ecology Flashcards
ecosystem:
all the organisms living in a habitat and the nonliving parts of the habitat
different levels of organisms:
-individual organisms
-populations
(individual group of same species)
-communities
(populations living together)
interdependence:
species reply on each other
(for food, shelter, pollination, seed dispersal)
if one thing is removed it can affect ecosystem
facts that affect community can be:
abiotic (non living)
biotic (living)
abiotic factors
- light intensity
- temperature
- moist levels
- wind intensity
- soil pH and mineral content
biotic factors
- availability for food
- new predators arriving
- new pathogens/diseases
- one species out competing other
animals adaptations
structural
behavioural
functional
structural adaptation:
-physical features
colour
Behavioural adaptation:
-way organism acts
inherited/ learnt
functional adaptation:
-process inside an organism
endure correct functioning of all cell processes
extreamophiles:
an organisms that loves the extreme conditions.
high temp, pressure or salt concentration
feeding relationship
primary producer primary consumer secondary consumer tertiary consumer quaternary consumer
all good chains begin with..
a producer
predators
consumers that eat other animals
prey
those that are eaten
biomass
mass of living material in each organism
primary consumer
‘herbivore’
plant eating animals
secondary and tertiary consumers
‘carnivore’
meat eating animals
biodiversity
variety of all the different species of organisms on earth
high biodiversity=
helps ecosystems to be stable
species depend on each other for food and shelter
factors that put biodiversity at risk:
- availability of water
- temp
- atmospheric gases
biodiversity is at risk due to:
- changes in season
- geographic activity (volcanoes)
- human interaction
main process that removes carbon from air=
photosynthesis
carbon cycle
describes how carbon is recycled in nature
carbon cycle relies on..
decomposers to return carbon to the atmosphere as CO2 through respiration
water cycle:
- evaporation
- condensation
- cooling
- precipitation
- percolation
- transpiration
evaporation:
Sun heats up the earths surface and water is turned from liquid into water vapour
Condensation:
Moist air rises as it cools water vapour condenses back into liquid water droplets producing clouds
Precipitation:
As water droplets in the clouds get heavier they fall as rain, hail, snow
Percolation:
water trickles through gaps in soils and rocks
transpiration:
Lots of water vapour from the plants and animals directly into the atmosphere
what can disturb water + carbon cycle:
cutting down large areas of forest
pollution kills
plants + animals - reducing biodiversity
pollution can occur:
- in water (sewage, fertilisers, toxic chemicals)
- in air (gases- sulfur dioxide produces acid rain)
- on land (landfill +toxic chemicals)
deforestation
cutting down trees and destruction of forest
global warming:
gradual increase in temp of earth
global warming consequences:
- loss of habitat (low lying areas flooded)
- changes in distribution of species (rainfall, temperature)
- changes to migration patterns of animals
conserve biodiversity:
- breeding programme for endangered species
- protect rare habitats
- reduce deforestation
- recycling recourses
Environment
Conditions surrounding organisms
Habitat
Place where organism lives
Population
Individuals of same species living in a habitat
Community
Populations of different species living in a habitat
