Life processes in the biosphere

Question 1

Abiotic factor

Answer 1

Non-living

e.g wind, light intensity, pH, nutrient availablity

Question 2

Biome

Answer 2

A large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna

Question 3

Biotic factor

Answer 3

Living

E.g plants, animals, invertebrate

Question 4

Carrying Capacity

Answer 4

The number of organisms which a region can support without environmental degradation

Question 5

Climax community

Answer 5

Final stage of ecological succession

Stable community

Question 6

Community of species

Answer 6

Group or association of populations of 2+ different species occupying the same area at the same time

Question 7

Deflected succession

Answer 7

A community that is only stable due to human influence that stops the local ecosystem reaching a stable climax community

Question 8

Density dependant factor

Answer 8

Population growth rates are regulated by population density

Question 9

Ecological niche

Answer 9

The position of a species within an ecosystem describing both the range of conditions necessary for persistence and its ecological rate

Question 10

Ecosystem

Answer 10

Consists of all the organisms and the physical environment with which they interact

Question 11

Hydrosere

Answer 11

Plant succession which occurs in an area of freshwater

Question 12

Inter-species-relationship

Answer 12

Interaction between different species

Question 13

k-selection

Answer 13

Theory that combinations of traits in an organism that trade of between quantity and quality of offspring

Question 14

Lithosere

Answer 14

Plant succession which begins life on newly exposed rock surface

Question 15

Pioneer Species

Answer 15

The first species to colonise barren environments

Question 16

Plagioclimax

Answer 16

An altered or reduced climax of a plant ecosystem caused by human activity

Question 17

Population

Answer 17

All inhabitants of a particular place

Question 18

Primary succession

Answer 18

Begins in barren areas

First set of organisms

Question 19

Range of Tolerance

Answer 19

The upper most and lower range of an abiotic factor that an organism that can survive

Question 20

R-selection

Answer 20

A form of selection that occurs in an environment with plentiful resources

Question 21

Secondary succession

Answer 21

Second wave of organisms that colonise a barren area

Question 22

Species

Answer 22

Classification and taxonomic rank of an organism

Question 23

Symbiosis

Answer 23

Several living organisms working together in an arrangement

Question 24

Taxon

Answer 24

A taxonomic group

Question 25

List some abiotic factors

Answer 25

Examples - Water availability
Temperature fluctuations
Turbulence
Nutrient levels
Light levels

Question 26

List some biotic factors

Answer 26

Food
Shelter
Reproduction

Question 27

Why is it good to have a wide range of tolerance?

Answer 27

Fluctuating environmental changes push less tolerant species out and their populations decline.

Question 28

How do detritivores and decomposers work together?

Answer 28

Detritivores - animals that eat dead organisms that they didn’t kill
Decomposers - Release enzymes to breakdown that matter and then consume it

Question 29

What is parasitism?

Answer 29

A relationship where one species benefits at the expense of another
e.g - tapeworms, ticks, leeches

Question 30

What is symbiosis?

Answer 30

A relationship where both species benefit.
e.g hippos and barbell fish
alligators and birds

Question 31

What is pollination/seed dispersal? (sexual/asexual reproduction)

Answer 31

Pollination - male and female sex cells in plants enabled to meet due to being carried by organisms, e.g bees
Seed dispersal - transported to a new suitable location either benefits the animal too, e.g sqirrels, wind, feces

Question 32

What is habitat provisions/modifying abiotic factors?

Answer 32

Some species may modify the habitat and abiotic factors in a way that suits the development of a new species
e.g plants release oxygen

Question 33

What are feeding relationships?

Answer 33

The relationship between organisms eating and being eaten (and the knock effect this may have
predator
prey
consumer