Ecology Flashcards
Biosphere
The part of the earth where life is possible
Biotic factor
Living factors that affect the community (food)
Climatic factor
The average weather conditions that affect the community in the ecosystem
Ecology
The study of how living things relate to each other and their environment
Ecosystem
A community of living organisms interacting with one another and their non-living environment within a particular area
Edaphic factor
Refers to soil .e.g, soil type, soil pH, humus content
Food web
Two or more interconnecting food chains in an ecosystem
Grazing food chain
A food chain where the initial plant is living
seaweed —> winkles —> crabs —> herring gulls
Algae —> water flea —> sickle back —> perch
Habitat
A place where something lives and to which it is adapted
Niche
The functional role of an organism in an ecosystem
Primary consumer
Feeds on producers
Producer
Organisms capable of making their own food .e.g, photosynthesis
Pyramid of numbers
A diagram that represents the numbers of organisms at each trophic level in a food chain
Area is in proportion to numbers
Qualitative survey
Records the species present, this is achieved by collecting and identifying the species
Quantitative survey
Records the actual number of species present
Secondary consumer
Feeds on primary consumers
Tertiary consumer
Feeds on secondary consumers
Trophic level
Position of an organism in a food chain. Feeding stage in a food chain.
Community
Population of different species of organisms
Species
Organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring
Key
Used to help identify plants and animals
A key asks a series of questions which pinpoint one feature after another of an organism and in a stepwise fashion, enable us to identify it
Food Chain
A flow diagram that shows how food/energy is passed through a series of organisms in a community
Detritus food chain
One where the chain begins with dead organic matter and animal waste
Detritus —> edible crab —> seagull
Abiotic factor
Non-living factors that affect the community
Competition
When organisms in an ecosystem fight for necessary resources that are in short supply
Population
A group of individuals of the same species living together in a habitat
Contest competition
Usually an active physical confrontation between two organisms and one organism gets the resource E.g. two dogs fighting for a bone
Predation
The act of some animal (predators) catching and killing another animal for food
Predator
An animal that catches and kills another animal, “prey” for food
Scramble Competition
A struggle for a resource in an ecosystem with all the organisms obtaining a small amount of the resource
Prey
The animal caught by the predator for food
Symbiosis
When two different species live in close proximity with at least one of the two benefiting from the relationship .e.g. Rhizobium (bacteria) in the nodules of clover
Conservation
The wise management of our natural resources
Parasitism
The act of living on another living organism (the host) causing it harm
Pathogen
A disease-causing organisms
Community
The different groups of organisms living in an ecosystem
Pollution
Any undesirable change to a habitat .e.g. acid rain
Eutrophication
Artificial enrichment of a body of water, usually by nitrates and phosphates.
Decomposition
The decaying of a dead organism
Denitrification
The conversion of nitrates to atmospheric nitrogen
Herbivore
An organism that feeds on plants only
Nitrification
The process of converting ammonia into nitrates and/or nitrites
Nitrogen Fixing
The conversion of atmospheric nitrogen to nitrates (often by bacteria or lightning)
Problem with Slurry
Causes eutrophication Causes algal bloom which die Algal death Microbial decomposition Oxygen depletion Plant and animal death
Prevention of Slurry
Spread on a dry day
Leak-proof pits
Keep back a metre from water`s edge
Benefits of Conservation
Endangered species are preserved
Balance in nature
Pollution and its effects are normally reduced
Existing environment we have is maintained
How to Ensure Conservation
Mixed farming - crops and livestock (prevents soil erosion and manure keeps crops fertile)
Crop Rotation (different crops with different nutrients)
Biological pest controllers - ladybird eating greenfly (no chemicals)
Acid Rain
pH 3/4
Burning fossil fuels
Corrodes buildings, reduces soil pH, irritates delicate lining of lungs
Dealing with Acid Rain
Reduce fossil fuels burned
Reduce, reuse and recycle
Catalytic converters in cars
Smokeless fuels
Role of Micro-organisms in Waste Management
Waste is covered in soil
Bacteria and fungi break down biodegradable material
