ecology - B7 Flashcards
what is a poulation
the amount of organisms of a particular species living in a habitat
what is a habitat
the place where an organism lives
what is a community
when different populations live in the same habitat
what is an ecosystem
when a community living organisms interact with the now-living organisms in their environment
what is competition
where organisms of the same or different species compete for limited resources
what do animals compete for
water
food
territory/space
mates
what do plants compete for
water
light
minerals
space
what is interdependence
when different species in an ecosystem depend on each other
what are examples of biotic factors
predation
disease
availability of food
availability of habitats
what are examples of abiotic factors
temperature
wind intensity
pH
levels of minerals
carbon dioxide levels
moisture levels
what are the three types of adaptations
structural
functional
behaviourial
what is a structural adaptation and give examples
it is how an organism is physically
includes:
shape
colour
what are behavioural adaptations and give examples
is how an organisms behaves and the actions it does
includes:
spitting if feeling threatened
choosing to eat certain types of food
what are functional adaptations and give examples
it is the processes that happens inside an organism
includes:
the way it metabolises
producing venom
what is an extremophile
a microorganism like bacteria or archaea that is adapted to live in extreme conditions such as high temperatures
what is a producer
an animal that makes its own food, usually from photosynthesis
what is a primary consumer and a secondary consumer
primary consumer - eats the producer, usually herbivores
secondary consumers - east the primary consumer, carnivores or omnivores
what are prey
an animal that is hunted and killed for food
what is a predator
an animal that hunts and kills other animals for its own food
what does a quadrat measure
abundance
what does a transect measure
changes in distribution
what is sampling and why is it done
sampling is only counting a subset of organisms in a habitat as counting the whole thing is very difficult and time consuming
what is the water cycle
-water evaporated from bodies of water and from plants in transpiration
-in condenses to form clouds
-it then falls from the clouds as precipitation which is fresh water
-is can fall back int the oceans, fall through rocks to form aquifers of be taken up by plants via the roots
what is the carbon cycle
-plants take carbon dioxide form the air and it is then locked in glucose
-animals eat plants
-both animals and plants respire which releases carbon
-when animals and plants die, decomposers (bacteria and fungi) breaks them down in aerobic conditions and do microbial respiration which releases carbon
-the decomposers also release ions and minerals into the soil
-or they can decompose anaerobically and form fossil fuels
-which we burn which releases carbon into the air
what is decomposition
breaking down organic matter into simpler organic matter or inorganic matter
which two things decompose
detritus feeders - worms and woodlice
decomposers - fungi and bacteria
how does oxygen help with decomposition
more oxygen = more aerobic respiration for decomposers
-= more energy
- = faster decomposition
how does temperature help with decomposition
- higher temperature = enzymes work faster
- = increased rate of decomposition
how does water help with decomposition
- decomposers need water to decompose
-because many reactions involve water
what happens if the soil become water logged
the air holes fill with water
- = less oxygen
- = less aerobic respiration
- = less energy
- = decreased rate of decomposition
what is compost
- when dead plant matter is decomposed and the soil is used for fertiliser as it contains carbon dioxide, nitrogen and magnesium
what is biogas
when dead animal or plant matter is kept underground to decompose anaerobically
-and the gases produced , like methane, are used as fuel
what is left over in biogas generators
slugde- can be used as a fertiliser
what is biodiversity
the variation of species of organsims living in the earth or in an ecosystem
why is biodiveristy important
maintains a stable ecosystem
use different species of from pollination
get medicinal drugs from the wild
how is overpopulation damaging biodiveristy
- overpopulation = more resources (fossil fuels) = we run our or we damage land to harvest them ( deforestation for grazing cattle food and biofuel)
we produce more waste
how does waste damage the air
waste from industrial processes and fossil fuel = sulphur dioxide which harms and brings acid rain
how does waste damage the water
sewage and fertilisers filter into bodies of water which harm animals
how does waste damage the land
toxic chemicals from landfills and nuclear storage can filter into ecosystems
how can we maintain biodiversity
- breeding programmes for endangered animals
- protected areas that species recover
how can we reduce the impacts of what we do
- field margins and hedge grows - pay farmers for these
- set new laws and quotas
-recycle - less land fill
why is it hard to maintain biodiversity
- expensive
- its necessary to use things like fertilisers and pesticides for crops and to dig mines for homes or to cut down trees for wood or space = maintaining our high standard of living
what is the greenhouse affect
-radiation from sun
-absorbed by earth and reemitted
- the heat interacts with greenhouse gases and they absorb it then reemit it
-then the whole process of absorption and reemitting is repeated
what causes global warming
-more greenhouse gases in atmosphere
- = heat stays trapped in atmosphere more
- = earth is warmer
what is climate change
- the change of climate like long term weather
due to global warming
what are some examples of climate change
- more hurricane
- more extinction of species or more migration
why is there deforestation
-land for agriculture
-wood
-mining
-biofuels
why is deforestation bad
- less photosynthesis = less carbon dioxide taken from atmosphere
- involves burning which releases carbon dioxide
- destroys habitats which means less biodiversity
what is a peat bog
-when the soil it too waterlogged and acidic
-so the microorganisms cannot decompose
-so plants partially decay and the carbon dioxide remains locked inside
what are the ways in which we destroy peat bogs
- by draining the water to use for land
- by burning the peat as fuel
why is destroying peat bogs bad
-it means there is air so the microorganisms can decompose
- so the locked carbon is broken down and released
- and the microorganisms are now respiring aerobically
-which releases carbon dioxide which contributes to global warming
what is biomass of organisms
the mass of the organism
why is biomass lost between trophic levels
- not all parts of the animal are eaten like teeth or bones
-not all is absorbed as not all can be digested so its egested to form faeces - most nutrients are used for energy from respiration for movement
-biomass can be converted unto waste products from metabolism
what are fish farms
large tanks of controlled environments to grow fish for human consumption , allowing wild fish species to recover
what are examples of sustainable fisheries
- having larger nets so the smaller fish can escape, live and reproduce
- having fishing quotas to reduce the amount of fish caught to maintain a balanced ecosystem
what is food security
when everyone has enough access to safe and nutritious food and we are able to sustain the planet for the future
what can negatively affects food security
- growing population = more people to food
- environmental changes = can decrease yield of crops
- diseases for plants - decrease yield = less food
- changing diets = more food has to be transported around the world and we eat more meat
-wars - can disrupt farming = less food = food more expensive
-cost of agricultural input - things like fertilisers and pesticides are expensive
why do we genetically modify crops
- to increase yield
-to give us helpful proteins and nutrients
-to increase resistance to pests
-to increase resistance to floods and droughts
what is mycoprotein
- made from fungi, a protein rich food suitable for vegetarians
- made in a fermenter with glucose syrup
-in aerobic conditions , the fungi converts the glucose to mycoprotein - alot can be made in a small place
what is intensive farming
- when animals like chicken are kept in the warm indoors in crowded environments
-this so less biomass is wasted as energy for movement and keeping warm
what are the advantages of intensive farming
- more efficient as less biomass is wated
-the chickens have a controlled diet which is filled with nutrients so less food waste - in the indoors , eggs are easier to harvest
what are the disadvantages of intensive farming
- disease can spread easier, chickens are given antibiotics which increases the risk of antibiotic bacteria developing
- in crowded place so more likely to get stressed and fight
-unethical
