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Environmental Studies (Unit 1) > Life Processes In The Biosphere > Flashcards

Life Processes In The Biosphere Flashcards

1
Q

What is the actual size of a population controlled by? (3)

A

Births
Deaths
Movements in and out area

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2
Q

What is the number of births controlled by?

A

The natural reproductive potential of a species (biotic potential)

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3
Q

What is the number of deaths controlled by?

A

Environmental factors

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4
Q

Give examples for density independent factors? (3)

A

Drought
Good
Volcanic eruption

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5
Q

Give examples of density dependent factors (2)

A

Food supply

Disease

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6
Q

What is the carrying capacity?

A

The max population size that can be supported indefinitely without damaging or over-exploiting the environment

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7
Q

What happens if the population drops below that carrying capacity?

A

The density dependent factors become weaker so mortality decreases and the population increases

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8
Q

What does higher diversity in less abiotically extreme environments result in?

A

More stable ecosystems in which populations are dominated by biotic factors

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9
Q

What are the abiotic factors that affect the survival of a species? (5)

A 
Temperature
Light
pH
Water 
Mineral Nutrients
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10
Q

What are the biotic factors that affect the survival of a species? (7)

A 
Feeding
Predators
Symbiotic Nutrition
Pollination 
Seed Dispersal
Disease
Nutrient Supply
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11
Q

What is Taxonomy?

A

The study of how organisms can be group according to how closely related they are

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12
Q

Define Species

A

A group of organisms that resemble one another more closely than members from other groups

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13
Q

Define Population

A

Refers to the individuals of a species living in a particular area

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14
Q

Define Community

A

The populations of all the species of plants and animals living in a particular area

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15
Q

Define Ecosystem

A

The community of organisms living in an area and their inter-relationships with the environment

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16
Q

Define Habitat

A

Place where species, organisms or population lives

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17
Q

Define Niche

A

The role a species plays in its habitat

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18
Q

Define Biome

A

Large geographical region with particular climatic features

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19
Q

Define Biosphere

A

Part of the planet that is inhabited by living organisms

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20
Q

What is the climax community usually controlled by?

A

The climate (climatic climax)

21
Q

What is the sequence of changing communities called?

A

A sere

22
Q

How long does primary succession continue for?

A

Until the climax community develops

23
Q

What do species that colonise an area change? What does this lead to?

A

Change abiotic factors and lead to not favourable conditions, which allow new species to colonise and out-compete others

24
Q

As abiotic conditions get less extreme, what happens to the diversity of species?

A

It increases

25
Q

What is a hydrosere?

A

A succession that begins in water

26
Q

What is the first step of a hydrosere?

A

An area of freshwater us colonised by single celled algae from soil

27
Q

In a hydrosere, what happens when plants begin to grow?

A

Water becomes shallower and shade of emergent plants kills submerged plants

28
Q

In a hydrosere, what happens when the lake starts to fill up with sediment?

A

Aquatic species disappear and trees starts to colonise

29
Q

In a hydrosere, how does the soil become drier? What eventually colonises?

A

More sediments fill in and transpiration by trees removes the water. Oak colonise

30
Q

What do denser canopies provide? What’s a consequence of this?

A

Provides shade so smaller plants grow less well

31
Q

What does the speed with which a species colonises depend on?

A

The with which they can travel

32
Q

What is a Lithosere?

A

The development of the a community on bare rock

33
Q

What are the early abiotic conditions like in a lithosere? (4)

A

Very harsh
No soil
Lack of water
Extremes of temperature

34
Q

What are the first colonisers of a Lithosere called?

A

Simple Autotrophs (algae and lichens)

35
Q

What happens in the first stage of Lithosere succession?

A

Weathered rock fragments and DOM start building up and mosses colonise

36
Q

What happens when the soil builds up in a Lithosere?

A

Plants get larger and abiotic conditions become less extreme

37
Q

What happens when larger plants colonise in a Lithosere?

A

Seedlings of less hardy plants survive under their shade

38
Q

What happens when the soil is deep enough in a Lithosere?

A

The Edaphic factors (soil factors) are suitable and trees can colonise

39
Q

What do the the first trees of a Lithosere usually have?

A

Wind-blown seeds

40
Q

What do areas that have water available all year usually become?

A

Woodland (temperature controls which type)

41
Q

What do areas with seasonal rain usually become?

A

Grassland

42
Q

What is secondary succession?

A

The changes that occur in an area that had already reached the climax state

43
Q

What events interrupt succession and can remove the climax community?

A 
Natural events (forest fires, hurricanes)
Human activities (deforestion, grazing, mowing and burning)
44
Q

What are Plagioclimaxes?

A

If the human activities that destroyed the climax community continue, a new community of species will develop

45
Q

What happens if the human activity that produced a Plagioclimax stops?

A

Secondary succession will eventually re-establish the climax community

46
Q

What happens if the Plagioclimax community is considered important?

A

It is necessary to continue the activities that maintained the Plagioclimax

47
Q

In the UK, what does conservation often involve?

A

Management of plagioclimaxes and the continuance of previous activities

48
Q

Why might culling of a population be necessary?

A

To conserve species or habitats where natural control mechanisms no longer exist

49
Q

What is Sigmoidal Population Growth?

A

The growth pattern of a population where abundant resources slow rapid growth followed by population stabilisation as the carrying capacity is reached

Environmental Studies (Unit 1) (4 decks)

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