Ecology Flashcards
everything in ecology up to decomposition
What is an Ecosystem?
the interaction of a community of living organisms with the abiotic parts of their environment.
What do plants compete for
light, space, water and mineral ions from the soil
what do animals compete for
mates, food, territory and water
What is interdependence
when one organism relies on another for certain resources/ factors
- if one species is removed from a habitat it can affect the whole community
what happens in a stable community
all the species and environmental factors are in balance so that the population sizes stay fairly constant
Name some abiotic factors (7)
- light intensity
- soil pH and mineral content
- temperature
- wind intensity and direction
- CO2 levels for plants
- oxygen levels (aquatic animals)
- moisture levels
Biotic factors
- availability of food
- new predator
- new pathogens
- one species out-competing the other
What are the different types of adaptations?
- structural adaptations
- behavioural adaptations
- functional adaptions
What are structural adaptations?
features of an organism’s body structure - such as shape and colour
What are behavioural adaptions?
the way organism behave
what are functional adaptions?
things that go on inside organisms bodies
what are extremophiles?
they are microorganism adapted to live in extreme conditions
What are decomposers?
organisms that break down dead material by secreting enzymes into the environment
What happens to waste products and to organisms when they die
the dead material is broken down by decomposers
What are examples of microorganisms that are responsible for decomposition? (3)
bacteria, fungi, detritus feeders
What are the optimum conditions for decomposition?
Warm temperature
oxygen availability
water availability
number of decay organisms ( more = faster decomposition)
Why does decay work faster in warm temperatures and a moist environment
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
How are natural fertilizers created for plants (by farmers)
farmers try to provide optimum conditions in a compost heap which is used as a natural fertilizers
What happens when waste is broken down in anaerobic conditions?
methane gas is produced
what is a population?
a group of organisms of one species living in a habitat
what do producers do and what are they usually?
synthesises molecules
usually a green plant or alga which makes glucose by photosynthesis
what should happen in a stable community?
the numbers of predators and prey rise and fall in cycles.
What happens in the carbon cycle?
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
What is photosynthesis used for?
- to make glucose, which can be turned into carbohydrates, fats and proteins that make up the bodies of plants and algae
How does carbon move up the food chain?
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
What is the percentage of CO2 in the air?
0.04%
What happens in the water cycle?
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
How does decomposition help the environment?
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
What are biogas generators used for?
to produce biogas from waste to use as fuel
In order to work what do biogas generators need?
- 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
when can you use quadrants for random sampling?
when measuring plants or slow-moving animals
How do you see how plants are spread or distributed in a habitat?
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
