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Ecology Flashcards

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1
Q

What is an ecosystem? - Ecology

A

The interaction between communities of living organisms and their environments

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2
Q

What are producers? - Ecology

A

Plants and algae which photosynthesise to provide food for primary consumers?

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3
Q

What are primary/secondary/tertiary consumers? (What do they eat) - Ecology

A

Primary - herbivores, eating producers
Secondary - carnivores which eat primary consumers
Tertiary - carnivores which eat secondary consumers

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4
Q

What is interdependence? - Ecology

A

The idea that all organisms living in an ecosystem depend upon each other for food, shelter etc…

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5
Q

Explain interdependence in terms of grass, rabbits and foxes. Explain the increase of foxes and decrease of foxes - Ecology

A

If the population of foxes increased, then the population of rabbits would decrease, leading to a lack of food for foxes.
If the population of foxes decreased, the population of rabbits would rise, meaning levels of grass would plummet

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6
Q

What 4 things do plants compete for? - Ecology

A

Light, space, water, minerals

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7
Q

What 3 things do animals compete for? - Ecology

A

Food, territory and mates

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8
Q

Name 4 abiotic factors which affect the abundance or distribution of organisms - Ecology

A

Light intensity, temperature, moisture levels, soil pH content, soil mineral content, wind direction/intensity, CO2 levels, oxygen levels for aquatic animals

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9
Q

Name 3 biotic factors affecting the abundance or distribution of organisms - Ecology

A

Availability of food, new predators, new pathogens, out- competition (as a result of a new species being introduced to an environment)

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10
Q

How do plants compete for light and water? - Ecology

A

Plants grow quickly to reach any light possible.
Plants often have long, thin roots to reach water from far away, whilst some have deep thick roots to reach underground water stores

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11
Q

How do plants compete for minerals and space? - Ecology

A

Minerals - evolved to become carnivorous and eat insects (Venus flytrap)
Space - aim to fill vacant space in order to maximise the health of plants

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12
Q

How do animals compete for food and mates? - Ecology

A

Food - animals often fight for food against others as it is vital for life
Mates - animals often fight for mates which show strongest genetic traits in order to give offspring the best chance of survival

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13
Q

How do animals compete for territory? - Ecology

A

Animals would set out boundaries for their territory, containing water, oxygen and light and fight if another animal or group infringed on this space

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14
Q

What are structural adaptations? Name 2 structural adaptations in plants - Ecology

A

Structural adaptations are physical features which allow plants to compete.
Cacti have strong spines which prevent them being eaten by grazing animals. Plants have large ranged roots to absorb maximum water

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15
Q

What is a behavioural adaptation? Give an example of a behavioural adaptation in plants - Ecology

A

When plants change behaviours in order to give them an advantage
Some plants grow towards light in order to maximise exposure to light

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16
Q

What is a physiological adaptation? Give one example in plants - Ecology

A

Processes which allow plants to compete

Stinging nettles having mild poison that sting anyone who comes into contact with it

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17
Q

What are structural adaptations? Give 2 examples in animals - Ecology

A

Physical features which allow animals to compete.

Sharp claws to catch and kill prey, prey have eyes on the sides of their head to spot predators easily

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18
Q

What are behavioural adaptations? Give an example in animals - Ecology

A

Behavioural changes which give them an advantage

A male peacock showing tail feathers to attract female peacocks, wolves hunting prey in packs

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19
Q

What are physiological adaptations? Name an example in animals - Ecology

A

Adaptations which are processes that allow them to compete

Production of venom to kill prey

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20
Q

What is an extremophile? - Ecology

A

An extremophile is an organism that lives in an extreme environment

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21
Q

How are Polar Bears adapted to survive at polar regions? (2) - Ecology

A

Have thick white fur for camouflage as well as for maintaining warmth. Have a thick layer of fat to keep warm

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22
Q

How are penguins adapted to survive in polar regions? - Ecology

A

Have a thick layer of fat to keep warm, huddle together in large groups for warmth

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23
Q

What makes an ecosystem healthy and balanced? - Ecology

A

The numbers of predators and prey remaining largely constant throughout a time period

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24
Q

What is sampling? - Ecology

A

Observing a small area of a population or species and using this to draw conclusions about the rest of an area

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25
Q

How should sampling be performed? - Ecology

A

Calculate a given area and use this to count a specific variable in a smaller area. Divide the total area by the area measured and multiply your variable value by that to find an estimate

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26
Q

What is random sampling? - Ecology

A

Using a quadrat and placing it at random coordinates in an area

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27
Q

What is systematic sampling and how would it be used? - Ecology

A

Placing a quadrat at specific intervals along a transect (straight line) and making analysis about distance from an object

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28
Q

What 3 processes does carbon undergo in the carbon cycle? - Ecology

A

Photosynthesis, respiration, combustion

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29
Q

What is decomposition? - Ecology

A

The breakdown of dead matter/material to release nutrients back into the soil

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30
Q

What factors affect rate of decay? - Ecology

A

Temperature, water, oxygen

31
Q

How do temperature and access to water affect the rate of decay? - Ecology

A

Temp - the warmer the temperature, the higher the rate of decay (unless too high and decomposers die)
Water - with more water, the rate of decomposition increases

32
Q

How does access to oxygen affect the rate of decay? - Ecology

A

Oxygen is needed for decomposers to respire, so without oxygen there is no decomposition. As the volume of oxygen available increases, the rate of decomposition increases

33
Q

How do gardeners use compost and manure to improve the quality of soil? - Ecology

A

Compost is made from dead plants and manure is animal waste. They are broken down by decomposers into minerals and absorbed by the soil

34
Q

What is anaerobic decay? Where does it occur? - Ecology

A

Anaerobic decay is when decomposers break down without the presence of oxygen
Waterlogged soils, lakes, marshes

35
Q

What are the products of anaerobic decay? What are the issues with this? - Ecology

A

The products of anaerobic decay are methane and CO2. Both these gases are greenhouse gases

36
Q

What is biogas? How is it produced? - Ecology

A

A type of biofuel made from anaerobic decomposition of organic waste.
By allowing organic waste to anaerobically digest, methane is produced which can be burned for fuel

37
Q

How do you calculate the rate of change? - Ecology

A

Rate of change = change in value / change in time

38
Q

What is biodiversity? - Ecology

A

A large range of species in a given area

39
Q

Name 2 reasons why human population is increasing - Ecology

A

Better healthcare means people live longer
New medicines developed so people don’t die
Some religions don’t permit contraception use
Farmers can produce more food

40
Q

How is water pollution a problem? - Ecology

A

Open sewers can lead into water systems, which can contaminate human water supplies. Toxic chemicals can lead into water supplies

41
Q

How are air and land pollution an issue? - Ecology

A

Combustion of fossil fuels leads to the greenhouse effect and global warming. Pollution can cause respiratory issues.
Rubbish often goes to landfill which is not environmentally friendly. Fly tipping

42
Q

How is land use an environmental issue? - Ecology

A

More houses have to be built on previous agricultural land. Biodiversity is lost. More food also needs to be grown

43
Q

Name 3 things to have caused deforestation in recent years - Ecology

A

A growth in human population
Building new houses
Growing more food
A rise in industry

44
Q

What are the negative impacts of deforestation? - Ecology

A

Destroys the habitantes of organisms in forested regions and makes them extinct. Reduces numbers of carbon sinks, releases more CO2

45
Q

What are peat bogs? - Ecology

A

Very wet areas of land with no trees and low levels of nutrients. Contain HIGH amounts of CO2

46
Q

Why is the burning of peat bogs an issue? - Ecology

A

Peat bogs contain high levels of CO2, and we call them carbon sinks. When burned, this CO2 would be quickly released and contribute to the greenhouse effect

47
Q

What is the greenhouse effect? Why can this be positive? - Ecology

A

The retention of heat in our atmosphere caused by the build up of greenhouse gases. It can be positive as this helps keep our planet warm enough for the survival of human life

48
Q

What is global warming? - Ecology

A

The increase in the mean temperature of the Earth since the start of the industrial revolution as a result of increases in the volume of greenhouse gases

49
Q

Name 3 consequences of global warming - Ecology

A 
Melting of polar ice caps
Rising in sea levels (risking flooding)
More extreme weather
Extinction of species
Tropical diseases becoming common in Europe
50
Q

What evidence is there for global warming? - Ecology

A

A rise of CO2 levels in accordance with a rise in temperatures globally

51
Q

What is conservation? Give 3 examples of this - Ecology

A

Keeping the environment healthy and productive by careful use of resources.
Breeding programmes to help endangered species like pandas, protection of natural habitats, reducing deforestation, recycling

52
Q

What are trophic levels in a food chain? - Ecology

A

The position of an organism in a food chain/web/pyramid

53
Q

What do arrows in a food chain show? - Ecology

A

Arrows in a food chain shows the transfer of energy/biomass between organisms

54
Q

What is the animal at the top of a food chain called? - Ecology

A

The apex predator

55
Q

What are scavengers? - Ecology

A

Organisms that feed on dead animals and carcasses

56
Q

How do you draw a pyramid of biomass? - Ecology

A

Space the bars equally around a midpoint with all bars touching. Producer bar at the bottom, with each trophic level a new bar. Length of bar is proportional to the biomass at each trophic level

57
Q

What happens to biomass as it progresses throughout a food chain? - Ecology

A

The biomass decreases as it is used to complete life processes by organisms at each trophic level

58
Q

How can biomass be lost by organisms at each trophic level? - Ecology

A

Wasted energy in faeces, urea, energy used in respiration

59
Q

How can you calculate the efficiency of biomass transfer between trophic levels? - Ecology

A

Percentage efficiency transfer = (biomass in higher trophic level/biomass in lower trophic level) x 100

60
Q

What is food security? - Ecology

A

A measure of how much food there is, whether this is of a suitable quality and whether it is accessible.

61
Q

Name 3 factors that reduce food security - Ecology

A

An increase in human population, pests and pathogens that attack crops and farm animals, global warming, armed conflicts, increased farming costs

62
Q

How does VEGETABLE intensive farming help to meet food demands? 3 methods - Ecology

A

Use machinery, fertilisers, high yield crops, monoculture (growing only 1 crop to maximise profits)

63
Q

How can intensive farming be used on livestock? - Ecology

A

Keeping livestock in smaller pens with regulated temperatures to maximise their size and limit the amount of energy used. Fed high protein foods to increase growth

64
Q

What is organic farming, how is more environmentally friendly than intensive farming? - Ecology

A

Do not use machines to the same extent as intensive farming, don’t use pesticides and use natural fertilisers. ROTATE CROPS TO AVOID MONOCULTURE

65
Q

How can fishing be made sustainable? Name 1 example of overfishing - Ecology

A

Increasing gaps in fishing nets to decrease the number of fish caught, making quotas to limit the number of fish caught and killed
COD OVERFISHING IN THE NORTH SEA

66
Q

What is genetic modification? - Ecology

A

The extraction of genes that control desired characteristics and application of these genes to the genome of species for human benefit

67
Q

Describe the process of genetic modification (from beginning to inserted into plasmid) - Ecology

A

A chromosome for a desired trait is cut from the cell using an enzyme and inserted into a cut plasmid with an enzyme

68
Q

Describe the process of genetic modification (from insertion into plasmid to end) - Ecology

A

Gene is inserted into plasmid and sealed using enzymes. The plasmid with desired gene is inserted into a bacterium which rapidly produces the desired product

69
Q

Name 2 examples of genetic modification - Ecology

A

Creating a variety of rice with high levels of Vitamin A

Crops modified to be resistant to pesticides, meaning pests die, not crops

70
Q

What is selective breeding? - Ecology

A

Selectively breeding 2 animals with desirable characteristics together in order to produce offspring having inherited these characteristics

71
Q

What examples of selective breeding are there? - Ecology

A

Breeding dogs for specific shapes and sizes, uses or characteristics
Cows bred to produce large volumes of milk
Wheat resistant to some diseases

72
Q

What ethical issues are there with genetic modification? - Ecology

A

Many disagree on religious grounds, some think scientists are taking natural courses into their own hands, others worry the genes may have detrimental effects

73
Q

How does fermentation work? - Ecology

A

A food source is added into a container where aerobic respiration occurs. A constant temperature is maintained by a water jacket at the optimum temperature

Biology (7 decks)

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