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ESS > ESS Chapter 2: Ecosystem and ecology > Flashcards

ESS Chapter 2: Ecosystem and ecology Flashcards

1
Q

Species

A

A group of similar organisms that interbreed and produce fertile offspring.

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2
Q

Population

A

A group of individuals that belong to the same species and live at the same area at the same time

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3
Q

Habitat

A

Environment where a species lives

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4
Q

Community

A

Many different species that lives together in a defined area

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5
Q

Ecosystem

A

A community of interdependent species and their physical environment. They can be marine, terrestrial and freshwater.

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6
Q

Niche

A

Abiotic and biotic conditions and resources in which an organism responds to. Includes habitat, interaction & its diet

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7
Q

Fundamental niche

A

The full range of conditions and resources in which a species could survive and reproduce

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8
Q

Realised niche

A

The actual conditions and resources in which a species exists in due to biotic conditions

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9
Q

Abiotic factors

A

The non-living & physical parts of the environment that influence the organisms. Determine the fundamental and realised niche.
E.g temperature, sunlight, acidity, rainfall & salinity

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10
Q

Biotic factors

A

The living part of the environment, the interaction between organisms

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11
Q

Carrying capacity

A

The largest population that an area or ecosystem can support over a long period of time

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12
Q

Predation

A

An interaction in which one animal or plant captures and feeds on a mother organism

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13
Q

Predator-prey relationship

A

Interaction between two organisms of different species in which one organism, the predator, captures and feeds on another organism, the prey.

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14
Q

Herbivory

A

An interaction in which a herbivore eats a part of a plant or alga.

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15
Q

Parasitism

A

A relationship in which an organism lives on or in a host and harms it. Only the parasite benefit from this relationship

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16
Q

Mutualism (Symbiosis)

A

A relationship between two species in which both species benefit from each other.

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17
Q

Pathogen

A

An organism that causes disease. E.g bacteria, funguses, fungi.

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18
Q

Competition

A

A command demand between two or more organisms upon a limited resource.

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19
Q

Intraspecific competition

A

Competition among the members of the same species

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20
Q

Interspecific competition

A

Competition between members of different species

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21
Q

S-curve

A

Shows an initial rapid growth then slows down as it reaches its carrying capacity.
Four phases
1. Lag phase
2. Exponential growth phase
3. Transitional phase
4. Stationary phase

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22
Q

J curve

A

The rate of growth is always increasing. Starts off slow and becomes increasingly rapid and does not slow down

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23
Q

Density-dependent factors

A

Factors that decrease the birth rate and increase the death rate as the population grows.

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24
Q

Density-independent factors

A

Factors that affect the population regardless of the population size.

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25
Q

Photosynthesis

A

Green plants converting light energy, H20 & CO2 to glucose & oxygen

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26
Q

Respiration

A

Release of chemical energy inside the cell so it can be used to support life processes

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27
Q

Producers/Autotrophs

A

Organisms that make their own food

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28
Q

Consumers/Heterotrophs

A

Organisms that cannot make their own food so they feed on other organisms to obtain energy and matter

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29
Q

Decomposers/Detritivores

A

Obtain energy by breaking down the remains of other organisms or waste products

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30
Q

Trophic level

A

The position that an organism occupies in a food chain

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31
Q

Food chain

A

The flow of energy and matter from organism to organism. The producers always have the first level.

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32
Q

Food webs

A

Interconnected food chains in an ecosystem

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33
Q

Efficiency of energy transfers through an ecosystem

A

Energy transfers are not always 100%
It decreases as it travels up the food chain

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34
Q

Pyramid of numbers

A

The number of individuals at each trophic level coexisting in an ecosystem

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35
Q

Pyramid of biomass

A

The biological mass of the standing stock at each Trophic level at a particular time

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36
Q

Pyramid of productivity

A

The flow of energy through a Trophic level over a period of time at which the rate of stock/storage is being generated.

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37
Q

Energy in food chains

A

Energy is lost through the food chain. Therefore, the top predators are at risk of disturbance further down the food chain

Decrease in producers or consumers can threaten the existence of top predations. That why predations are relatively in small groups

Top predators are the most affected by bioaccumulation

38
Q

Sunlight % and producers

A

51% in total doesn’t reach them
19% reflected from cloud
17% absorbed by molecules and dust in the atmosphere
9% reflected from the earth’s surface
3% absorbed from the cloud
3% scattered by aerosols and atmosphere particles

Only 0.06 percent of sunlight is absorbed by plants

39
Q

Pathways of energy through an ecosystem

A

1.Conversion of light energy to chemical energy
2. Chemical energy is transferred through each Trophic level with varying efficiencies
1. Overall conversion of ultraviolet and visible light to hear energy by an ecosystem
2. Re-radiation of heat energy to the atmosphere

40
Q

Productivity

A

The conversion of energy into biomass for a given period of time

41
Q

Primary productivity

A

The gain by producers in energy or biomass per unit area per unit time

42
Q

Secondary productivity

A

The biomass gained by by heterotrophs, through feeding or absorption, per unit mass or energy per unit area per unit time

43
Q

Gross productivity (GP)

A

The total gain of energy or biomass per unit are per unit time

44
Q

Net productivity (NP)

A

The gain in energy or biomass per unit area per unit time remaining after respiratory loss

45
Q

Gross primary productivity (GPP)

A

The mass of glucose per unit area per unit time created by photosynthesis in primary producers

46
Q

Net Primary Producers (NPP)

A

The gain in energy or biomass per unit are per unit time remaining after allowing for respiratory losses

47
Q

Gross Secondary Productivity (GSP)

A

The total energy or biomass gained by consumers per unit area per unit time. This done by subtracting the mass of faeces loss from mass of food eaten

48
Q

Net Secondary Productivity (NSP)

A

The energy or biomass gained per unit area per unit time by consumers after allowing for respiratory loss
NSP = GSP - R

49
Q

Maximum sustainable yield MSY

A

The maximum amount of resource that can be produce without causing it to decline over time
NSP/NPP

50
Q

Nutrient cycle

A

The cyclic movement of nutrient between organisms and the physical environment

51
Q

Carbon Cycle

A

The organic circulation of carbon from the atmosphere into organisms and back again.

52
Q

Nitrogen Cycle

A

The transfer of nitrogen from the atoms sphere to soil, to living organisms and back to the atmosphere.

53
Q

Impact of human activities on energy flows

A
  1. Deforestation
  2. Agriculture
  3. Burning of fossil fuels
  4. Urbanisation
54
Q

Impact of human activities on matter cycle

A

Timber harvesting
Fertiliser runoff

55
Q

Biomes

A

A group of ecosystem of climates. There are aquatic, forest, grassland, tundra and desert. Precipitation, insolation and temperature are the factors that control the distribution of biomes

56
Q
  1. Topical rainfall (7)
A
  1. High temperatures
  2. High amount of rainfall
  3. High insolation
  4. High species diversity
  5. High levels of photosynthesis
  6. Near equator
  7. Growth all year round, evergreen
57
Q
  1. Temperate forests (5)
A
  1. Common in Europe
  2. Winters are cold, summers are hot
  3. Varies in temperature, rainfall & insolation
  4. Evergreen but deciduous trees
  5. Lower diversity than rainforests
58
Q
  1. Deserts (7)
A
  1. Cover 20 - 30% of surface land
  2. Very high temperatures
  3. Low rainfall
  4. Lack of water, low levels of photosynthesis, low NPP
    5.Fluctuation in temperature from night to day
    6.Cacti is common
  5. Soils are poor in nutrients
59
Q
  1. Tundra (7)
A
  1. Very low temperatures
  2. Animal activities increases during summer
  3. Low insolation due to shorter days.
  4. Water is a limitation, as water froze into ice. Low rainfalls
  5. Low nutrient in soils as they are frozen
  6. High latitudes
  7. Low photosynthesis due to temp and water
60
Q
  1. Grassland (6)
A
  1. Found on every continent except for Antarctica.
  2. High fluctuation in temp makes it hard for organisms to survive.
  3. Between forest and desert
    4.Two types: Topical & Temperate
  4. Low productivity
  5. Wide diversity
61
Q
  1. Tropical coral reefs (7)
A

Basically rainforest in the ocean.

62
Q
  1. Hypothermal vents (5)
A
  1. There are no Photosynthetic producers found as sunlight cannot reach the depths of the water.
  2. Occurs when cold seawater meets with hot rocks below the surface.
  3. One of the hottest places found on earth.
  4. Only extremely heat tolerant species can live there, thermophilic species.
  5. Found in volcanically active areas along tectonic plates.
63
Q

Tricellular model of atmospheric circulation

A

It explains the distribution of precipitation and temperature and how it influences the structure and relative productivity of terrestrial biomes.

64
Q

Zonation

A
65
Q

Zonation

A

The change of community along an environmental gradient due factors such as change in attitude, latitude, tidal level and distance from shore/water coverage.

66
Q

Succesion

A

The process of change over time in an ecosystem involving pioneer, intermediate and climax communities. Energy flows, GP, NP, mineral cycling & diversity changes over time.

67
Q

Pioneer community

A

The first stage of succession where only hardy species like lichens & mosses can survive harsh conditions. NP is high but GP is low.

68
Q

Climax community

A

The last stage of succession where the equilibrium is reached, GP is high and NP is low. There is high species and habitat diversity, the soil quality is better and there are tall and longer-living plant species.

69
Q

Plagioclimax community

A

An area or habitat in which the influence of humans have prevented ecosystem from further development and reaching climax community.

70
Q

Habitat diversity

A

The range of different habitats or the number of ecological niches per unit area in an ecosystem, biome or community.

71
Q

R-strategist/species

A

Grow and mature quickly and produce many small offspring. Found in pioneer communities. They are adaptable and live short and productive lives.

72
Q

K strategist/species

A

Grow and mature slowly, produce few but large offspring. Found in climax communities. Dominant species who live a long time

73
Q

C strategist/species

A

A mix of R and K strategist, not so extreme.

74
Q

dichotomous key

A

A step by step approach to identify an organism using a series of paired descriptions. This usually focuses on characteristics and not behaviour.

75
Q

Measuring the abiotic factors (1)

A

Light: Light meter
Temperature: Themometer
Ph: Ph probe/meter
Wind: Anemometer or observations
Particle size: using sieves of various sizes

76
Q

Measuring abiotic factors (2)

A

Run-off: measuring slopes
Soil moisture: weighing soils before and after
Mineral content: Heating soil samples
Flow velocity: Timing of floating object from point A to point B

77
Q

Measuring abiotic factors (3)

A

Salinity: Electrical conductivity or density of water
Dissolved oxygen: DO meter
Wave action: Dynanometer
Turbidity: Secchi disc

78
Q

Lincoln index

A

Pitfall trap
Capture, mark, release, recapture.
N1 x N2/NM
NM: number that was marked in N2

79
Q

Sampling

A
  1. Random sampling: same habitat
  2. Stratified random sampling: Different habitat
    Along an environmental gradient
  3. Systematic sampling: Every 5m
  4. Continuous sampling: The whole length of the transect
80
Q

Transect

A

A line transect: A tape measure laid out in the direction of the gradient
Belt transect: 0.5m to 1m width for larger samples

81
Q

Population density

A

Total no. of species in all quadrats divided by area of one quadrat x total no. of quadrats

82
Q

Percentage frequency

A

No. of actual occurrences divide by no. of possible occurrences.
7 out of hundred 7%
8 out of 10 quadrats 80%

83
Q

Limitations on quadrats

A
  1. Two or more organisms may be mistakenly identified as the same
  2. Difficult to use for vv large or vv small plants.
  3. Difficult to measure outside of the plants main growing season.
84
Q

Limitation of Lincoln index

A
  1. Animal behavior
  2. Species rarity
85
Q

Estimation for biomass

A
  1. Collect using quadrats
  2. Weigh sample in previously weighed container
  3. Oven for 80 degrees Celsius
  4. Reweighed
  5. Repeat step 3 and 4 until a constant mass is obtained
  6. Find average
86
Q

Estimation for energy

A
  1. Organic matter is burned in calorimeter
  2. Heat released during combustion is measured to determine the energy content
  3. Extrapolation, measuring to total biomass of organisms and multiplying by the energy content per unit mass
87
Q

Limitations of calorimeter or oven

A
  1. Involves killing animals
  2. Difficult to measure biomass of very large plants
  3. Difficult to measure biomass of roots
88
Q

Species diversity

A

the no. of diff species compared to the relative no. of individuals of each species

89
Q

Species richness

A

the number of species in an area

90
Q

Simpson index

A

Total no.(Total no. -1) divide by each no. of species( each -1) sublimation

ESS (3 decks)

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