Ecology Definitions

Question 1

Species

Answer 1

A group of living organisms that can interbreed to produce fertile offspring

Question 2

Gene pool

Answer 2

A collection of genes and their allelic forms that are found in a population

Question 3

Population

Answer 3

A group of organisms of the same species living in the same area at the same time

Question 4

Community

Answer 4

A group of populations living and interacting in a particular area

Question 5

Ecosystem

Answer 5

A community and its abiotic environment

Question 6

Autotroph

Answer 6

An organism capable of making its own complex organic molecules from carbon dioxide and other simple inorganic compounds they absorb from the environment

Question 7

Give examples of autotrophs that are not plants

Answer 7

Cyanobacteria, dinoflagellata,euglenida

Question 8

Heterotrophs

Answer 8

Organisms that obtain their complex organic molecules by feeding on other organisms

Question 9

Give an organism that feeds autotrophically and heterotrophically

Answer 9

Euglena gracilis in ponds

Classed as plants and algae

Question 10

Producers in a food chain are always…

Answer 10

Autotrophs

Question 11

Consumers in a food chain are always…

Answer 11

Heterotrophs

Question 12

Which plants are heterotrophs and why?

Answer 12

Parasitic plants like dodder and algae

Obtain organic nutrients from their hosts

Question 13

Ingestion

Answer 13

Taking in of a substance (medication, toxic, indigestible, solid or liquid food)

Question 14

Consumers

Answer 14

Organisms that gain organic molecules by ingestion or eating

Question 15

Primary consumers

Answer 15

Feed on autotrophs

Question 16

Secondary consumers

Answer 16

Feed on primary consumers

Question 17

Is the distinction between secondary, tertiary and quarternary consumers clear?

Answer 17

No, grizzly bears are tertiary consumers but feed on elk which are primary consumers and berries which are a product of autotrophs

Question 18

Detritivores

Answer 18

Obtain organic nutrients from detritus by internal digestion

Question 19

Give examples of detritivores

Answer 19

Earthworms and dung beetles

Question 20

Give examples of detritus

Answer 20

Faeces, leaves, hair, skin cells, feathers, dead bodies

Question 21

What does detritus contain?

Answer 21

Organic molecules useful as a source of energy for detritivores

Question 22

Saprotrophs

Answer 22

Obtain organic nutrients from dead organisms by external digestion. Secrete digestive enzymes to break down complex organic molecules into simpler ones and then absorb the nutrients

Question 23

Give examples of saprotrophs

Answer 23

Fungi and bacteria

Question 24

Ecology

Answer 24

Study of relationships between living organisms and their interactions with the environment

Question 25

Give an example of mutualism

Answer 25

Spider crabs have algae living on them which provides the crabs with camouflage so it can escape predators and catch food. The algae gets a place to live.

Question 26

Abiotic factors

Answer 26

Non-living factors that have an effect on living organisms

Question 27

Give examples of abiotic factors

Answer 27

Temperature, pH of water, amount of rainfall

Question 28

Give an example of an area where the abiotic factors make it hard to live

Answer 28

Antartica has no light for 6 months and has temperatures of around -80 degrees celcius

Question 29

Give examples of areas where life can be sustained

Answer 29

Coral reefs and tropical jungles

Question 30

What other nutrients do organisms need?

Answer 30

Selenium for enzyme function Magnesium for bone formation Sulfur for proteins Nitrogen and phosphorus for nucleic acids

Question 31

Nutrient cycles

Answer 31

Constant reuse of chemicals indefinitely

Question 32

How are some nutrients lost from soil?

Answer 32

Leaching or absorbed by autotrophs etc

Question 33

How are nutrients added to soil?

Answer 33

As rock is weathered or through decomposition

Question 34

Where do autotrophs obtain inorganic molecules from?

Answer 34

Abiotic environment

Question 35

How do black smokers obtain their energy at the bottom of the ocean?

Answer 35

Chemical energy

Question 36

What is required for ecosystems to last for a long time?

Answer 36

Nutrient recycling and energy source

Question 37

Mesocosm

Answer 37

A small experimental area set up in an ecological research programme. Acts as a model of a larger ecosystem where energy enters and leaves but matter does not

Question 38

What have mesocosms been used to investigate?

Answer 38

How organisms or communities react to environmental change e.g. temperature, pH, carbon dioxide concentration by manipulation

Question 39

What are advantages of using a mesocosm?

Answer 39

Treatments easily replicated. Investigate many abiotic factors. Food web established. Direct and indirect effects studied. Contamination influence evaluated.

Question 40

How can you ensure sustainability to a mesocosm?

Answer 40

Lots of plant matter for sufficient oxygen. Oxygen or carbon dioxide sensor to measure fluctuations

Question 41

Why should mesocosms be sealed?

Answer 41

Ensure no entry or loss of matter and gas but still allows heat and light entry and loss

Question 42

Name two types of mesocosm

Answer 42

Aquatic and terrestrial

Question 43

What does the chi-squared test look at?

Answer 43

A statistical analysis to see how likely an observed distribution is due to chance

Question 44

What sort of data is used for a chi-squared test?

Answer 44

Categorical | Discrete data like change in light levels not suitable

Question 45

What is used in a chi-squared table?

Answer 45

Frequency

Question 46

What significance level is used for the chi-squared test?

Answer 46

0.05

Question 47

When is a quadrat used? I

Answer 47

Random sampling of plants or sedentary invertebrates

Question 48

What determines the size of quadrat used?

Answer 48

The size of sample

Question 49

How do you randomly sample where to place a quadrat?

Answer 49

Split the area into squares a similar size to the quadrat and number them. Use a computer or calculator to generate numbers to determine where the quadrat should be placed. Use numbers as coordinates