Ecology

Question 1

What is an Ecosystem?

Answer 1

the interaction of a community of living organisms with the abiotic parts of their environment.

Question 2

What do plants compete for

Answer 2

light, space, water and mineral ions from the soil

Question 3

what do animals compete for

Answer 3

mates, food, territory and water

Question 4

What is interdependence

Answer 4

when one organism relies on another for certain resources/ factors
- if one species is removed from a habitat it can affect the whole community

Question 5

what happens in a stable community

Answer 5

all the species and environmental factors are in balance so that the population sizes stay fairly constant

Question 6

Name some abiotic factors (7)

Answer 6

• light intensity
• soil pH and mineral content
• temperature
• wind intensity and direction
• CO2 levels for plants
• oxygen levels (aquatic animals)
• moisture levels

Question 7

Biotic factors

Answer 7

• availability of food
• new predator
• new pathogens
• one species out-competing the other

Question 8

What are the different types of adaptations?

Answer 8

• structural adaptations
• behavioural adaptations
• functional adaptions

Question 9

What are structural adaptations?

Answer 9

features of an organism’s body structure - such as shape and colour

Question 10

What are behavioural adaptions?

Answer 10

the way organism behave

Question 11

what are functional adaptions?

Answer 11

things that go on inside organisms bodies

Question 12

what are extremophiles?

Answer 12

they are microorganism adapted to live in extreme conditions

Question 13

What are decomposers?

Answer 13

organisms that break down dead material by secreting enzymes into the environment

Question 14

What happens to waste products and to organisms when they die

Answer 14

the dead material is broken down by decomposers

Question 15

What are examples of microorganisms that are responsible for decomposition? (3)

Answer 15

bacteria, fungi, detritus feeders

Question 16

What are the optimum conditions for decomposition?

Answer 16

Warm temperature

oxygen availability

water availability

number of decay organisms ( more = faster decomposition)

Question 17

Why does decay work faster in warm temperatures and a moist environment

Answer 17

warm temperature - makes things decompose better as it increases the rate enzymes work at

moist environment- organisms in decay need water to carry out biological processes

Question 18

How are natural fertilizers created for plants (by farmers)

Answer 18

farmers try to provide optimum conditions in a compost heap which is used as a natural fertilizers

Question 19

What happens when waste is broken down in anaerobic conditions?

Answer 19

methane gas is produced

Question 20

what is a population?

Answer 20

a group of organisms of one species living in a habitat

Question 21

what do producers do and what are they usually?

Answer 21

synthesises molecules

usually a green plant or alga which makes glucose by photosynthesis

Question 22

what should happen in a stable community?

Answer 22

the numbers of predators and prey rise and fall in cycles.

Question 23

What happens in the carbon cycle?

Answer 23

1) CO2 is removed from the atmosphere by green plants and algae during photosynthesis
2) When plants and algae respire, some CO2 is returned
3) When the plants and algae are eaten by animals, some carbon becomes part of the fat and proteins in their bodies so carbon moves up the food chain
4) when the animal respire some CO2 is returned to the atmosphere
5) when plants, algae and animals die, decomposers feed on their remains and CO2 is returned to the atmosphere when they respire
6) the combustion of wood and fossil fuels also releases CO2

Question 24

What is photosynthesis used for?

Answer 24

• to make glucose, which can be turned into carbohydrates, fats and proteins that make up the bodies of plants and algae

Question 25

How does carbon move up the food chain?

Answer 25

When the plants and algae are eaten by animals, some carbon becomes part of the fat and proteins in their bodies so carbon moves up the food chain

Question 26

What is the percentage of CO2 in the air?

Answer 26

0.04%

Question 27

What happens in the water cycle?

Answer 27

1) Energy from the sun makes water evaporate from the land and sea, turning it into water vapour. Water also evaporates from plants (transpiration)
2) The warm water vapour is carried upwards. When it gets higher up it cools and condenses to form clouds
3) Waterfalls from the clouds, as precipitation, onto land where it provides fresh water for plants and animals
4) it then drains into the sea, before the whole process starts again

Question 28

How does decomposition help the environment?

Answer 28

when decomposers break down dead material by secreting enzymes, small soluble food molecules then diffuse into the microorganisms

this also releases nutrients into the environment, which the producers need in order to grow

Question 29

What are biogas generators used for?

Answer 29

to produce biogas from waste to use as fuel

Question 30

In order to work what do biogas generators need?

Answer 30

• often use plant materials such as food waste and animal manure
• decay under anaerobic conditions
• require a constant temperature of 30 degrees so the microoganisms keep respiring

Question 31

when can you use quadrants for random sampling?

Answer 31

when measuring plants or slow-moving animals

Question 32

How do you see how plants are spread or distributed in a habitat?

Answer 32

1) stretch a transect line across the area
2) place a quadrant down at regular intervals along the lines
3) count the plants in the quadrant each time