Energy And Ecosystems Flashcards
What is an ecosystem
They are dynamic, the abundance and distribution of organisms are controlled by biotic and abiotic factors
What are abiotic factors
Non living such as temperature, rainfall ,sunlight
What are biotic factors
Living factors such as predators, competition
Population
All the organisms of on species in a habitat
Community
All the organisms of all the species in a habitat
Habitat
Where an organism loves
Niche
The specific role an organism plays in an ecosystem
Throphic level
The different levels in a food chain
Intraspecific competition
Competition within the same species
Interspecific competition
Competition between different species for the same resources
Gross primary production
Total amount of energy made by producers
How do you work out net production
N=I-(R+F)
N=biomass, I= energy ingested,F= waste
Describe the nitrogen cycle
Ammonium ions, nitrate 1, nitrate 2, nitrogen gas in atmosphere, plants + animals, decomposes, amonification–ammonium ions
Saprobiontic nutrition
Digestion or break down of organic matter by extracellular enzymes
Saprobions
A type of decomposed that digests their food by saprobiontic nutrition
Saprobiontic nutrition
Digestion or the break down or organic matter by extracellular enzymes
Natural fertilisers
Donation nitrogen and phosphorus in organic matter e.g. Manure or compost
Artificial fertilisers
Inorganic chemical compounds that contain n+p
Leaching
When soluble compounds are washed off by the rain
Eutrophication
- N+P leach into pond water 2. Algae blooms 3. Blocks out light 4. Plants can’t photosynthesis 5. Saprobionts break down dead plant 6. Respire aerobically 7. Fish die
Briosphere
Simple plants that have no stem and grow close to the ground
Seral stage
Plant life changing so does the fauna
Climax community
When ecosystems have reached their carrying capacity of an environment
Autograph
An organism that produces its own energy
What are the common changes during succession
Increased biomass, increase size of organisms, increased biodiversity, more complex food webs, increase gross productivity
Succession
A directional change in plant and animal communities with time
Secondary succession
Occurs on site where some changes has happened to an existing community, this is faster than primary succession
What are the 6 stages of succession
- Migration 2. Colonisation 3. Establishment 4. Competition 5. Stabilisation 6. Climax
What is the rhyme to remember the stages of succession
Mud, can, easily, cover, solid, concrete
Biodiversity
The variability among living organisms from all sources and the ecological systems of which they are a part of
Biodiversity hotspot
Aide conservation is deciding what sites need the most conserving
Conservation
Managing succession and balancing the ethical and commercial interests, done by changing practises or tweaking the land
