Ecology and the environment Flashcards
What is the definition of community
All living things, animals and plants living in a particular habitat
What is the definition of population
All the members of one species living in a habitat
What is the definition of Habitat
the place where organism lives
What is the definition of Ecosystem
A community of living and non-living things
What is the definition of Biodiversity
A measure of the variety of different species living in a habitat
(species richness)
What is the difference between Abiotic and Biotic
Abiotic- non-living
Biotic- living
list Abiotic factors which can affect the population size
Climate
Soil PH
Temperature
Salinity
Topography
list Biotic factors which affect the population size
Predation
Grazing
Disease
Competition
Parasitism
Mutualism
What are the names given to the different trophic levels in order
Producer
primary consumer
secondary consumer
Tertiary consumer
decomposer
What is a food web
food web is a network of interconnected food chains. It shows the energy flow through part of an ecosystem
what is a food chain
Simplest way of showing a feeding relationships within an ecosystem
what do the arrows represent in the food chain
the direction in which the energy is being transferred
why is only 10% of energy transferred from one trophic level to another
because not all the materials end up in the organism - some are lost
what are some ways energy is lost between one trophic level and another
-Movement
-Respiration- release heat to it’s surroundings
-Not digested/ absorbed
-Some of the materials form excretory products
-Not eaten
What is the role of nitrogen fixing
Converts N2 (nitrogen gas) from the atmosphere into the nitrogen compound (nitrate NO3) often found in leguminous plants
what is often found in leguminous plants
Nitrate (NO3)
What is the name of the bacteria found live in the root nodule plants.
Nitrogen- fixing bacteria
what is the process where ammonia is converted to nitrites and nitrites are converted to nitrates
Nitrification
what bacteria is involved in Nitrification
Nitrifying bacteria
What is the process where protein in dead plants and animals is broken down
ammonia is released into the soil
Decomposition
What bacteria is involved in Decomposing
Decomposing bacteria
What is Denitrification
Nitrates are converted to nitrogen gas
What bacteria is involved in Denitrification
denitrifying bacteria
what does Denitrification do
Reduces the amount of nitrate in the soil and therefore makes the soil less fertile
