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Biology module 6 > Ecosystems > Flashcards

Ecosystems Flashcards

1
Q

Definition of respiration?

A

A process that releases energy from organic molecules, such as glucose, in food

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2
Q

Definition of habitat?

A

The place where an organism lives

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3
Q

Definition of ecosystems?

A

A group of living organisms and non-living things occuring together, and the interrelationship between them. Can be large scale (African grassland) or smaller scale (garden pond).

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4
Q

Definition of biotic factors?

A

Factors such as food supply, predation and disease that are caused by living organisms

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5
Q

Definition of abiotic factors?

A

Factors that describe the effect of non-living components of an ecosystem. For example, pH, temperature and soil type

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6
Q

Definition of niche?

A

The role that each species plays in an ecosystem. This includes how and what it feeds on, what it excretes and how it reproduces.

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7
Q

Definition of photosynthesis?

A

A process that makes food by capturing light energy and converting it into chemical energy stored in molecules like glucose.

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8
Q

Definition of trophic level?

A

Level at which an organism feeds in a food chain

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9
Q

Definition of population?

A

All of the organisms of a species, who live in the same place at the same time and can breed together

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10
Q

Definition of community?

A

All of the populations of different species who live in the same place at the same time and can interact with each other.

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11
Q

What are the 5 ways to trap animals?

A 
Longworth trap
Pitfall trap
Sweep net
Quadrat
Pooter
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12
Q

Describe a longworth trap

A

Sturdy metal trap, food/bedding to survive the night, protection from predators.
Trigger to close door behind animal

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13
Q

Describe a pitfall trap

A

For small animals, can’t escape, some keep animal alive, some kill.
Dry - Container with drainage hole buried in ground
Wet - Contains liquid that kills/preserves trapped animals

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14
Q

Describe a sweep net

A

Net - fine mesh to catch small insects. Use figure of 8 sweeping motion, Make sure it’s standardised (same height, technique, time)
Kick sampling for in water

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15
Q

Describe a quadrat

A

Square area that is placed randomly

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16
Q

Describe a pooter

A

Tree beating - beating tray, shake tree, insects land on tray, sucked up by pooter

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17
Q

What is the advantage of using a longworth trap?

A

Animals are safe, unharmed and released afterwards

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18
Q

What is the advantage of using a pitfall trap?

A 
Animals are preserved/protected
Kills pests (uses ethanol)
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19
Q

What is the advantage of using a sweep net?

A

Easy to do
Catch things that otherwise would be difficult to catch
Don’t harm any of the animals

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20
Q

What is the advantage of using a quadrat?

A

Can estimate population, Use ACFOR scale to make it less subjective and reproducible.
ACFOR = Abundant, Common, Frequent, Occasional, Rare

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21
Q

What is the advantage of using a pooter?

A

Animals are unharmed and released afterwards

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22
Q

What is the disadvantages of using a longworth trap?

A

Animals can get trap happy (overestimate population size.

Animals can be trap shy (underestimate population size)

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23
Q

What is the disadvantages of using a pitfall trap?

A

They need regular checking to count/release live animals or remove dead ones.
Dry - could escape/eat other organisms which will affect count

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24
Q

What is the disadvantages of using a sweep net?

A

Has to be dry

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25
What is the disadvantages of using a quadrat?
Harder to estimate percentage cover | Subjective
26
What is the disadvantages of using a pooter?
Could fly off before being captured
27
What is a pyramid of numbers?
Bars for each of the species that represent the number of individuals in each species at each trophic level.
28
What is biomass?
The mass of living things | Calculated by the average mass of an organism in the species X the number of organisms of the species
29
Why are pyramids of numbers worse than biomass?
Numbers don't take into account the size of the organism so pyramids can be the wrong shape
30
What is the units for pyramids of energy?
KJ per m squared per year (area) | KJ per m cubed per year (volume - sea)
31
How is energy lost at each trophic level?
Respiration, heat, not eating all of plant/animal (not all energy transferred), faeces, movement.
32
What allows there to be a large amount of biodiversity?
Lots of space, differences in temperatures, pressures, light intensities. Allow lots of niches and habitats so lots of different producers so lots of consumers
33
What is productivity?
The rate at which energy passes through each trophic level in a food chain.
34
What is productivity measured in?
KJ per meters squared per year
35
What is primary productivity?
Productivity by the producer The energy fixed by photosynthesis Some is lost by respiration
36
What is the calculation for net primary productivity? (usable energy)
Gross primary productivity (all energy) - respiratory heat loss
37
How can you improve primary productivity?
``` Keep plant at optimum temperature, pH, moisture. Increase carbon dioxide concentration and light intensity Use fertiliser (has mineral ions) Use herbicides (weeds), pesticides and fungicides (fungal diseases) ```
38
What is secondary productivity?
Productivity of consumers | Transfer of energy from producers to consumers
39
How do you improve secondary productivity?
``` Protect from disease Adequate food Keep warm Restrict movement Monitor/control mating Harvest young animals ```
40
Why is secondary productivity inefficient?
Plants die Don't eat all plants Lots of plant material is egested Animals use energy to grow, keep warm, move etc
41
Why is only 1-5% of solar energy used in photosynthesis?
Blocked by clouds Reflected by water Transmitted through water Some light hits land with no plants present only some light is correct wavelength/colour (green reflected) Some light is transmitted through leaves (misses chlorophyll) Light can hit nonphotosynthetic parts like the trunk which don't have chlorophyll
42
What is primary succession?
``` Starts from bare ground and goes to climax community Eg bare rock New volcanic islands After lava flow Retreating glacier Sand dunes ```
43
What is secondary succession?
Starts from disturbed/damaged habitat (still soil) Eg after forest fire After deforestation After hurricanes
44
What is deflected succession?
Sometimes humans affect succession, called anthropogenic effect for example, grazing animals will trample/eat small plants
45
What 4 molecules is carbon used in in the body?
DNA (nucleic acids) Carbohydrates Fat Proteins
46
What are pioneers in succession?
First to colonise, lichen and moss
47
What are the stages called in succession?
SERES or | Serial stages
48
What plants come after pioneers?
Herbaceous plants
49
What plants come after herbaceous plants?
Bushy plants/samplings
50
What does the climax community depend on?
Conditions | It is the most biodiverse stage possible
51
How does soil form in succession?
Moisture can accumulate and dust can get trapped and decompose to form soil
52
How does each stage allow new organisms to grow in succession?
Each stage alters the abiotic conditions so other organisms can grow
53
What are the general trends as time goes on in primary succession?
Increase size of plants Increase biomass so when they decompose increase soil depth so there is more moisture Increase humus content More biodiverse so more stable ecosystem
54
What does humus mean?
Mineral/organic material in the soil
55
What does nitrosomonas do?
Nitrification of ammonium ions to nitrite
56
What does nitrobacter do?
Nitrification of nitrite ions to nitrate
57
What does azofobacter do?
Bacteria in soil that do nitrogen fixing of nitrogen in air to nitrate
58
What does rhizobium do?
Bacteria in root nodules that do nitrogen fixing of nitrogen in air to nitrate
59
What is nitrogen used for?
Amino acids/proteins | DNA and RNA
60
How do plants get nitrogen?
Through roots in the form of nitrate ions by active transport against the concentration gradient using ATP made in aerobic respiration and a carrier protein. To make ATP need oxygen so if waterlogged/ flooded, Active transport can't occur.
61
How do animals get nitrogen?
Eating other organisms (protein filled things)
62
Why do we need decomposers?
Break down dead/waste organic material | Release energy and minerals from dead organisms
63
How do saprotrophs feed?
Organisms that feed on dead matter Extracellular digestion Secrete enzymes that hydrolyse organic material into small molecules then absorbed by the saprotroph.
64
What are some examples of saprotrophs?
Bacteria and fungi

Biology module 6 (7 decks)

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