Ecology 9 Flashcards
Define a producer/autotroph
an organism which makes its own food
Define a consumer/heterotroph
an organism which obtains its food by eating another organism
Define a scavenger
An animal which feeds on already dead animals
Define a decomposer
A micro-organism which breaks down dead organisms and wastes in order to obtain nutrients
Define a detritivore
An invertebrate which breaks down dead organisms and wastes in order to obtain nutrients
Define interdependence
A relationship between two organisms, where each affects the other’s survival
Define mutualism
An interaction between two organisms in which both benefit
List some abiotic factors
- UV radiation
- amount of sunlight
- temperature
- exposure to air
- wind intensity
- rock types
- rainfall
- CO2 levels
- altitude
- O2 levels in water
- soil
List some biotic factors
- flora
- fauna
- relationships
- competition for food
- diseases
- competition for habitat
What are examples of detritivores?
- cockroaches
- termites
- mosquitoes
- dung flies
What are examples of interdependant relationships?
- predator/prey
- mating
- competition
What are examples of symbiotic relationships?
- parasitism
- mutualism
- commensalism
What is the difference between interspecific and intraspecific relationships?
interspecific - different species
intraspecific - same species
Define parasitism
One species benefits while the other is harmed
Define commensalism
one species benefits and the other is unaffected
How does an increase in predators affect the prey?
The prey will die out due to over hunting, resulting in the death of predators
How does an increase in prey affect the predators?
If the prey eats producers, the producers will die out causing many species including the prey to die. This will result in the death of the predators
How do abiotic factors affect biotic factors?
The abiotic factors in an ecosystem decide which biotic factors will survive in it and what their amount will be
What percentage biomass/energy is passed from one trophic level to the next?
10%
List some ways that energy is used up in each trophic level
- movement
- heat
- faeces
Outline the carbon cycle
- Plants convert CO2 to oxygen through photosynthesis
- Animals release CO2 during respiration
- Decomposers convert carbon compounds and waste material back to CO2
- The combustion of fossil fuels releases CO2 back into the air
Outline the nitrogen cycle
- Nitrogen fixing bacteria converts nitrogen (N2) into nitrates (NO2) in soil
- Plants can then incorporate this nitrogen to make protein and DNA
- When animals ingest plants, they absorb the nitrogen and proteins are converted into amino acids
- When animals excrete urine (ammonia), the NH3 is converted back into nitrates (NO2) by nitrifying bacteria and then into NO3
- Denitrifying bacteria converts NO3 back into nitrogen (N2) in the air
What is glucose used for?
cellular respiration and carbohydrates
What are the types of proteins formed by amino acids?
structural and functional
What are examples of structural proteins?
- muscle (actin, myosin)
- collagen
- keratin
What are examples of functional proteins?
- hormones (oestrogen, testosterone, adrenaline, progesterone, ADH)
- antibodies
- enzymes
- haemoglobin
How are legumes involved in the nitrogen cycle?
The nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the nodules converts the nitrogen into nitrates. It is a mutualistic relationship as the bacteria gets a nice home and the plants get nitrogen.
How are coal power stations linked global warming?
When coal is burned it reacts with oxygen in the air to produce carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide works like a blanket over the atmosphere, trapping the heat inside.
What are three methods of renewable electricity?
- wind power stations
- solar power
- Hydroelecricity
What are advantages and disadvantages of wind power?
Advantages:
* doesn’t release carbon dioxide
* doesn’t disrupt farmlands
Disadvantages:
* can be dangerous to wildlife like birds
* noisy
* expensive
* unreliable
What are advantages and disadvantages of solar power?
Advantages:
* reduces electricity bills
* no noise
* no pollution
* can be installed anywhere
* low maintance
Disadvantages:
* expensive
* lower energy production in winter months and on cloudy days
* panels can be seen as unattractive
What are advantages and disadvantages of hydroelectricity?
Advantages:
* low pollution
* reliable
* adjustable
* creates lakes
Disadvantages:
* expensive
* succeptable to droughts
* flood risk
* takes away habitat from fish
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of cool burning?
Advantages:
* lower risk of dangerous fires
* native plant reproduction
* control of invasive species
* creates more habitat for wildlife
* minimizes the spread of pests and diseases
Disadvantages:
* Can sometimes create a wildfire
* Can negatively affect air quality
* Can negatively affect water quality
How does cool burning conserve ecosystems?
- Generates patchy habitats preferred by small animals
- Prevents wildfires from consuming the land, destroying habitiats and killing animals
How can overfishing be managed sustainably?
Reducing fishing in certain areas at a time to allow populations to replenish and not using such big fishing nets
What is a way that biodiversity and habitat loss can be managed?
Reusing agricultural land instead of creating more in order to put the environment before cost and efficiency
What are ways to reduce the decline in biodiversity?
- invest in the environment
- stop using rivers & estuaries as “sinks” for pollution
- make food affordable
- reduce food waste
- government regulations
What are strategies that were used to allow the recovery of Mountain Gorilla populations?
The money from tourism is used to restore gorilla habitats and conservation efforts by multiple communities
