Ecosystem

Question 1

In order to survive and reproduce living organisms have to

Answer 1

Interact with other organisms as well as the environment they live in

Question 2

Environment

Answer 2

The sum total of all the biological, physical and chemical conditions surrounding an organism

Question 3

Ecosystem

Answer 3

Specific area in a biome with characteristic vegetation in which there is close interaction with abiotic and biotic components where organisms also display adaptation for survival in their environment
There is a sustainable flow of energy through an ecosystem and recycling of nutrients.

Question 4

Example of a ecosystem

Answer 4

Lakes ponds, desert

Question 5

Study of ecosystems

Answer 5

Ecology

Question 6

Ecology

Answer 6

Study of relationships and interactions between living organisms and between organisms and the natural environment in which they occur

Question 7

An ecosystem consists of

Answer 7

Abiotic and biotic components

Question 8

Abiotic components like

Answer 8

Physio graphic(landscape) factors
Edaphic(soil) factors
Light
Temperature
Water
Atmospheric gases
Wind

Question 9

Physio graphic factors

Answer 9

North facing slopes get more sunlight than south facing slopes therefore they are warmer, drier and plants thrive while south facing slopes are cooler and wetter where shade plants like ferns thrive

Question 10

Slope affecting the rate of water run off

Answer 10

A steep slope water run off is faster than a gradual slope and soil erosion occurs frequent. Soil on a steep slope is shallow and infertile and few plants and animals are present.

Question 11

Height above sea levels

Answer 11

Areas high above sea levels experience extreme weather conditions such as string winds and snow
Planntd and animals occur differently from high above sea levels and those closer to sea level

Question 12

Edaphic factors

Answer 12

Three types of soil is clay loam and sand

Clay consists of tiny soil particles while loam has lighter bigger particles and sandy soil is coaster and consists of big particles

Soil type
Ph level
Minerals in the soil
Air particles in the soil

Question 13

Soil air

Answer 13

Some spaces between soil particles are filled with water while others with air for survival of soil organisms

In sandy soil there are bigger spaces between soil particles and it is well aerated, while clay has very small and poorly aerated.

Question 14

Aerated

Answer 14

Expand

Question 15

Water holding capacity

Answer 15

Large spaces between soil particles makes soil a poor conductor of water holding capacity while clay is the opposite.
Water rapidly filters through sandy soil taking along valuable nutrients, leaching process.
Drainage of clay is poor and plant roots may rot easily
Loam is suitable for plant growth as it has medium water-holding capacity is well aerated and contains sufficient nutrients

Question 16

Humus content

Answer 16

Humus is decayed plant and animal matter
It increases both the soil fertility and water holding capacity of soil. Soil with high humus content is usually dark in color

Question 17

Ph

Answer 17

Some plants such as azaleas and protease grow better in acidic soil (low pH)
Succulent plants grow better in alkaline soil
However most plants grow in neutral soil

Question 18

In high Rainfall regions with sandy soil

Answer 18

Nutrients are leaches and the soil becomes acidic

Question 19

Light

Answer 19

Plants need light for photosynthesis
However light is limited to avoid excessive damage to tissues therefore the day length affects the growth of a plant = photoperiodism

Light intensity also affects growth movements and turgor of a plant. Some plants adapt to the light intensity to which they are exposed to. In shade plants photosynthesis takes place at a much lower light intensity rate.

Question 20

Example of nocturnals

Answer 20

Bats and moths

Question 21

Temperature

Answer 21

Ectothermic animals, where the body temperature depends in the environmental temperature become inactive in cold winter temperatures and hibernate to survive

Endothermic animals keep their body temperature constant regardless of environmental temperature also hibernate or migrate to warmer habitats during winter.

Question 22

Hibernation

Answer 22

A winter sleep, spanning cold winter periods and conditions, during which the metabolism and heart rate of the animal decreases.

Question 23

Water and plant types

Answer 23

Plants are divided into:
Hydrophytes - plants that are adapted to grow in water like water lillies
Mesophytes are plants that grow in areas with moderate water supply like wheat and maize
Xerophytes are plants that adapt to grow in extremely dry conditions like aloe veras (succulent) with thick fleshy leaves to store water and thick cuticles

Question 24

Insects have a hard exoskeleton

Answer 24

That prevents dehydration of he body

Question 25

Fish have gills for

Answer 25

Gaseous exchange and fins for swimming

Question 26

Water cycle

Answer 26

Continuous cyclic movement of water between the earth and atmosphere

Question 27

Precipitation

Answer 27

Water moves from the atmosphere to the earth in from of rain and snow

Question 28

Capillary water

Answer 28

Water round between soil particles and can be easily absorbed while the opposite is hygroscopic water.

Question 29

Infiltration

Answer 29

Process during which water is abso8by the soil

Question 30

Plants transpire and lose water to the atmosphere

Answer 30

In the form of water vapor

Question 31

Large amounts of water vapor

Answer 31

Condenses and form clouds

Question 32

Water reaches the atmosphere by

Answer 32

Evaporation from large water masses and from the soil

Question 33

Green plants need

Answer 33

Co2

Question 34

Water contains

Answer 34

Much less dissolved 02 than air

Question 35

Plants absorb

Answer 35

Nitrogen Im from of nitrates from the soil wile animals obtain it from the food they eat.

Question 36

How are plants adapted for gaseous exchange

Answer 36

Animals have respiratory organs with specialized gaseous exchange surfaces like fish has gills Plants have stomata on their leaves and stems through which gaseous exchange takes place Underwater plants have thin epidermis and no cuticle

Question 37

Moving air accelerates

Answer 37

Evaporation and transpiration resulting in living organisms losing water more rapidly

Question 38

Biotic components are divided into

Answer 38

Auto trophic component and heterotrophic component

Question 39

Auto trophic component

Answer 39

Consists of all green plants that can photosynthesise and produce their own organic food(carbohydrates) They are producers

Question 40

Heterotrophic component

Answer 40

Organisms that cannot produce their own food They are indirectly(carnivore or omnivore) and directly(herbivore) dependent on the producers for food They are consumers=primary, secondary, tertiary and decomposer

Question 41

Primary consumers

Answer 41

Feed directly on producers such as herbivores that live on plant matter and omnivores that live partially on plant matter

Question 42

Secondary consumers

Answer 42

Feed on the primary consumers like carnivores (meat eater), scavengers (eat the remains of dead animals) and omnivores (live on both animal and plant matter)

Question 43

Tertiary consumer

Answer 43

Feed on the secondary consumers and are all carnivores

Question 44

Decomposer

Answer 44

Are mainly saprophytic bacteria and fungi that feed on dead organic matter. They break down organic compounds into simple inorganic substances that are released back into the environment

Question 45

Saprophytic

Answer 45

a plant, fungus, or microorganism that lives on dead or decaying organic matter

Question 46

Why would an organism be a saprophyte(feed on dead organic matter)

Answer 46

They lack chlorophyll therefore they don't synthesis They break organic matter in order to return nutrients back to the soil and water. Decomposers on wood or material make it soft due to the enzyme secreted into organic matter and digest and absorb them with their threads and mycelium to sustain growth of fungi that open pores that utilize energy from dead matter

Question 47

Population

Answer 47

Group of organisms of the same species that live in the same area

Question 48

An ecosystem consists of

Answer 48

Communities and their environment

Question 49

Impact of human factors On an ecosystem

Answer 49

Loss of biodiversity Erosion where the soil is warn away Loss of habitat Climate change

Question 50

Adaption

Answer 50

Change in the structural, functional and behavioral characteristics of an organism enabling it to adjust to changing conditions within an environment.

Question 51

Structural

Answer 51

A special feature of a body

Question 52

Functional

Answer 52

The way in which a body works

Question 53

Behavioral

Answer 53

How a living organism behaves

Question 54

Predators are well adapted to hunt their prey, name a structural component that helps

Answer 54

Eyes in the front of their heads that estimate distances

Question 55

How do plants adapt to their environment

Answer 55

Plants store water in their leaves while water lilies having breathing pores on top of their leaves