Life Sciences Booklet 2 Flashcards
What does every organism depend on?
Every organism depends on and interacts with other living and non-living things to stay alive. Depends on for food and environment for protection and a place to stay
What is ecology?
Ecology is a particular branch of science that studies how organisms interact with each other and their environment
What is a person who studies ecology called?
Ecologist
How are interactions classified?
Interactions are classified into four levels which are populations, communities, ecosystems, biosphere
What is an individual?
Individuals all one unit of a species and live together in populations
What is populations?
Is a group of individuals of the same species living in the same area at the same time
What is a community?
Is a group of populations living in the same area at the same time. They are different populations. We study how different populations interact
What is an ecosystem?
All living and nonliving things in the same area at the same time, and how they interact with each other. Can be large or small populations.
What is the biosphere?
All of the ecosystems on Earth combined. The world. We study on a larger scale. It includes climate change, change of earth over time, how movement of the Earth affect ecosystems, wind patterns, rock and soil formation. Includes lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere
What is the lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere?
- Includes lithsphere (rocky crust)
- hydrosphere (water on surface, underground and in air)
- atmosphere (layers of gases surrounding the Earth)
What do ecosystems consist of?
Consist of abiotic (nonliving) and biotic (living) organisms
What are the abiotic factors in an ecosystem?
- Light intensity
- Temperature
- Moisture
- PH and mineral content
- Wind intensity and direction
- Slope
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What is light intensity?
Light is required for photosynthesis. Plant species have a evolved for optimum grows in the light available in the climate or habitat. Limited light limit photosynthesis. This affect the distribution of plants which affect the distribution of animals that eat those plants.
How have plants adapted in light intensity?
Some plants adapt to Lausanne night by developing bigger leaves to optimise photosynthesis. Other plants have evolved for optimum growth in bright sunlight. Are the plans have evolved to grow in shade
What is temperature?
Animals and plants have evolved to go healthy at their optimum temperature. Plants are a primary food source and they dictate which animals live where. Placing an organism in a cold area where there are optimum temperature is hotter they would die.
What is moisture?
Living organisms are adapted to growing in the moisture levels available to them. Water is a requirement for photosynthesis. Plants need water to produce glucose and oxygen. This includes water and rain content.
What happens when plants receive too much moisture?
When planted too exposed to too much water there route to become waterlogged. This means they are unable to respire and they will rot and die. Some plants have adapted to wetter conditions and thrive in these areas.
What is pH and mineral content?
PH of soil has a huge effect
What does the pH of soil have an affect on?
pH of soil has a huge effect on plants, that grow in them
What does azeleas grow best in?
Some plants grow in acidic soil the best.
What does clematis grow best in?
Some plants prefer alkaline soil
What does hydrangea grow best in?
Som plants grow in both (neutral)
What does the pH of water have an effect on?
pH of water has an effect on aquatic organisms found there. Different species have evolved to survive
What does a low pH mean?
Low means acidic
What does a high pH mean?
Base/alkaline
What is a neutral pH?
Seven
What does pH mean?
Power of hydrogen or potential of hydrogen
What do you some plants require to grow well? Minerals
Some plants require high levels of soil manuals to grow well. For example magnesium which is required to produce chlorophyll
What does it mean when plants have a unnaturally yellow leaves?
Magnesium deficiency
What does the strength and direction of wind affect?
Strength of wind and direction has a huge impact on where organisms are found in an ecosystem. Many organisms prefer a sheltered location
What is most likely to happen with plant seeds?
Plant seeds are likely to settle and germinate. Animals which depend upon these are more likely to live close
What does the strength of wind have an effect on growth?
Strength of wind affects growth of individual organisms. For example shape and height of plants
What happens if the animal has not adapted to the wind?
Have not adapted equals no advantage of survival
What do you slopes have an affect on?
The gradient or steepness of a Particula surface of the Earth affect the rate of water run-off
What do steep slopes encourage?
Steep slopes encourage fast run off of water which causes soil erosion. Soil tends to be shallow and infertile with reduced plant growth. Plants are small and animals are not really present
Why are gentle slopes better?
Gentle slopes are better because there is a slower flow of surface water, reduces erosion, increases availability of water to plants
Overall what do slopes influence?
Over or influence is the surface temperature of soil
What anchor soil on slopes?
Roots on slopes anchors soil
When plant can’t grow what happens?
Plants can grow then the soil is removed
True or false
Organisms interact in different ways, not in exact same way
True
What is the first level of biotic interaction as well as the second level?
Biotic
Symbiosis, competition, feeding
Paratism, mutualism, commensalism
What is symbiosis?
Describes the way in which two different species living together in the same community. They interact with each other over long periods of time. Includes paratism, mutualism and commensalism.
What is parasitism?
One species benefits or gains something from the relationship and the other species is harmed in some way. The host may die in some interactions.
What is an example of parasitism?
Ticks are parasites and feed off the blood of many animals, for example dogs, cows,
What is mutualism?
Occurs between any two species where both of the individuals benefit from the interaction. Both species gain something from the other, so we can say it is mutually beneficial.
What is an example of mutualism?
Pollination is an example of mutualism as the bee gets food (nectar) from the flower and the flower is pollinated by the bee so that it can reproduce. Rhino and bird
What is commensalism?
One species benefits, while the other one is unaffected by the relationship. Unlike parasitism, in commensalism the other species is not harmed or benefited in any way.
What is an example commensalism?
A whale shark with remora fish. The remora fish get scraps of food that fall out of the shark’s mouth. The whale shark is unaffected.
What is competition?
Two species need to share valuable and limited resources. For example food and water. In this way it is competition. Different species compete for the same resources
What is feeding?
Species interact when one species can use the other species as a food source, for example a predator and prey. For example lion and zebra
What is a predator and prey
A predator is an animal that hunts, kills and eats other animals for food. Prey is a term used to describe organisms that predators kill for food.
Why do you living organisms need to be fed?
Need to be fed to carry out life processes
What do you other organisms feed on to obtain energy?
Plants can produce their own food. Other organisms feed on this to obtain energy
How do we identify feeding types?
Identify different feeding types based on how the organism obtains its food. In other words producer and consumer
What are producers?
Producers are organisms that are able to produce their own organic food. They do not need to eat other organisms to do this.
What is another name for producer?
Autotroph
Where does the word autotroph come from and what does it mean?
The term autotroph comes from the Greek words autos meaning ‘self’ and trophe meaning ‘nourishing’. So autotroph means ‘self-feeding’
What biotic components go through photosynthesis?
Plants and green algae make food during photosynthesis
What are consumers?
Organisms which cannot produce their own food need to eat other organisms to get food. All animals are consumers, as they cannot produce their own food.
What is another name for consumer?
Heterotrophs.
The term heterotroph comes from the Greek words heteros meaning “different’ and trophe meaning ‘nourishing’. So heterotroph means “different-feeding or feeding on different things.
There are many types of consumers. How do we classify them?
Many types of consumers. Classify on the food they consume
What are the types of consumers?
- Herbivores
- Carnivores
- Omnivores
- Insectivores
- Decomposers
What are herbivores?
consume Plant matter only
What are carnivores?
Consume animal matter only
What are insectivores?
An organism that consumes insects only
What are decomposers?
Decomposes break down dead plants and animal matter and perform a valuable service as ‘earth clean up crew’
What would happen without decomposers?
They are the most undervalued participants in an ecosystem. The nutrients are recycled and used by plants. Without them dead matter would be everywhere. No decomposers = no life.
What are examples of microscopic decomposers?
Protozoa and bacteria
What are examples of decomposers that are not microscopic?
Fungi, earthworms, termites, dung beetles and millipedes
What is energy flow?
The flow of energy from the sun to different organisms. It is important as it supports the life processes. Multiple food chains are combined and are known as food webs
Where does the energy come from in food webs?
Energy is vital. All energy in food webs come from the Sun.
How does all the energy come from the Sun to consumers?
Plants trap radiant energy during photosynthesis and convert it to chemical potential energy in food compounds.
Where do you herbivores get energy from?
Herbivores get energy directly from plants.
What do you carnivores and omnivores eat to get energy?
Carnivores and omnivores eat animals for energy
What do you food chains show?
foods chains the energy transfer
What do the arrows in a food chain represent?
Arrow shows/represent the transfer of energy in an ecosystem
What are animals that eat plants in a trpphic level called?
Animals that eat plants are primary consumers. Also known as a herbivore
What are animals that eat primary consumers called?
Animals that eat primary consumers are called secondary consumers
What are animals that eat secondary consumers called?
Animals that eat secondary consumers mostly predators are the tertiary consumers
What are animals that eat tertiary consumer in a trpohic level called?
Animals that eat the tertiary consumers are the quarternary consumers.
What is the animal at the very end of the food chain called?
The animal at the very end of any food chain is called the apex predator. The apex predator will therefore also be a tertiary or quarternary consumer
What is each level of a food chain called?
Each level is called a trophic level
What percentage does the organism use up for its life processes?
Organism use up to 90% of its food energy for life processes. 90% is lost as heat
What happens to the other 10% of the energy from the food?
10% of energy goes into new body cells and is available to the next animal when it gets eaten. Loss of energy at each trophic level is shown by an energy pyramid
What is a food web?
We put all of the food chain is within an ecosystem together, we end up with many interconnected food chains.
Why are food webs useful?
They are useful to show the many different feeding relationships between different species within an ecosystem
What is forces organisms to adapt?
Organisms face competition, predation, paritism, human influence over a long period of time. It could affect them negatively which forces them to adapt, move away or die
What has South Africa undergone?
What was the dry Karoo in South Africa once?
What did the Cango Caves look like?
South Africa has undergone big climatic changes. The drive-through was once swampy. The Cango Caves in Oudtshroon was once underwater
What is an adaptation?
A characteristic that helps a living thing/organism survive in its environment
When did South Africa rise out of the sea?
South Africa rose out of the sea millions of years ago meaning that we were aquatic
What happens to the organisms that could not adapt in South Africa?
Organisms that cannot adapt it became extinct. They could not adapt to the new dryer terrestrial, land environment
What happened to the individuals that could adapt in South Africa?
Individuals that could adapt survived and formed a new populations. It could’ve been the changes in the organism structure, function, behaviour over a long period of time
What type of populations are able to survive adaptations?
Only populations I have suitable characteristics are able to survive in changing conditions within the environment. They are selected by nature to survive
What are the three main types of adaptations?
Structural, functional and behavioural
What is a structural adaptation?
A feature of an organisms body that helps it survival or reproduce.
Eg. Long neck of a giraffe or birds beaks
What is a functional adaptation?
The life process that helps an organism to survive or reproduce. For example Rolled leaves minimises water loss. Desert animals that conserve water by having a sepcialised kidney that produces small amounts of concentrated urind
What is a behavioural adaptation?
Response made by an organism that helps it survive all reproduce. For example hibernation. Desert animals that spend time underground in burrows where it is cooler
How does adaptations take place?
It takes place over a very long time. In
How are adaptations passed on?
It must be passed on from generation is within species. Over time and I station is an individual organisms allowed species to evolve. They adapt to the changing environment
What is adaptation in animals?
Animals have different adaptations which enables different species to live in function in different areas
What are adaptations in plants?
Several local plants have adapted to their environment
What is also part of adaptations?
Camouflage and mimicry. They are common defensive and offensive weapons in an organism is Arsenal
Define camouflage
It is when a species changes to resemble its surroundings to protect it self and blend in the background.
When does camouflage occur?
It occurs when animals or plants look like it surroundings allowing it to blend better, or change in its appearance.
What is camouflage used for?
It is used to fool of prey species/predator
What is a camouflage way to blend in their natural habitat?
Animals are difficult to see in their natural surroundings. Stripes, spots, coloration patterns on the ferns skin is a way of blending into their natural environment
What are other camouflage techniques in sea?
Some more decorate their shells with pebbles, foliage and others to blend in with sea floor. Crabs and see anenones
What is mimicry?
When one species mimics or copies another species in terms of sound, appearance, smell behaviours, location to protect it self
What are the two forms of mimicry?
Batesian and Müllerian
What is Batesian mimicry?
A harmless species has evolved to imitate the warning signals of a harmful species. Is directed at a predator. They are not harmful but they mimic the harmful. For example hover flies are harmless and mimic wasps. It wards off the predator
What is Müllerian mimicry?
Two or more harmful or unpalatable (bad tasting) animals develop similar appearances as a shared protective device. They are both harmful and gross. For example a Monarch butterfly and a viceroy butterfly. They taste foul to predators
What is balance in an ecosystem?
Balance between the different trophic levels in an ecosystem. All organisms have to rely on resources that the area can supply. It refers to how many animals are can support for long periods.
What can the area support in destruction of habitat?
An area I can only support a limited number of animals.
What do you organisms rely on a habitat for?
Organisms rely on a habitat to supply them with food, protection and shelter
What happens when an ecosystem gets upset in balance?
If the balance is upset the whole system could fail
What is a habitat?
A habitat is a natural environment where a particular organism lives and utilises resources of a pet. For survival, food, shelter, protection and meeting. This contains biotic and abiotic
What are the main components of a habitat?
The main components include space, shelter, food and water
What are the abiotic characteristics in a habitat?
Abiotic characteristics include nature of soil such as PH and minerals, availability of land, sunlight a temperature and climatic conditions
What size is a habitat?
Habitats can be tiny which means it’s not always a physical space that can be seen by the naked eye. For example parasites and animals Sal
What is a niche?
The functional role and position of a species in its environment that describes how the species response to the distribution of resources and competitors and predators. Abiotic and biotic
What does a niche represent?
It represent interaction of a population with these factors and it affect on the environment and other organisms
What does a niche deal with?
It is part of a habitat of an organism and it deals with what it does in the habitat to survive
What is habitat destruction?
It is the process by which a natural habitat becomes in capable of supporting native species. Organisms are displaced or dead which reduces biodiversity and species abundance
What is the leading cause of biodiversity loss?
Habitat destruction is the leading cause of biodiversity loss as organisms are displaced or dad which reduces biodiversity and species abundance
What are the causes of habitat destruction?
- Deforestation
- Global warming
- Bottom trawling
- Pollution
- Fire
- Natural disasters
What is deforestation?
Also known as a forest clearance. It is the removal of a florist or stand of trees from land that is then converted to nonforest use
What is the purpose of deforestation?
For purposes of agriculture and building
What are the two major consequences of deforestation?
Loss of biodiversity an increase in global warming
What is loss of biodiversity?
When trees cut Down habitat is removed. Some species are not able to survive. Some die out and was once a few tours of another. This in danger is the population of the second species
What does loss of biodiversity lead to?
Species that you survive are forced into smaller habitats which lead to unsustainable levels of competition among species
What is the increase in global warming? Deforestation
Trees abs of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere for photosynthesis. The trees means that less carbon dioxide is absorbed which means the levels of carbon dioxide increases
Corbin dioxide is a greenhouse gas what does it contribute to?
Call me dioxide is a greenhouse gas which contributes to trapping the suns radiation within the atmosphere which raises the earths temperature
What is global warming?
Long term heating of earths climate system observed since pre industrial period(1850-1900) due to human activities
What human activities lead to global warming?
Primarily fossil fuel burning which increases heat trapping greenhouse gases levels in atmosphere
What are the significant environmental impacts identified by scientist?
- Ice melting worldwide especially at the poles.
- Contribute to sea levels rising
- Rise in temperature which affects wildlife and habitats
- Many species are on the move
- Precipitation has increased, on average
- Some animals are thriving
What is the ice mousing worldwide especially at the poles in global warming?
Ice melting worldwide includes mountain glaciers, Ice sheets, covering West and Artic, Greeneland, Artic ice
What is contributes to sealevel is rising in global warming?
Contributes to sealevel is rising which is 3.2 mm a year. It occurs at a faster rate in recent years
What is a race in temperature that affect wildlife and habitat in global warming?
Rise in temperature affect wildlife and habitat. Such as the vanishing of ice and the Adélie penguin in Antartica. Populations have collapse by 90%
What is many species are on the move in global warming?
Many species are on the move which means they have migrated farther north or higher to Kula areas. Such as butterflies, foxes, alpine plants
What is precipitation that has increased on average in global warming?
Precipitation has increased on average. In some regions they are experienced a severe drought which increases the risk of wildfires, last crops, drinking water shortages
What is some animals are thriving in global warming?
Some animals are thriving such as mosquitoes, ticks, jellyfish, crop pests
What is bottom trawling?
A fishing method used by commercial fishing companies in which a heavy net is dragged along the sea floor
Why is bottom trawling a widely used method?
It is a widely used method because it allows for a lot of products in a short space of time.
How is bottom trawling done?
A huge net to catch is animals at the bottom of the sea which it scrapes and destroys habitats
What is bottom trawling usually aimed at?
It is usually aimed to catch one or two types of fish. It catches any organism in its path such as turtles, Juve now fish, invertebrates are often swept up
What does bottom trawling affect?
affects marine biodiversity, species are accidentally fished near to extinction
What happens to the coral reef in relation to bottom trawling?
Coral reef is the most biodiversity and ecosystem with many endemic species that are destroyed. The Reeves take hundreds of years to form and are quickly destroyed by bottom trawlers. It is home to many marine organisms which organisms rely force morning, shelter, protection and food
In 2019 how many tons of deep sea corals were destroyed in New Zealand in relation to bottom trawling?
Into thousand and 19 3000 tons of deep sea corals were destroyed in New Zealand
What is pollution?
The introduction of harmful materials into the environment
What are the different types of pollution?
Water, air and land pollution
What can air-pollution be caused by?
It can be caused by wildfires, volcanoes, industrial chemicals. Majority is caused by burning of fossil feels such as coal and natural gases by electricity providers such as factories and cars
According to WHO how many deaths are caused by air-pollution?
According to WHO air-pollution is responsible for nearly 7,000,000 deaths. Nine out of 10 people breathe air that exceeds their guidelines limit for politicians. Living in low, middle income countries suffer the worst
What are the three harmful gases that are released into the atmosphere that contribute to acid rain?
Sulphur dioxide, nitrogen monoxide and carbon dioxide mix in moisture in air and they form sulphic acid, nitric acid and carbonic acid which contributes to acid rain
Why is acid rain harmful?
damages trees, plants, soil, aquatic ecosystems, statues, buildings. It also contributes to global warming
What are the causes of water pollution?
Some causes are obvious and some are not obvious. Obvious causes include human dump sewage, domestic waste into water sources, factories releasing chemicals, oils and other waste into dams, rivers and oceans. Some are not obvious such as fertilisers and pesticides. It is used by farmers that seeped into groundwater. It can also drain into rivers and lakes which disrupts ecosystems
What is land pollution?
Refers to the harm done at the earths land surface is, at and below ground level by solid, liquid waste dumped on land
What can land pollution lead to?
It can result in water not safe for drinking, polluted soils which decreases amount of fertile land for agriculture, loss of ecosystems, increase in wildfires
What are fires?
They are positive and negative impacts
What does fire trigger? Is this a positive impact?
Fire heat soil and causes hard coating around the seed is to crack. It triggers germination, returns nutrients, rejuvenates. It is a positive impact. It also create spaces in logs and trees that animals can use for shelter
What are negative impacts of fires?
It can damage vegetation which provides shelter and food and this wraps the ecosystem. It can cause soil erosion. It releases carbon dioxide into the environment which contributes to global warming
Why do natural disasters happened?
Happening with increasing frequency as a result of global woman, climate change. This includes earthquakes, cyclones, floods, hurricanes, mudslides, wildfires, extreme drought
What can natural disasters do?
Natural disasters can devastate ecosystems. Why was life can be killed by the disaster directly or impacted indirectly through changes to their habitat and food availability
What is a result of natural disasters?
Results in waste and pollution being released into the environment
What happens after hurricanes and floods?
After hurricanes and floods stagnant water becomes a perfect breeding ground for harmful pathogens
What is a pathogen?
A disease
Who had little impact on the environment?
Many years ago people like the Sun had little impact on the environment. They live in harmony with the land and only took food that they could carry
Who had a huge effect on the environment?
Modern day man has a huge effect on the environment. They clear the land to build cities, roads and farms. We pollute the environment and produce waste and letter. We post endangered animals and over harvest marine animals which causes lasting damage to ecosystems
What are human factors that disrupt a balanced ecosystem?
- Poaching
Define poaching
The illegal removal of plants and animals from the wild
In South Africa what three species are extensively poached?
In South Africa three species are extensive the post. These are the Abalone, pangolins and rhinos
What are South African abalone?
AKA perlemoen. Endemic to SA coast. It is a marine snail. Considered a delicacy in Asian countries. Between 2000 - 2018 96 million were illegally removed from SA. In Sept 2021 police confiscated illegally harvested abalone in CPT worth 2.4 million
What is a pangolin?
Kill up to 2,700,000 African pangolins per year. one is the most traffic animals. The meat is considered a delicacy and the scales are believed to have a medicinal property. one sells for $20,000. It moves slowly. When they feel threatened they roll up into a ball as an easy target
What are rhinos?
Porch for their horns. It is believed to have medicinal properties. Is a symbol of wealth
Why does South Africa text thousands of tourists a year?
South Africa is one of the most naturally divert. We have many different species, habitats and ecosystems than other places. It attracts thousands of tourists
Why is South Africa under severe threat of poaching, pollution and other human influence?
South Africa is under severe threat from poaching, pollution and other human influence because of the tourist
What can ecosystems not do effectively if we interfere?
Ecosystems naturally recycle materials like water, Carbon dioxide, gases, remains of organisms if it is left alone. They cannot do it effectively if we interfere
What are the human influences?
- Habitat destruction like deforestation and burning
- Pollution causing global warming
- Alien invasive plants taking over ecosystems
- Hunting, poaching and other killing of wildlife
What has human influence caused?
It has caused great loss in biodiversity. Ecosystems are under strain and some have collapsed
Who are the organisations that promote invite for environmental conservation?
There are a number of organisations that promote and fight for environmental conservation. Such as World Wildlife Fund, Greenpeace, Oceana, The Nature Conservancy
