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Biology 2017 > Ecology > Flashcards

Ecology Flashcards

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1
Q

What is binomial nomenclature and what do the first and second names indicate

A

Naming system where the first name indicates genus and the second indicates species

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2
Q

What does organisms having the same genus indicate

A

That they’re closely related

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3
Q

What are the 5 kingdoms of the 5 kingdom system of classification

A

Bacteria, Protists, Plants, Animals, Fungi

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4
Q

What are Protists

A

Organisms that don’t fit in any other cater gory eg Algae

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5
Q

4 barriers that prevent fertilisation between different species

A

Different mating call, different pheromones, inability of sperm to survive in reproductive tract, different seasons or times for reproduction

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6
Q

3 Barriers that prevent the development of fertile adults

A

Zygotes fail to develop, young fail to reach sexual maturity, offspring are infertile

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7
Q

3 problems with the species definition

A

1) inter specific hybrids are not always fertile
2) cannot consider fertile criteria when looking at fossils
3) some species use asexual reproduction

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8
Q

3 functions of autotrophs (producers)

A

Can make their own food (energy), usually are photosynthesisers, are net consumers of CO2 and produce O2

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9
Q

2 functions of heterotrophs (consumers)

A

Feed on ready made organic compounds as they cannot synthesis their own food and are net producers of CO2 and consumers of O2

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10
Q

What are herbivores and what are three adaptations for their diet

A

Organisms that feed directly on producers

  • Teeth / Jaw
  • have an appendix / caecum
  • mutualism with bacterial
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11
Q

What are carnivores and what are two adaptations for their diet

A

Organisms that feed on other heterotrophs

  • teeth / jaw
  • hunting instincts
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12
Q

What are omnivores

A

Heterotrophs that feed on autotrophs and heterotrophs

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13
Q

What are decomposers

A

an organism, especially a soil bacterium, fungus, or invertebrate, that decomposes organic material.

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14
Q

What’s a detritivore

A

Decomposer that ingests and physically breaks down non-living organic matter

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15
Q

What’s a saprotroph

A

an organism that lives on or in non-living organic matter, secreting digestive enzymes into it and absorbing the products of digestion

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16
Q

define trophic levels

A

The level at which an organism is found

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17
Q

What’s the 1st trophic level

A

Producers

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18
Q

What’s the 2nd trophic level

A

Primary consumers (herbivores)/ 1st order consumers

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19
Q

What’s the 3rd trophic level

A

Secondary consumers either omnivores or carnivores / 2nd order consumers

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20
Q

Example of a food chain

A

Producer: Plant, Primary Consumer: grasshopper, Secondary consumer: Rat, tertiary consumer: Snake, Quaternary consumer: Hawk

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21
Q

What are 4 survival factors

A

Resource availability, interactions between organisms, the climate and human activity

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22
Q

Adaptation by verophytes

A

Have small thick leaves to limit water source

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23
Q

Define population

A

a group of individuals of one species that inbreed together in a particular living space

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24
Q

Define a community

A

All of the living organisms found together living together in a particular area or habitat

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25
Q

Define ecosystem

A

The sum of all the organisms living in a particular area along with the habitat and physical components of the environment that affects organisms

26
Q

Three main areas of interactions between organisms

A

Competition, predation and symbiosis

27
Q

What is competition

A

Where organisms are competing for the Sam resources such as light, space, oxygen and food
Most intense between members of the same species or species that have similar requirements

28
Q

What is predation

A

Where one organism feeds on or eats another live organism

29
Q

3 examples of defences to prevent predation

A

Chemical defences - using chemicals to deter predators
Colouration - change colour to appear toxic or camouflage
Physical defences - eg thorns and spikes

30
Q

Define symbiosis

A

When there is a distinct relationship between two organisms of two different species

31
Q

Define mutualism

A

A relationship where both organisms from different species benefit eg bacteria in the stomach of a cow

32
Q

Define commensalism

A

When only one species benefits but the other is unharmed eg barnacles attaching to razor fish

33
Q

Define parasitism

A

Form of symbiosis where the prey is harmed or eaten by an organism that is smaller than them eg lice, ticks and fleas or fungi

34
Q

Define species

A

A population or group of populations where the members have similar physical characteristics and the capacity to interbreed and produce fertile offspring

35
Q

Nomenclature system

A

The first word is the genus and the second is the species name eg homo sapien

36
Q

4 barriers that prevent fertilisation

A

Different mating calls and rituals, difference in Flower shape or genitalia, different seasons or times for reproduction, inability of sperm to survive in reproductive tract

37
Q

3 barriers that prevent the development of fertile adults

A

Zygotes fail to develop, young fail to reach sexual maturity, offspring are infertile

38
Q

4 factors that can determine the survival of a particular species

A

Interactions between organisms, availability of resources, climate, impact of human activities

39
Q

Abiotic factors for producers

A

Light intensity, rainfall, soil, temperature, nutrient levels

40
Q

Define productivity in a community

A

How effective a particular community is at converting the Suns Energy

41
Q

Define biomass

A

The total weight of living matter in a community

42
Q

What is required for a community to have a high productivity

A

Ample resources eg light, rain, nutrients etc

43
Q

Why are decomposers essential in returning resources to a community

A

As matter is neither created or destroyed, it is important to recycle matter which can be done by decomposers like bacteria and fungi

44
Q

Photosynthesis enables producers to …

A

Convert light energy into chemical potential energy stored in the bonds of molecules

45
Q

How much energy is carried from each trophic level to the next

A

Around 10%

46
Q

Three things the loss of energy between trophic levels can be attributed to

A

Organisms not digesting and absorbing all the food materials they eat
The process of respiration to supply energy for their own needs
Energy lost in the form of heat

47
Q

What is the stability of the temperature due to

A

The fact that the input and output of energy on earth are almost equal

48
Q

What happens to most of the Suns energy

A

It radiates off our planet and goes back to space

49
Q

What is succession

A

The gradual process by which the species composition of a community changes

50
Q

How does succession occur

A

Modification of the habitat caused by the organisms that are living there

51
Q

3 ways organisms may change their habitat

A

May provide food or shelter for others
May change the soil structure
May decompose dead material -> make nutrients available

52
Q

What is the difference between primary and secondary succession

A

Primary succession is where organisms establish themselves in a new environment secondary succession happens somewhere the environment has been damaged

53
Q

Example of primary succession

A

Sand dune or volcanic island

54
Q

Example of secondary succession

A

Fire or logging of trees in a forest

55
Q

What happens to species with a higher reproductive effort in succession

A

Tend to initially have the advantage

56
Q

What tends to happen to species with a low reproductive effort but longer life span during succession

A

Initially are disadvantaged but then proliferate and overtake

57
Q

3 places biodiversity can be seen in

A

1) the genetic make up of individuals in a population
2) between one species and another
3) between the various ecosystems

58
Q

Many varieties of ecosystems are required to …

A

Maintain balance in the atmosphere ~ regulate climate conditions

59
Q

Define co-evolution

A

A process where the evolution of two species occurs together or in tandem so that the two depend on each other

60
Q

Example of co-evolution

A

Nitrogen fixing bacteria in the root nodules of legumes

61
Q

Define natural selection

A

A process whereby those individuals that are most suited to conditions are more likely to survive and pass on their genes to the next generation

Biology 2017 (5 decks)

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