ENERGY IN ECOSYSTEMS

Question 1

what is a ecosystem? (1)

Answer 1

a community of living organisms in conjunction with the non-living components of their environment, interacting as a system.

Question 2

what are edaphic factors? (1)

Answer 2

the nature (structure and composition) of the soil itself.

Question 3

what is a population? (1)

Answer 3

all of the individuals of one species in an environment or habitat at the same time that interest.

Question 4

what do segments on the population of individuals graph represent? (4)

Answer 4

A=lag phase
B=log phase
C=stationary
D=death phase

Question 5

what is the lag phase? (1)

Answer 5

rate of growth is slow due to acclimatation to surroundings.

Question 6

what is the log phase? (1)

Answer 6

plenty of food and shelter therefore very little competition also known as the exponential growth phase.

Question 7

what is the death phase? (1)

Answer 7

deaths increase and reproduction rate decreases because competition for resources. deaths can also occur due to toxins produced by population.

Question 8

how might a population interaction? (4)

Answer 8

-mating
-competition for food and shelter
-protection/parenting
-social living

Question 9

what is a community? (1)

Answer 9

all of the organisms of all species living in the habitat, environment at the same time that they interact.

Question 10

how might different species interact? (2)

Answer 10

-competition food/space
-predator/prey/herbivores

Question 11

what is the carrying capacity? (1)

Answer 11

the maximum stable population that an ecosystem can support.

Question 12

what are density dependent factors? (1)

Answer 12

a factor that is dependent on the population

Question 13

what are density independent factors? (1)

Answer 13

a factor that is not dependent on the population.

Question 14

what is meant by biota? (1)

Answer 14

all of the living things found within an ecosystem.

Question 15

what do biotic factors relate to? (3)

Answer 15

-climate
-soil
-topography

Question 16

what factors are involved within the climate? (1)

Answer 16

factors such as solar radiation, temperature, rainfall, etc

Question 17

what factors are involved in soil? (1)

Answer 17

parent rock, soil water and soil chemistry (edaphic factors).

Question 18

what factors are involved in topography? (1)

Answer 18

slope and aspect of the land, and altitude.

Question 19

how does sun light effect an ecosystem? (1)

Answer 19

is a major source of heat - very few organisms grow if the temperature of their environment falls outside of the range of 0-4o degrees. temperature rate influences the rate of all biochemical reactions.

Question 20

what effect might low temperature have on an ecosystem? (1)

Answer 20

ice crystals may form in cells, disrupting the cytoplasm.

Question 21

what effect might high temperature have on an ecosystem? (1)

Answer 21

denaturation of enzymes

Question 22

what effect does light intensity have on an ecosystem? (1)

Answer 22

affected by factors such as latitude, season, aspect (slope), time of day and the extent of cloud cover.

Question 23

how does relative humidity effect the ecosystem? (1)

Answer 23

influences rate of water loss by evaporation and on rate of transpiration.

Question 24

how does the soil pH affect an ecosystem? (1)

Answer 24

affects the availability of nutrients and otherwise exist in other forms

Question 25

how does soil temperature affect an ecosystem? (1)

Answer 25

affects root growth, microorganisms activity and seed germination.

Question 26

how does soil texture affect an ecosystem? (1)

Answer 26

relative proportions of different sized particles affect (aeration/drainage)

Question 27

how does slope/aspect effect an ecosystem? (1)

Answer 27

indirect effects on illumination etc

Question 28

how does terrestrial/pond water supply of flow have on an ecosystem? (1)

Answer 28

pons with spring source are permanent with relatively stable communities, whereas pons raised by surface drainage tend to have ephemeral communities

Question 29

what effect does oxygen availability have on an ecosystem? (1)

Answer 29

low or non-existent concentrations of oxygen trigger anaerobic respiration and favour obligate anaerobic organisms.

Question 30

how are climatic factors measured? (3)

Answer 30

dedicated digital sensor linked to a sensor meter
permanently mounted maximum and minimum thermometer
whirling hygrometer

Question 31

how are edaphic factors measured? (3)

Answer 31

dedicated digital sensor linked to a sensor meter
calorimetrical measurement using a soil test kit
hand assessment of soil

Question 32

how are topographical factors measured? (3)

Answer 32

survey methods (profile transect)
measurements of seasonal changes in water levels
dedicated digital sensor linked to a sensor meter

Question 33

what is a predator? (1)

Answer 33

an organism that feeds on other living species

Question 34

what is grazing? (1)

Answer 34

the eating of plants by herbivores

Question 35

what is meant by symbiosis? (1)

Answer 35

a close and often obligatory association between two or more organisms often, but not necessarily to mutual advantage

Question 36

what is parasitism? (1)

Answer 36

a mutualistic partnership between two living organisms where one partner gains benefit and the other does not.

Question 37

what are the types of parasite? (1)

Answer 37

endoparasites and edoparasites

Question 38

what are endoparasites? (1)

Answer 38

live in the body of their host

Question 39

what are edoparasites? 91)

Answer 39

live on the body of their host

Question 40

what is an autotroph? (1)

Answer 40

an organism capable of making its own food source (complex organic compounds) from inorganic molecules

Question 41

what are the types of autotrophs? (2)

Answer 41

photoautotrophs and chemoautotrophs

Question 42

what is an heterotroph? (1)

Answer 42

organisms that need to consume other organisms for food( complex organic molecules)