Ecology

Question 1

What is ecology?

Answer 1

Ecology is the study of the distribution and abundance of living organisms.

Question 2

Define species

Answer 2

Group of similar individuals that can reproduce fertile offspring.

Question 3

Define population

Answer 3

Group of organisms of the same specie living in the same area at a particular time.

Question 4

Define community

Answer 4

Groups of different populations in an area or habitat.

Question 5

List the 4 sphere’s.

Answer 5

Biosphere, Hydrosphere, Atmosphere, Lithosphere.

Question 6

What is a biome?

Answer 6

Biomes are the collection of plants and animals with similar characteristics to survive in a particular biome.

Question 7

What is the ecosystem?

Answer 7

Where species interact with each other and the environment.

Question 8

List the ecosystem in order.

Answer 8

Atom, Molecule, Cell, Tissue/Organ, Body System, Organism, Population, Community, Ecosystem.

Question 9

How can you compare biomes?

Answer 9

Buoyancy, Pressure, Gases, Temperature, Viscosity.

Question 10

What is a metapopulation?

Answer 10

A number of populations of the same species occurring in different suitable areas of separated habitats.

Question 11

What is a source population?

Answer 11

A source population occurs when there are more births than deaths making it easier to disperse.

Question 12

What is a sink population?

Answer 12

A sink population occurs when there is a higher death rate and a low birth rate.

Question 13

What is abundance?

Answer 13

Abundance is the number of the same species found in a small area to calculate the total species in the environment.

Question 14

State the main reason of Charles Darwin’s evolution theory.

Answer 14

The Galapagos finches beaks have adapted to their environment to acquire their nutritional food source to prevent competition.

Question 15

What is a niche?

Answer 15

The niche of a species is it’s role in the community.

Question 16

Define competition.

Answer 16

This occurs when 2 or more individuals strive to obtain the same resources when there is short supply.

Question 17

Define adaption.

Answer 17

Organisms adapt so that they are uniquely able to exploit their own niche to prevent competition.
Or
The organism has adapted to be specialised to suit the environment they live in.

Question 18

What are the different adaptions?

Answer 18

Behavioural - Actions by the organism to survive
Physiological - Internal workings
Anatomical - Can be seen when organism is dissected

Question 19

What is a common descent?

Answer 19

Common to their ancestors with little change.

Question 20

What is descent with modification?

Answer 20

Has similar characteristics to their parents but with different modifications.

Question 21

Define natural selection.

Answer 21

Within a population, a characteristic has more than one phenotype, these phenotypes result in genetic variation.

Question 22

What is directional selection?

Answer 22

Acts against one of the extremes in a range of phenotypes where one phenotype becomes rare and the other more common.

Question 23

What is stabilising selection?

Answer 23

Individuals with the average form of a trait with the same fitness.

Question 24

What is disruptive selection?

Answer 24

Individuals with either extreme variation of a trait have higher fitness with the average form of the trait.

Question 25

Define speciation.

Answer 25

Formation of a new species by natural selection is known as speciation.

Question 26

Define drosophila.

Answer 26

Before mating, males and females undergo a courtship ritual known as drosophila.

Question 27

What effects survival in animals?

Answer 27

Competition, Predation, Limited Light, Temperature, Disease, Human influence.

Question 28

What is divergent evolution?

Answer 28

Two or more species diverge from a common ancestor. ( For example, the fox, wolf and dog. )

Question 29

What is convergent evolution?

Answer 29

Two or more distinct species share traits not due to a common ancestor. ( Bird, Butterfly and Bat )

Question 30

What is parallel evolution?

Answer 30

When a trait develops in species that aren't related. ( Anteater and Numbat || Mouse and Marsupial Mouse )

Question 31

What is mutualism?

Answer 31

Between organisms of 2 species where each benefit.

Question 32

Define communalism.

Answer 32

A relationship between 2 species where one obtains food without hurting the other.

Question 33

Define parasitism.

Answer 33

Parasite living on a host.

Question 34

Define predation.

Answer 34

The process of capture, kill and ingest of another organism.

Question 35

What does 'BAP' stand for?

Answer 35

Biodiversity Action Plan

Question 36

What is batesian mimicry?

Answer 36

When a harmless animal looks dangerous.

Question 37

What is mullerian mimicry?

Answer 37

Poisonous animals evolve to look similar to one another.

Question 38

What is the 'r' and 'k' selection?

Answer 38

Used by ecologists to describe growth and reproduction strategies in organisms.

Question 39

'r'

Answer 39

Many offspring with little or no parental care on the hopes some survive.

Question 40

'k'

Answer 40

Some offspring suitable for the environment, requires a lot of parental care.

Question 41

Limiting Factors

Answer 41

Environmental conditions that control the rate at which a process can occur. ( Such as pop growth )

Question 42

What is Pop-Growth?

Answer 42

Determined by density dependant or density independent factors.

Question 43

Panda Paw?

Answer 43

Panda - Density Dependant Paw - Density Independent ``` Predators Availability of resources Nutrient supply Disease Spread Accumulation of wastes ``` Phenomena Abiotic Factors Weather conditions

Question 44

Density independent

Answer 44

Environmental factors are not influenced by the relative size of population. ( Weather, Climate, Natural Disasters )

Question 45

Density dependant

Answer 45

Environmental factors are influenced by the relative size of the population. (Predation, Food availability, Other resources, Pathogenic diseases.

Question 46

Logistic growth

Answer 46

Environmental resistance occurs Slowing of rate of growth Competition limits growth

Question 47

Exponential growth

Answer 47

``` Ideal environment No competition Small population J- curve Growth without limits ```

Question 48

S - curve

Answer 48

Logistic growth pattern | Environmental pressure slows rate of growth

Question 49

J - curve

Answer 49

Exponential growth pattern | Ideal, unlimited environment

Question 50

Environment Act

Answer 50

``` 1995 It created: The environment agency The Scottish environment protection agency The national park authorities ```

Question 51

Wildlife and Countryside Act

Answer 51

1981 Protects native species Controls the release of non-native species Offense to kill or injure any wild animal Take damage or destroy a wild nest Take or destroy an egg

Question 52

Deer Act

Answer 52

``` 1991 Law covers: Poaching deer Killing deer Use of ammunition in hunting ```

Question 53

Conservation regulations

Answer 53

1994 | Provisions for the conservation of natural habitats and flora + fauna.

Question 54

Conservation of habitats and species regulations

Answer 54

2010 Prevent the killing, harm and disturbance of EU protected species Protects the habitat of the protected species Protects the corridors of dispersal to/from the habitat.

Question 55

Protection of Badgers Act

Answer 55

1992 Offence to kill, injure or take a badger or to damage or interfere with a sett Digging works not allowed 30M of the sett Setts can only be destroyed under license only if vacant.