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Biology > Ecology - TN > Flashcards

Ecology - TN Flashcards

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AP® Biology flashcards Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Population definition

A

All of the members of the same species in a particular area

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2
Q

Community definition

A

All of the populations of living organisms in one area

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3
Q

Habitat definition

A

A part of the environment that can provide food shelter and a breeding site for living organisms

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4
Q

Ecosystems definition

A

All the living organisms and the non-living factors in a particular area of the environment

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5
Q

Consumer definition

A

Organisms that obtain food energy from other organisms

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6
Q

Producer definition

A

Can convert light energy to chemical energy in food compounds

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7
Q

Quadrat definition

A

A square that marks or defines an area

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8
Q

biodiversity definition

A

the number of different species. an area with large populations of few species is not biodiverse

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9
Q

what abiotic factors affect the abundance and distribution of organisms

A
  • light intensity
  • temperature
  • moisture levels
  • soil/water pH content
  • wind intensity & direction
  • CO2 and O2 concentration
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10
Q

what biotic factors affect the abundance and distribution on organisms

A
  • availability of food
  • new predators/pathogens
  • out-competition (eg, red and grey squirrels)
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11
Q

definition of an abiotic factor

A

non-living

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12
Q

definition of a biotic factor

A

living

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13
Q

in food chains and webs what do the arrows represent

A

the direction of flow of energy

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14
Q

why is only 10% energy transferred from one trophic level to the next

A
  • some parts of the organism not eaten
    rest is used as
  • heat energy
  • life processes
  • faeces and remains passed onto decomposers
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15
Q

describe the 6 stages of the carbon cycle

A

1- plants photosynthesise and carbon atoms form CO2 and become part of glucose molecules stored in the plant
2- some of the glucose broken down in respiration and released into air
3- animals eat plants and respire so carbon gets released back
4- plant/animal dies and decomposers feed on them. they respire and release carbon
5- fossilization occurs on the organisms that don’t decay fully forming fossil fuels
6- fossil fuels are burnt, carbon released

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16
Q

what percentage of energy is transferred to the next trophic level when feeding occurs

A

10%

17
Q

give three reasons why the least efficient energy transfer is from the sun to the producer

A
  • some light will miss the plant or its chloroplasts
  • come will be reflected by the cuticle
  • some has the wrong wavelength to be absorbed by chlorophyll
18
Q

when plants photosynthesise what happens to the carbon atoms from the carbon dioxide

A
  • they become part of glucose molecules
19
Q

what do nitrogen fixing bacteria do and where are they found

A
  • in the soil and roots of legume plants
  • absorb nitrogen and reduce it to make ammonia = nitrogen fixation
20
Q

what do nitrifying bacteria do

A
  • convert the ammonia to nitrites and then nitrates = nitrification
21
Q

why do plants need nitrifying bacteria and why

A
  • plant roots cam ONLY absorb the nitrates
  • they are then combined with:
    = carbohydrates (from photosynthesis) to form amino acids which are then made into proteins
    = and nucleotides which are joined to make DNA
22
Q

how is nitrogen returned to the soil after being in an animal or a plant

A
  • the animals and plants die and their tissues are decomposed
    by decomposing bacteria and fungi
  • the molecules that contain nitrogen such as proteins release ammonia into the soil
23
Q

what do denitrifying bacteria do

A
  • some nitrates are converted into N2 in denitrification
24
Q

why do some nitrogen fixing bacteria live in root nodules of legume plants

A
  • it is a mutualistic relationship - the bacteria receive glucose from the plant, while the plant absorbs the ammonia from the bacteria in the nodule
25
Q

what two things cause extra CO2 in the air

A
  • burning fossil fuels
  • slash and burn forest clearance
26
Q

how is extra methane released into the air

A
  • generated by bacteria in anaerobic (low oxygen) conditions:
    = cattle produce large volumes of methane from the anaerobic activity of bacteria in their gut
    = bacteria in waterlogged paddy fields for rice cultivation
27
Q

how are nitrous oxides released into the atmosphere

A

burning fossil fuels

28
Q

how are CFCs released into the atmosphere

A
  • until 1990s CFCs were used in aerosols such as deodorant as well as used in fridges and freezers
29
Q

what five (that we learn) gases increase the rate of climate change)

A
  • CO2
  • Methane
  • nitrous oxides
  • CFCs
  • water vapour
30
Q

effects of global warming

A
  • melting of polar ice caps
  • destruction of habitats
  • drought and desertification
  • increased extreme weather events
  • spread of disease (warming means disease carrying organisms such as mosquitos can survive in a wider range of countries)
  • change in crops
  • increase in heat related illness and death
31
Q

what is a greenhouse gas

A
  • a gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect by absorbing infrared radiation

Biology (22 decks)

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