Ecology, Cycles and Human Influences Flashcards

1
Q

Define the term population

A

The number of organisms of a particular species in a habitat

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2
Q

Define the term community

A

Multiple populations interacting within a particular habitat

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3
Q

Define the term habitat

A

The place where an organism lives

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4
Q

Define the term ecosystem

A

All interactions between groups of organisms in a habitat as well as the abiotic factors involved

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5
Q

In the food chain, identify the producer and the secondary consumer: Grass –> Centipede –>Wren –> Kestrel

A

Producer = Grass
Secondary Consumer = Wren

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6
Q

In a food chain, what do the arrows indicate?

A

Direction of energy transfer

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7
Q

Producer, primary consumer, secondary consumer etc are examples of t__________ levels

A

trophic

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8
Q

Roughly, what percentage of energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next?

A

10 %

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9
Q

Why are food chains not likely to have more than 4/5 trophic levels?

A

Not enough energy can be obtained by top predators as too much is lost in the food chain

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10
Q

What is the process by which CO2 in the atmosphere is transferred into plants?

A

Photosynthesis

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11
Q

Give 3 reasons why energy is lost between tropic levels in a food chain

A

Energy is lost by: movement (respiration), excretion, egestion, growth,

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12
Q

What is the process by which CO2 is released into the atmosphere by animals

A

aerobic respiration

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13
Q

What is the process by which carbon is converted into fossil fuels?

A

Death
Decay
Fossilisation

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14
Q

By which process is nitrogen gas converted into ammonium ions?

A

Nitrogen fixation

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15
Q

By what process are nitrates converted into nitrates by plants?

A

Nitrification

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16
Q

What organisms convert nitrates back into nitrogen gas in the air?

A

Denitrifying bacteria

17
Q

By what process will nitrate ions be taken up by root hair cells of plants?

A

Active transport

18
Q

By what process will dead plant matter be broken down into ammonium ions in the soil?

A

Decomposition

19
Q

Name two pollutant gases and describe their effects

A

Sulfur dioxide: dissolves in rain water to form acid rain; can acidify lakes/ponds and kill marine life; can corrode marble/limestone statues
Carbon monoxide: binds irreversibly to haemoglobin

20
Q

Name 4 greenhouse gases

A

Carbon dioxide
Nitrous oxides
CFCs
Methane
Water vapour

21
Q

Name 2 human activities that can contribute to enhanced greenhouse effect

A

Burning fossil fuels
Deforestation
Cattle ranching

22
Q

What name is given to the pollution of lakes and rivers by leached minerals from fertilisers

A

Eutrophication

23
Q

State 3 consequences of an enhanced greenhouse effect

A

Global warming
Melting of polar icecaps
Habitat destruction
Extreme weather events

24
Q

State 3 ways in which humans could reduce their carbon footprint

A

Walking
Electric/hybrid cars
Public transport
Re-forestation
Burning fewer fossil fuels
Renewable energy sources

25
State 3 consequences of deforestation
Leaching Soil erosion Disturbance of evapotranspiration and the carbon cycle Disturbance in balance of atmospheric gases
26
Define the term biodiversity
The variety of different species of organisms on earth, or within an ecosystem. It includes variation within ecosystems, habitats and within/between species.
27
Give 3 human activities that may decrease biodiversity
Pollution Deforestation Global Warming
28
What square piece of apparatus can be used to take a sample?
Quadrat
29
Describe how you would study the population size of a small organisms using random sampling?
Set up grids in 2 areas Randomly select coordinates to sample using random number generator Count all organisms within quadrat Repeat for 9 more pairs of co-ordinates and count up each grid Scale up your mean values so they are representative of the whole area.
29
What method of sampling would you use to measure distribution across a habitat?
Belt transect (systematic sampling)
30
What is meant by the term abiotic factors? Give 3 examples
Non-living factors that affect communities: Temperature Light intensity Soil PH levels Carbon Dioxide concentration Soil Moisture Humidity
31
What is meant by the term biotic factors? Give 3 examples
Living factors that affect communities: Predation Disease Competition for - (food/mineral ions/water/mates/space/ shelter)