Describe it

A

The Biosphere, it is a thin band near Earth’s surface where conditions are such that organisms can sustain themselves. It is 15 km maximum.

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5
Q

What are the 3 parts of the biosphere?

A

Atmosphere, lithosphere and hydrosphere

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6
Q

What is the atmosphere?

A

The region of gases, (oxygen, nitrogen etc.) particulate matter and water vapour enveloping the Earth.

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7
Q

What is the lithosphere?

A

Outermost crust of the Earth’s surface (rock, land and soil.)

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8
Q

What is the hydrosphere?

A

Including all the water of the Earth.

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9
Q

What are the 3 sections of the Earth’s structure?

A

Crust, Mantle and Core

Crust and core are about 6000km away from one another.

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10
Q

What are biomes?

A

Broad regions of different vegetation types.

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11
Q

What are biomes defined by?

A

The dominant plant species that are present which also correlate with major climate zones on Earth’s surface which set the way of life for species in the region.

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12
Q

How do climate zones affect the way of life of species in an area?

A

They influence the kinds of nutrients available in food for herbivores, the kind of habitats and the local environmental climate.

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13
Q

How are the world’s forests distributed and why?

A

By the equator.
Hot air rises but because there is a low air pressure system in the region, it does not go high enough to be cooled down and rather just continues circulating hot air. Hot air evaporates and causes lots of rain.

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14
Q

What is the distribution of the world’s deserts and why?

A

By the tropics and on the western side of continents.
Because there is a high pressure system meaning that clouds get moved so there isn’t a lot of rain in the day and it is cold in the night because the sand cant retain heat.

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15
Q

How do ocean currents affect rainfall?

A

Warmer currents = more rain (eg, Benguela current)

Colder currents = less rainfall (eg, Agulhas current)

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16
Q

Why are rainforests on the East Coast?

A

It is hot and has high pressure system and mountains which means more rainfall because hot = more evaporation = cloud formation = rain.

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17
Q

Name 3 key animal species for the following region:

Fynbos

A

Grysbok, geometric tortoise, small southern adder

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18
Q

Name 3 key animal species for the following region:

Savanna

A

Gnu, Rhea, Savanna elephant (lighter unlike darker rainforest elephant to attract and retain heat through the dense trees)

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19
Q

Name 3 key animal species for the following region:

Grasslands

A

Black footed ferret, mountain plover, sumatran tiger.

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20
Q

Name 3 key animal species for the following region:

Nama Karoo

A

Riverine Rabbit, visagie’s golden mole, sclater’s lark

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21
Q

Name 3 key animal species for the following region:

Succulent karoo

A

De Winton’s golden mole, namqua dune mole rat, burlow’s lark

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22
Q

Name 3 key animal species for the following region:

Desert

A

Social weavers, meerkat, kalahari lion

23
Q

Name 3 key animal species for the following region:

Forest

A

Jaguar, blue duiker, nyala, suni

24
Q

Subatomic particle

A

Unit of energy and/or mass; electron, proton, neutron

25
Q

Atom

A

Smallest unit of any pure substance that retains properties of that substance.

26
Q

Molecule

A

Different/identical atoms bound together.

27
Q

Organelle

A

Various inclusions with specific functions found in cells.

28
Q

Cell

A

Smallest living unit that is either independent /part of a multi-cellular organism.

29
Q

Tissue

A

The fundamental structure of which animal and plant organs are composed.

30
Q

Organ

A

1 or more types of tissue interacting as a structural functional unit.

31
Q

System

A

2 or more organs working together to perform a specific function.

32
Q

Organism

A

Any form of life which reflects the morphological and physiological characteristics of a species.

33
Q

Population

A

A group of interbreeding organisms of the same species occupying a particular space.

34
Q

What is the place where a populations lives known as?

A

Habitat

35
Q

Community

A

Different species populations that live in the same habitat in interdependent relationships which are constantly fixing, utilizing or dispensing energy.

36
Q

Ecosystem

A

Consists of various communities living together. Anything with living and non-living factors interacting.

37
Q

Biosphere

A

The global ecosystem; that part if the earth and it’s atmosphere (land, sea, air - where life exists)

38
Q

What are abiotic components?

A

Non-living factors

39
Q

What are biotic components?

A

Living factors

40
Q

Give 3 examples of living factors

A

Producers
Consumers
Decomposers

41
Q

Producer

A

Organisms that create their own energy

42
Q

Consumers

A

Organisms that indirectly gain their energy through the consumption of producers.

43
Q

Physiology

A

Branch of biology that deals with the functions and activities of living organisms and their parts including all physical and chemical processes.

44
Q

Morphology

A

Branch of biology that deals with the form and structure of organisms.

45
Q

What are the 8 factors of the ecological web?

A 
Water
Light
Gases
Temperature
Soil
Food
Mates
A place to live
46
Q

Explain how the following factor affects animals or plants:

Water

A

Hydration
Minerals are dissolved and carried in the body easier
Sweat allows for cooling down
Some animals don’t sweat because they are cold blooded or poikilothermic and they don’t have an internal temperature and rather adapt to their surroundings.

47
Q

Explain how the following factor affects animals or plants:

Gases

A

Photosynthesis

Respiration

48
Q

Explain how the following factor affects animals or plants:

Light

A

Vitamin D
Photosynthesis
Able to see
Determine which are nocturnal or not

49
Q

Explain how the following factor affects animals or plants:

Temperature

A

Photosynthesis and respiration increase when warmer.
Productivity
Determines hibernation
Some flowers (daffodils) forced to open buds in the cold
When soil is frozen it is harder for plants to absorb water

50
Q

Explain how the following factor affects animals or plants:

Soil

A

Holds plant steadily in soil if soil structure is strong.
Hold animals (camels have wide foot pad for the desert)
Soil holds moisture
Soil holds minerals

51
Q

Explain how the following factor affects animals or plants:

Food

A

Gives us energy (especially carbs, sugar and glucose)

Diet is affected by the digestive system

52
Q

Explain how the following factor affects animals or plants:

Mates

A

Reproduction - pass on genetic material to survive
Strong mates = good genetic material
All naturally designed to avoid extinction.

53
Q

Explain how the following factor affects animals or plants:

A place to live

A

Habitat

Shelter

54
Q

Where does the word “ecology” come from?

A

It comes from the Greek words, oikos (home or house) and logos (to contemplate or study)

Biology (2 decks)

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