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AQA GCSE Biology > Ecology > Flashcards

Ecology Flashcards

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1
Q

What is classification?

A

The science of grouping organisms into taxons where those with similar characteristics are grouped together

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2
Q

Who suggested the five kingdoms?

A

Carl Linneaus

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3
Q

What are the five kingdoms?

A
  • Animals
  • Plants
  • Fungi
  • Protists
  • Bacteria
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4
Q

Name the classification system in order:

A 
Domain
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
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5
Q

What is a species?

A

A group of similar organisms that can successfully breed together and produce living fertile offspring

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6
Q

How are species identified?

A

By a Binomial Name

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7
Q

Who introduced the three domains?

A

Carl Woese

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8
Q

What enabled Carl Woese to introduce the three domains?

A

The improving methods of testing and viewing organisms with microscopes and the consequent changing of classifications

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9
Q

What are the three domains?

A
  • Eukarya
  • Prokarya
  • Archaea
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10
Q

What does the Eukarya domain contain?

A

Organisms with cells that contain a nucleus

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11
Q

What does the Prokarya domain contain?

A

Organisms that lack a nucleus

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12
Q

What does the archaea domain contain?

A

Primative bacteria found living in extreme environments

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13
Q

Why have classification systems changes over times?

A

Due to the improvements in biochemistry and microscopy

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14
Q

What information do scientists use to draw phylogenetic trees?

A

Classification information- observable features, biochemicals (e.g. DNA)
Fossil records

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15
Q

What is the alternative name for the phylogenetic tree?

A

Evolutionary tree

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16
Q

Compare the major features of organisms from the plant and animal kingdom

A
  • Animals can move their whole bodies from place to place whereas plants cannot move their whole bodies about
  • cells of plants have a cellulose cell wall however the cells of animals do not have a cell wall
  • plants can carry out photsynthesis to produce food whereas animals have to eat food
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17
Q

What do the community of organisms within an ecosystem do?

A

Interact with each other in a variety of ways

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18
Q

What is an ecosystem?

A

It’s the interaction of all living organisms with non-living organisms , within a community

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19
Q

What is a community?

A

All the different populations of different species of living organisms in an ecosystem with their own habitats

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20
Q

What are biotic factors?

A

Living

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21
Q

What are abiotic factors?

A

non-living

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22
Q

Give required examples of biotic factors:

A
  • New pathogens
  • Competition
  • Predation
  • Food supply
  • Parasitism
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23
Q

Give required examples of abiotic factors:

A
  • Wind intensity
  • Soil pH
  • Light intensity
  • Mineral content
  • Oxygen levels (aquatic animals)
  • Moisture levels
  • Wind direction
  • Temperature
  • CO2 levels (plants)
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24
Q

What do biotic and abiotic factors affect?

A

The population sizes of organisms

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25
Q

What does each organism rely upon others for in a community?

A
  • food
  • habitat/shelter
  • pollination
  • seed dispersal
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26
Q

What is a stable ecosystem?

A

Where there is a balance in population sizes due to interdependence

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27
Q

What do plants compete with eachother for within a community or habitat?

A
  • light
  • mineral ions
  • water
  • space
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28
Q

What do animals compete with eachother for within a community or habitat?

A
  • territory
  • food
  • mates
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29
Q

What is the theory behind natural selection?

A

The most successful competitors are those that are best adapted , so will survive, breed and pass these adaptations onto the next generation

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30
Q

What is an adaptation?

A

A feature of a living organism that enables it to survive in its natural habitat. Often they provide a selective advantage

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31
Q

What are extremophiles?

A

Organisms (commonly bacteria and archaea) that are adapted to extreme hostile environments

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32
Q

What are some examples of extrme hostile environments?

A
  • High temperatures
  • High salt levels
  • High pressure
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33
Q

What are the three types of adaptations?

A
  • Structural
  • Behavioural
  • Functional (biochemical)
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34
Q

How are larger animals adapted to colder environments

A

They have a smaller surface area to volume ratio so they lose less heat energy

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35
Q

Where does energy in ecosystems originally come from?

A

The Sun

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36
Q

How is energy transferred in an ecosystem?

A

From plants to animals and then animals to animals before being lost to the environment

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37
Q

What does a food chain represent?

A

The flow of energy

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38
Q

How is energy lost at each trophic level?

A

Loss through respiration (e.g. heat)

Production of faeces and urine

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39
Q

What is the largest typical length of a food chain? Why?

A

5 organisms because so much biomass/energy is lost from the food chain at each stage, through uneaten material, waste products, faeces, energy for movement and keeping warm

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40
Q

What is the most energy efficient diet? Why?

A

Vegetarian as the most energy is consumed since it is direct from a producer

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41
Q

Whats the relationship between the number of predators and prey?

A

If the number of predators increases, inevitably the number of prey falls and vice versa. In nature, this occurs in regular cycles

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42
Q

What are the properties of a producer?

A
  • Largest mass
  • First trophic level
  • Most energy
  • Photsynthetic
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43
Q

What are the properties of a primary consumer?

A
  • Herbivore
  • Second trophic level
  • Prey
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44
Q

What are the properties of a secondary consumer?

A
  • Prey
  • Predator
  • Third trophic level
  • Carnivore
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45
Q

What are the properties of a tertiary consumer?

A
  • Top predator
  • Least energy
  • Carnivore
  • Smallest mass
  • Fourth trophic level
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46
Q

What must be done when sampling an ecosystem?

A

Sites are chosen randomly to remove bias

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47
Q

What piece of equipment is used in sampling?

A

A quadrat

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48
Q

How do we know where to place the quadrat for our sample?

A

Make a grid and use a random number generator to choose co-ordinates

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49
Q

How can the validity of a sample area be improved?

A

By taking more measurements

50
Q

Aside from (a)biotic factors, what do ecologists look at ?

A
  • The abundance of organisms

- The distribution of organisms

51
Q

What is a quadrat used for?

A

To estimate the population of plants in an area

52
Q

What is a line transect used for?

A

To show how the distribution of organisms changes between two points

53
Q

How do you carry put a line transect?

A

Choose a random starting location, make a line of quadrats and record the distance and the number of organisms found

54
Q

What happens to nutrients in an ecosystem?

A

They are naturally recycled

55
Q

What are the two nutrient cycles?

A

Water

Carbon

56
Q

Why do plants need space for healthy growth?

A

So the roots can take in enough water and minerals. It also means that the leaves can capture enough light for photosynthesis.

57
Q

Why does a plant need water for healthy growth?

A

To keep tissues rigid and to photosynthesise

58
Q

Why does a plant need light for healthy growth?

A

In order for it to use the energy from the light to photosynthesise and produce food

59
Q

Why do plants need minerals for healthy growth?

A

To make amino acids and protein and other molecules necessary for growth

60
Q

Why do cacti have roots which spread far from the plant?

A

To cover more area than other plants in the soil for water uptake to avoid competition

61
Q

Why does ivy have suckers which help it grow up structures?

A

It means the ivy reaches an area of fewer plants so gets more light shining on leaves for photosynthesis

62
Q

Why do some animals mark their territory?

A

To stop other members of their species entering, which stops competition for food or mates

63
Q

How does being an omnivore, enable a species to survive?

A

It means they can eat more different types of food so therefore they experience less competition for food

64
Q

Why do plants (e.g. cactus) not necessarily require oxygen?

A

Because the plant photsynthesises which produces oxygen that it can use

65
Q

Why do all organisms need water?

A

It is needed for cells to function and aids the transport of other substances in multicellular organisms

66
Q

How are enzymes adapted which are in microorganisms that live in high temperatures?

A

Their enzymes do not denature at a high temperature so they can still carry out the essential reactions at high temperatures e.g. respiration

67
Q

Why do some plants have spines?

A

To protect the plant from other animals which could eat it and to reduce water loss by evaporation

68
Q

What are common adaptations of plants?

A
  • Low surface area to volume ratio in hot conditions for decreased water loss from leaves
  • spines for protection from herbivores
  • extensive root systems to collectas much water as possible
  • storing water in tissues so water is available at all times even in periods of dry weather
69
Q

By what processes does water vapour get into the sky?

A
  • Evaporation
  • Excretion
  • Respiration
  • Transpiration
  • Combustion
70
Q

What happens to water vapour in the sky?

A

It condenses to produce clouds

71
Q

What are the types of precipitation?

A

Rain, hail, snow, fog, mist, dew

72
Q

What moves clouds?

A

Wind

73
Q

What is percolation?

A

The slow movement of water through a solid

74
Q

What is excretion?

A

The removal of chemicals, particularly poisons

75
Q

What process does water undergo with roots?

A

Absorption

76
Q

What drives the water cycle?

A

The heat energy from the sun

77
Q

Where is carbon found?

A

In all organic molecules including carbohydrates, lipids and proteins

78
Q

How is biomass related to carbon and energy?

A

More biomass = more carbon = more energy

79
Q

What are decomposition and decay responible for?

A

Recycling carbon, nitrogen and minerals needed for living organisms

80
Q

What are most decomposers?

A

Fungi and bacteria

81
Q

What process do fungi and bacteria do to decompose stuff?

A

Extracellular digestion

82
Q

What is extracellular digestion?

A

the secretion of digestive enzymes and absorption of the digestive products back into their cells

83
Q

What factors does decay rely on?

A
  • availability of oxygen
  • temperature
  • availability of water
84
Q

What are the methods to prevent decay?

A
  • canning or sealing food
  • fridges
  • dessication (drying) or curing food
85
Q

What happens when milk decays?

A

The bacteria digest the lipids releasing fatty acids, these fatty acids will reduce the pH. A big enough reduction in pH will denature the proteins in the milk, causing it to curdle

86
Q

Describe the required practical for decay:

A
  • put lipase solution in one test tube
  • put a few drops of Cresol red solution, some milk and sodium carbonate into another test tube using a dropping pipette
  • put a thermometer into the second test tube
  • get the contents in the test tubes to the desired temperatures using a water bath
  • use another dropping pipette to transfer lipase into the milk test tube
  • start timing
  • stir the contents until the colour of the solution goes from purple to yellow
  • record the time taken for the colour change
  • repeat at all temperatures
87
Q

describe the importance of decay in the carbon cycle

A

carbon dioxide is returned back into the atmosphere when the microorganisms involved in decay respire

88
Q

Why are there more likely to be more herbivores than carnivores in a community?

A

More energy is available to them so more can be supported

89
Q

What do enzymes secreted by bacterial decomposers do?

A

Break down waste material into soluble food molecules which then diffuse into the bacterial cells

90
Q

What happens when bacterial decomposers decay waste?

A

They return mineral ions to the soil

91
Q

What is the impact on biomass transfer when the activity of bacterial decomposers is reduced?

A
  • if the rate of activity of decomposers is reduced, there will be fewer mineral ions in the soil which may mean that plants don’t grow as well/quickly
  • this means there are fewer/smaller plants in the woodlnad, meaning the biomass of the producers is less
  • this means less biomass is available for the primary consumer, so less of that will be available for the secondary consumer etc.
92
Q

How is biomass lost in respiratory losses?

A
  • glucose is used in respiration meaning it’s not used to make more biomass
  • during repsiration, carbon dioxide and water are lost as wast products too
93
Q

Why do gardeners and farmers try to provide optimal conditions for decay?

A

To maximise the rate at which nutrients are recycled and the compost produced is then used as a natural fertiliser to aid plant growth

94
Q

What is produced during anaerobic decay?

A

Methane

95
Q

What is the advantage and disadvantge of the production of methane during anaerobic respiration?

A
  • methane gas can be collected and used as a fuel

- methane gas can cause environmental problems (greenhouse house)

96
Q

What is biogas often used for?

A
  • generating electricity on sewage farms-

- has even been used to power UK buses

97
Q

What is a habitat?

A

The place where a particular organism lives

98
Q

what does the arrow in a food web/chain represent?

A

the direction of the transfer of energy from one organism to another

99
Q

What is the advantage of a food web over a food chain?

A
  • a food web is more accurate as it shows the network of interactions between organisms
  • a food web shows all or many of an organism’s predators or prey whereas a food chain only shows one
100
Q

Why is the sun necessary for an ecosystem which is stable and self-supporting?

A
  • the Sun provides the energy for photosynthesis
  • photosynthesis makes glucose and oxygen
  • glucose serves as a food for animals
  • oxygen is used for respiration by living organisms in the ecosystem
101
Q

How can an invasive species cause a decline in a native species?

A
  • by preying upon the native species
  • outcompeting it for food or other resources
  • causing or carrying disease
  • preventing the native species from reproducing or killing their young
102
Q

Why is there a delay in the impact when the population size of a predator/prey increases?

A
  • because they are responding to changes in the previous generation of the other population
  • neither population can respond instantly to changes in the other
  • reproductive cycles in either population cause a delay in response
103
Q

What is a structural adaption?

A

a physical feature of an organism which helps it survive

104
Q

What is a behavioural adaption?

A

a thing which an organism does to survive

105
Q

What is a functional adaptation?

A

a change to the way an organism works that helps it becomes more favourable to a certain environment (biochemical)

106
Q

Describe the water cycle:

A
  • water evaporates from the land and sea using energy from the sun
  • water also evaporates from plants during transpirationand becomes water vapour
  • the water vapour rises up and cools due to lower pressure, and condenses forming clouds
  • eventually the water falls as precipitation onto the land and into the sea
107
Q

Why is the water cycle important for living organisms?

A
  • every living organism on Earth depends on water to survive
  • without water and the water cycle to circulate water, all living organisms would die very quickly
  • it is needed for chemical reactions in living things such as respiration and photosynthesis
108
Q

What factors would affect the amount of carbon dioxide concentration in the air?

A
  • the varying seasons/weather as it means different amounts of photosynthesis takes place meaning there are different rates of carbon dioxide removal
  • amount of carbon dioxide stored in the oceans might change according to air temperature
  • amount of combustion taking place could also affect the amount of carbon dioxide being releases
109
Q

Why is decay vital for life?

A

vital nutrients for life would remain locked in dead organic materials if there was no decay

110
Q

Why does temperature affect the rate of decay of milk?

A
  • increasing the temp to a certain point, increases the rate of reaction by increasing the collision rate between the enzyme and substrate molecules
  • past a certain point, increasing the temp, reduces the rate of enzyme reactions until it stops when the active site of the enzyme is denatured by the high temperature and so the enzyme cannot break down the lipids
111
Q

Why is the efficiency of biomass transfer between different trophic levels typically low?

A
  • not all organisms in one trophic level are eaten by the next
  • some parts of organisms are inedible
  • some organisms may die before being eaten so decompose and their energy is passed to the decomposers
  • not all eaten food is digested and not all digested food is absorbed, some is egested as faeces
  • lots of energy is lost through excretion and cell respiration to provide energy for movement and keeping warm rather than making biomass
112
Q

What is a stable community?

A
  • a community where the abiotic and biotic factors stay relatively constant and in balance so that population sizes remain fairly constant
113
Q

What is the role of decomposers in ecosystems?

A
  • they carry out decay which breaks down dead organisms and waste
  • this returns mineral ions back to the soil which plants use for growth
  • it returns carbon back into the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide
  • this can be used by producers in photosynthesis
  • it cleans up the environment/recycles carbon needed for plants and the food chains
114
Q

Why had the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere remained fairly constant?

A

the amount of carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere through plants for photosynthesis and the amount entering the atmosphere from respiration was the same

115
Q

How does giving bacteria sunlight increase the rate at which compost can be produced?

A
  • increases the temperature
  • increases the rate of decay because chemical reactions in microorganisms would thus be quicker
  • so the compost is made faster
116
Q

How does giving bacteria water increase the rate at which compost can be produced?

A
  • maintains a high moisture level
  • microoganisms grow more quickly in moist conditions
  • so more microorganisms to decay so compost made faster
117
Q

How does mixing the contents of a compost maker increase the rate at which compost can be produced?

A
  • adds oxygen to into the compost
  • microoganisms are able to respire aerobically and transfer energy to their surroundings, speeding up the process
  • without oxygen, the process does not cause a rise in temperature so the process is slower
118
Q

Why is biogas produced under ground?

A
  • the ground insulates the generator
  • this slows the transfer of energy from it so the contents stay warm
  • this increases the rate at which the microorganisms anaerobicall decay and thus the rate at which biogas is produced
119
Q

How can the biomass of organisms at each trophic level be measured accurately?

A

By measuring the mass of the organisms after removing all the water in them/ drying them out

120
Q

What is the limitation to the method of measuring the biomass of organisms?

A

it kills the organisms

AQA GCSE Biology (9 decks)

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