Lesson 5 - Food Webs And Niches Flashcards
What would happen to Earth if all plants diisappeared tomorrow?
We could run out of food.
It could lead to a mass extinction.
Plants clean many toxins out of the environment, but they won’t be cleaned.
Co2 levels will rise.
there will be no O2 without trees - people and animals would start dying.
How do plants control its water levels?
It controls water through its roots.
It can release it through the stomata.
Leaves also have a specific shape so the excess water pours down - doesn’t block pores.
What does photosynthesis require to work?
Carbon dioxide, light and water
What does photosynthesis produce?
Carbohydrates and oxygen.
What is biomass?
Biomass is the weight of living material.
What increases the organism’s biomass? (Hint - Something to do with glucose, carbs, fats and proteins)
Glucose is built up into carbohydrates, fats, proteins for growth and repair - which increases the organism’s biomass.
What does the food chain look like starting with the energy source?
Energy source —> Producer —> Primary Consumer —> Secondary Consumer
Out of the producer, primary consumer and secondary consumer which will have the most biomass?
The producer will have the biggest biomass. Explanation - Assuming the plant is 1000kg, it will feed 100 rabbits, and then it will feed 10 foxes. The weight of the plant will be distributed amongst them.
Assuming the primary consumers and secondary consumers are rabbits and foxes respectively, what woulsd happen to the rabbits and foxes if all their food died out?
Foxes would eat the rabbits, and rabbits would die from the lack of food. The biomass will decrease overall, and the chain will collapse.
Why is it a good idea for an organism to have different sources of food?
It is good because if they only have one source of food, and that runs out or they are not being able to get that for a long time - they could struggle trying to adapt to other foods and may die from the lack of food.
What does a food web show?
A food web shows the series of interlinked food chains that can be found within a community.
How can forest fires benefit the ecosystem?
If there is any type of bacteria then it would burn.
It could prevent overpopulation.
The ash from fires can fertilise land.
Heat can stimulate poinecones to release seeds.
How can forest fires benefit bad for the environment?
It could kill some species.
Plants would be destroyed.
Homes/habitats would be destroyed.
While animals are trying to escape, they could damage other things apart from the forest.
Air pollution would be much higher from the smoke.
If smoke is inhaled then it could injure an animals’ or a humans’ lung.
What is a niche?
A niche is the role of an organism within a particular ecosystem, including its relationship.
What is the ‘competition’ relationship?
An interaction between organisms or species in which both require a single or many resources. An example could be 2 stags fighting for a doe.
What is the ‘predation’ relationship?
When one organism kills the other. An example could be foxes and rabbits
What is the ‘mutualism’ relationship?
Interaction between 2 or more species where both benefit. An example can be a bee and a flower.
What is the ‘parasitism’ relationship?
Relationship between 2 organism where 1 is positively affected and the other is negatively affected.
What is the ‘commensalism’ relationship?
It is a relationship in which one organism benefits but the other is not harmed or helped. An example could be birs sitting on huge animals.
What is the ‘neutralism’ relationship?
Where both do not benefit or harm each other
