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Biology > Ecology Paper 2 > Flashcards

Ecology Paper 2 Flashcards

Topic 7 of Biology

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1
Q

What is an ecosystem?

A

the interaction between a community of living organisms and their environment

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2
Q

Living factors are _____ ?

A

Biotic

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3
Q

Give an example of a biotic factor

A
  • availability of food
  • new predators
  • new pathogens
  • increase of competition
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4
Q

Non-living factors are _____ ?

A

Abiotic

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5
Q

Give an example of an abiotic factor

A
  • soil pH
  • light intensity
  • temperature
  • water levels
  • carbon dioxide levels
    *wind intensity
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6
Q

Name some adaptations of cacti

(all organisms must adapt to their environment)

A
  • shallow roots, water capture
  • waxy skin, reduces transpiration
  • stores water, needed during droughts
  • spikes instead of leaves, acts as a defence
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7
Q

What are extremophiles?

A

Organisms that live in extreme environments. This could be in extreme temperatures, pressures or salt concentrations. A tardigrade is an example of these.

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8
Q

Describe the predator-prey cycle

(in three main steps)

A
  1. the number of predators increases because there is more prey
  2. the number of prey reduces because there are more predators
  3. the number of predators reduces because there is less prey
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9
Q

What is interdependence?

A

The dependence of organisms on each other in an ecosystem

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10
Q

What is a structural, behavioural and functional adaptation? Examples?

A

The physical features of the organism fur/fat for insulation
Lifestyle nocturnal
Body functions long roots to obtain water

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11
Q

Factors that increase rate of decomposition?

A

Temperature
Water
Avaliablity of O²

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12
Q

What is decomposition used for?

A

Compose fertiliser to improve soil
Fuel (methane) produced by biogas generators

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13
Q

Food chain?

A

Producer
Primary consumer
Secondary consumer
Tertiary consumer

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14
Q

What are the types of sampling?

A

Random sampling (quadrats)
Transet sampling

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15
Q

Process of water cycle?

A

Salt water (ocean) evaporates due to energy from sun or from plants by transpiration
Water vapour cools in air & condenses into clouds
Water in clouds now fresh precipitates into rain/snow/hail
Water hits the ground and evaporates to form water vapour or forms aquifers/rivers or taken in by plants
Process is repeated

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16
Q

Process of carbon cycle?

A
  1. Plants take in co2 for photosynthesis from the atmosphere and respire
  2. Plants are eaten by animals that respire
  3. Animals and plants die going through decomposition from microorganisms that respire CO²
  4. Fossil fuels are burnt releasing CO² into the atmosphere
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17
Q

What do quadrats measure? How?

A

Abundance
1. Form a large grid in a field by placing tape measures on length and width
2. Use random number generator to generate 10 areas of coordinates
3. Place quadrats and count NO. of plants
4. Calculate mean per m² and estimate total population in field

18
Q

What do transets measure? How?

A

How Distribution changes
1. Place transet line between lake and woodland
2. Place quadrats along at equal intervals
3. Count NO. of plants in each quadrat
4. Repeat with new transet lines (parallel)

19
Q

What is decay?

A

The breakdown of organic matter by the action of decomposers

20
Q

What is biodiversity?

A

The variety of living things on earth, or within a particular ecosystem

21
Q

Types of pollution? How?

A

Water pollution fertiliser, sewage
Air pollution smoke, acidic gases
Land pollution landfill, nuclear waste

22
Q

Ways to improve biodiversity?

A

Breeding programs
Protected habitats
Field margins/hedgerows (extra food source and habitat)
Reduce waste
Low CO² emissions

23
Q

Greenhouse effect?

A

Solar radiation hits the earth through the atmosphere
Some reflected others absorbed and reemitted
Much of reemitted energy is absorbed by greenhouse gases
Then cycle of emission and absorption is repeated over trapping energy making atmosphere warmer

24
Q

What is the difference between global warming and climate change?

A

GM is the overall increase of earth’s temperature
CC is the consequences of global warming

25
Q

Explain one effect of global warming?

A

Melting of ice caps
As leads to seasonal flooding due to the increase of volume of water in oceans

26
Q

Problems of deforestation?

A

Destroying habitats
Less photosynthesis of trees
Release of CO² in atmosphere

27
Q

What are peat bogs?

A

Areas of land that the soil is waterlogged or acidic

28
Q

Reasons for deforestation?

A

Mining
Clearance for agriculture
Wood logs
Palm oil

29
Q

Explain how draining peat bogs contribute to global warming

A

Drains water so oxygen is let back into soil
so microorganisms can decay matter , releasing CO² into the atmosphere, which is a greenhouse gas

30
Q

What is a tropic level?

A

Stage in the food chain

31
Q

What are detrivores?

A

Small animals like worms and woodlice that help to break down organic matter into smaller pieces

32
Q

What do the arrows in a food chain show?

A

The transfer of energy and biomass

33
Q

Why are food chains usually no longer than five or six trophic levels?

A

Only ~10% of the energy and biomass is transferred between each level

34
Q

Give one reason why only ~10% of the energy & biomass is passed on at each stage in a food chain?

A

Most of the biomass/energy that is absorbed is used to release energy (via respiration) for movement

35
Q

What does the biomass of an organism refer to?

A

The mass of the organism

36
Q

Ways to include sustainable fish farming?

A

Increasing the size of fishing nets so adult fish are only captured so young fish can grow + reproduce
Fishing quotas as limit amount of fish caught maintaining balanced ecosystem

37
Q

Factors that affect food security?

A

Rising populations
Diets change
New pests/pathogens
Environmental changes
Conflict (war)

38
Q

What is food security?

A

when all people are able to access enough safe and nutritious food to meet their requirements for a healthy life, in ways the planet can sustain into the future

39
Q

What is GMO?

A

Genetically modified organism

40
Q

What do pesticides do?

A

Kill insects

41
Q

Give 3 traits that can be improved by genetic modification?

A

Increased yield
Virus resistance
Increased nutrients
Flood resistance

Biology (9 decks)

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