Ecology Mid Topic Flashcards
Kingdoms
-first division of living things in classification system
-five kingdoms are:
> animals
> plants
> fungi
> protists
> prokaryotes
Linnaeus’s system of classification
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
Binomial system
-allows scientists to accurately identify individual species by giving them a two part Latin name
-Genus species
(e.g. Panthera leo)
Why were more divisions created to the classification system?
-more scientific equipment became available
Three domains
-Archaea (primitive bacteria usually living in extreme environments)
-Bacteria/Prokaryotes (true bacteria)
-Eukaryota (including protists, fungi, plants and animals)
How did the Linnaean system divide organisms?
-classified organisms in different groups based on their structure and characteristics
Species
-group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring
Three domain system
-developed by Carl Woese
-based on scientific evidence from chemical analysis
Evolutionary trees
-scientists use it to see how closely related organisms are genetically
What is at the tip of each branch of an evolutionary tree?
Species
If species on branches are close together…
…they are closely related.
When two branches on an evolutionary tree meet…
…there will be a species that’s related to both organisms (common ancestor)
Species that are separated by lots of branches are…
…not closely related.
Binomial system is written in:
-italics or underlined
-Latin
Ecosystem
-the interaction between a community of living organisms and their environment
Population
-all the organisms of the same/closely-related species in an area
Community
-two or more populations of organisms
Producer
-organism that makes its own food, usually by photosynthesis
-e.g. plants and algae
Primary consumer
-herbivores that eat producers
Secondary consumer
-carnivores/omnivores that eat primary consumers
Tertiary consumer
-carnivores/omnivores that eat secondary consumers
Interdependence
-when organisms in an ecosystem depend on each other for food and resources
Intraspecific competition
-competition within the same species for resources like food, mates, or territory e.g. two foxes competing for prey in the same habitat
Interspecific competition
-competition between different species for shared resources
e.g. plants competing for sunlight or water
Stable community
-when the size of the populations of all the species remains relatively constant over time
Abiotic factors
-non-living factors that can affect a community
Abiotic factors examples
-light intensity
-temperature
-moisture levels
-soil pH + mineral content
-wind intensity and direction
-carbon dioxide levels for plants
-oxygen levels for aquatic animals
Abiotic and biotic factors affect…
….the abundance and distribution of living organisms in an ecosystem.
Biotic factors
-living factors that can affect a community
Biotic factors examples
-availability of food
-new predators
-new pathogens
-competition
How to answer data questions:
In 1945 grey squirrels were only found in central Southern England and in small numbers on the East coast of Northern England. By 2000 they had spread throughout England and Wales. The red squirrel is now only found in parts of Scotland and Ireland . The pattern does not appear to have changed much between 2000 and 2010.
What limitations are there to drawing conclusions from a diagram?
-information is only from one source
-could be compared with others to ensure its reliability
What do plants compete for?
-light
-minerals
-water
-space
This competition can be both intraspecifc and interspecific
What do animals compete for?
-food
-mates
-territory
Food and territory can be both interspecific and intraspecific, whereas mates are intraspecific
3 types of adaptations
-structural
-physiological
-behavioral
Structural adaptations
-physical features which enable an organism to survive/reproduce in its environment
Behavioral adaptations
-change in an organisms’ behavior enabling it to survive/reproduce in its environment
Physiological adaptations
-functional processes that enable an organism to survive/reproduce in its environment
Structural adaptations in plants examples
-formation of spines to stop a plant being eaten
-wide-ranging, shallow roots to absorb lots of water
-large leaves to maximise photosynthesis
-flowers, attract insects to pollinate them
Behavioral adaptations in plants examples
-plant shoots grow quickly towards the light to maximise photosynthesis
-flytrap closing the trap to catch an insect
Physiological adaptations in plants examples
-nettle plant has tiny needles that contain poison
-deadly nightshade so poisonous that they can kill once eaten
Structural adaptations in animals examples
-sharp claws/teeth to catch prey
-eyes on the sides of their heads to spot predators
-eyes on the front of their heads to spot prey
Behavioral adaptations in animals examples
-mating rituals
-working together in packs
-crocodiles use twigs to lure birds
Physiological adaptations in animals examples
-production of venom to defend themselves and to kill their prey
-hibernation
Extremophile
-organism that lives in a very extreme environment
What makes an environment extreme?
-very high or low temperatures
-extreme pressures
-high salt concentrations
-highly acidic or alkaline conditions
-lack of oxygen or water
Examples of extreme environments
-polar regions
-desert regions
-deep sea volcanic vents
How are polar bears structurally adapted to live in the Arctic?
-white fur for camouflage when hunting prey
-feet with large surface area to distribute weight on snow
-small ears to reduce heat loss (small sa:v ratio also)
-thick fur and layer of blubber for insulation
How are camels structurally adapted to living in the desert?
-feet with large surface area to distribute weight on sand
-tough mouth and tongue to allow camel to eat cacti
-long eyelashes to keep sand out of eyes
How are tubeworms adapted to living in deep volcanic sea vents?
-host bacteria in trophosome that perform chemosynthesis, converting chemicals into energy
> don’t rely on food or sunlight
-extreme tolerance to heat and chemicals
-red plume that acts as a gill, absorbing lots of oxygen
How does wind intensity and direction affect an ecosystem?
-animals seek habitats without exposure to strong winds
-carry seeds of plants across distances
-organisms that fly depend on wind patterns for migration, navigation, and movement
How does a change in abiotic factors affect a whole ecosystem?
-animals are interdependent
e.g. rabbit is not directly affected by moisture levels but the grass that it eats is, so it can be affected too
How can the introduction of a new species affect an ecosystem?
-result in competing too much with an existing species
-this competition make the population of the existing species too low to breed and they do not survive
Predator
-animal that hunts and kills for food
Prey
-animal that is hunted and killed for food
What does the xylem carry?
-water
What does the phloem carry?
-sugar
Habitat
-place where an organism lives defined by its abiotic factors
Biodiversity
-number and range of all living things in a given area
Biosphere
-the regions of the Earth where living organisms are found
Niche
-the role a species plays within an ecosystem
Decomposers
-microorganisms that break down dead matter and waste
How is a camel structurally adapted to its environment?
-tough mouth and tongue to eat cacti
-feet with large surface area to distribute weight on sand
-thick eyelashes to stop sand getting into its eyes
-baggy skin to increase surface area
How is a camel behaviorally adapted to its environment?
-rest during the hottest part of the day
-travel in herds
How is a polar bear behaviourally adapted to its environment?
-females dig snow dens to protect themselves and their cubs
-hunting on sea ice to catch seals
Uni-cellular organisms
-organisms made up of one single cell
Multi-cellular organisms
-organisms made up of many cell
What happens if fox numbers decrease?
- Rabbits increase, as fox numbers are low
- Foxes increase, lots of rabbits to eat
- Rabbits decrease, lots of foxes to eat them
- Fox numbers decrease as they have less prey to eat
Trophic level
-specific level or position in a food chain
What do arrows in a food chain show?
-shows the transfer of biomass/flow of energy
Why will much of the energy from the Sun not become part of the plant’s biomass?
-approximately 90% is egested, lost as waste or used in life processes
List 3 ways that energy is lost from animals
-energy is lost as heat during metabolic processes
-waste excretion
-energy is used for movement
Why do we use food webs?
-shows the feeding relationships within communities of organisms
Mutualism
-where both organisms benefit
Parasitism
-where one organism benefits and another is harmed
Commensalism
-where one organism benefits and the other is not affected
