Ecology

Question 1

Abiotic factors

Answer 1

These are the none living features of an ecosystem

(Physical and chemical conditions) that affect the community.

Question 2

Biosphere

Answer 2

The part of the earth inhabited by living organisms, including land, ocean, and the atmosphere in which life can exist.

Question 3

Biotic factors

Answer 3

These are the living features of an ecosystem that affect the other members of the community.
They include; plants for food and shelter; predators; pray; parasites and pathogens; competitiors; pollinators

Question 4

Carnivore

Answer 4

An animal or plant that feeds exclusively or mainly on animal flesh, eg fox, dog, ladybird, venus fly trap

Question 5

Climatic factors

Answer 5

Features relating to long term weather conditions that influence the life and distribution of the organisms that live in a particular environment eg rainfall, humidity, temperature, light intensity and day length

Question 6

Ecology

Answer 6

The study of how living things relate to and interact with each other and their environment

Question 7

Ecosystem

Answer 7

A community of living organisms interacting with one another and their non- living environment within a particular area: eg woodland, hedgegrow, seashore, tree etc

Question 8

Edaphic factors

Answer 8

The physical, chemical and biological characteristics of the soil that influence the distribution of organisms in a terrestrial ecosystem.
The major edaphic factors are: available (soil) water, mineral content, PH, humus, soil texture and structure

Question 9

Food chain

Answer 9

A list of species such is that each is food for the next species in the list. It is a chain of organisms through which energy is transferred.

Question 10

Food chain order

Answer 10

Green plants (producers) eaten by small animals (primary comsumer) then a larger animal (secondary consumer), etc then the tertiary consumer.

Primary producer - primary consumer - secondary consumer - tertiary consumer

Rose- greenfly- ladybird- thrush

Question 11

Food web

Answer 11

A chart showing all the feeding connections in the habitat/ ecosystem

Question 12

Grazing food chain

Answer 12

A food chain where the initial plant is living eg

Grass - grasshoppers - frogs -hawk

Question 13

Habitat

Answer 13

The particular place within the ecosystem where a population of organisms live and to which they are adapted

Question 14

Herbivore

Answer 14

An animal that feeds exclusively or mainly on plants eg rabbit

Question 15

Omnivore

Answer 15

An animal that feeds on plants and animal flesh eg human

Question 16

Primary consumer

Answer 16

A herbivore which obtains its nutrition directly from plants; usually the second member of a food chain

Question 17

Producer

Answer 17

An organism capable of making its own food from inorganic materials eg green plants

Question 18

Pyramid of numbers

Answer 18

A diagram that represents the numbers of organisms at each tropic level in a food chain; pyramid representing a food chain

Question 19

Secondary consumers

Answer 19

A carnivore which obtains its nutrition from animals, usually the third member of a food chain

Question 20

Tertiary consumer

Answer 20

A carnivore which obtains its nutrition from animals, usually the fourth member of a food chain

Question 21

Trophic level

Answer 21

Feeding level: the position or energy level of a species in a food chain