ecosystems Flashcards

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1
Q

how can you measure wind speed?

A

anemometer

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2
Q

list 3 biotic factors that influence small mammals living in woodlands

A
  • predation
  • disease
  • competition
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3
Q

how to work out population size of an area

A

mean number of individuals in quadrat / fraction of the total habitat covered by 1 quadrat

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4
Q

what is the definition of systematic sampling

A

investigating changes along an environmental gradient

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5
Q

what is the most crucial aspect of stratified sampling

A

sample each area proportional to its size as a percentage of whole habitat

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6
Q

what is opportunistic sampling and why is this a weakness?

A

based on prior knowledge e.g. safe areas - may not be representative

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7
Q

what is a climax community

A

final community that is stable and changes very little overtime.

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8
Q

what is succession

A

progressive change in an ecosystem overtime

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9
Q

when does secondary succession occur

A

once all land has been cleared of all plants and animals, but the soil remains

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10
Q

what is deflected succession

A

occurs when human activities prevent succession, stopping the normal climax community forming = this community is instead called plagioclimax

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11
Q

how does primary succession cause change in conditions

A

pioneer species build up dead organic matter and increase water in soil so that other species can survive

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12
Q

as succession increases…

A

ecosystem becomes more complex, soil organic matter and nutrient levels increase, more niches available and total biomass increases

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13
Q

general adaptations of pioneer species

A
  • large number of seeds
  • seeds germinate easily
  • tolerance to extreme conditions
  • ability to fix nitrogen
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14
Q

biomass

A

the mass of living material, including organic and inorganic components and can be used to determine energy content.

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15
Q

why does plant matter vary?

A

due to fluctuations in water uptake and transpiration

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16
Q

equation for biomass

A

number of individuals per unit area x dry mass of individual

17
Q

gross primary productivity

A

rate at which plants covert light energy into chemical energy through photosynthesis

18
Q

equation for GPP

A

Net primary production + respiration

19
Q

equation for NPP

A

GPP - R

20
Q

what is net primary productivity

A

energy which remains as chemical energy after plants have supplied their own needs in respiration.

21
Q

what parts of plants are indigestible?

A

cellulose + lignin