Paper 2 - Is Assessed Flashcards
What happens in a pyramid of biomass?
As you go up a trophic level, the mass of an organism decreases
Why aren’t food chains very long?
So much energy is lost at each level that there isn’t enough to support a long chain
Why does the mass of an organism decrease as the tropic levels go up?
As most biomass is lost, it can’t provide enough energy to support the same mass of organisms in a higher level
Where is biomass (energy) lost in plants?
During respiration / photosynthesis
Where is biomass (energy) lost in animals?
During respiration, heat given off to surroundings, undigested material (part of animal that doesn’t get eaten)
How do you calculate efficiency of each trophic level?
Energy transferred to next level
——————————————— X100
Energy available at previous level
How do you calculate the energy lost at each trophic level?
Energy available at previous level - energy transferred to next level
SA:V ratio
The larger an organism is, the…
…smaller it’s surface area is compared to its volume
How are substances transported in a single-celled organism?
Directly into and out of the cell across the cell membrane due to their large SA:V, so enough substances can be exchanged
What is multicellular organism’s SA:V?
Smaller SA compared to V
How do multicellular organisms transport substances?
Through a mass transport system over an exchange surface
How do exchange surfaces allow the maximum substances to cross?
By having a larger surface area so more so space for diffusion
What is Fick’s law?
rate of diffusion = SA x conc difference
—————————
Thickness of membrane
If the rate of diffusion doubles, so will…
…the SA or the difference in concentration
If the rate of diffusion doubles, what will half?
The thickness of membrane
How are alveoli specialised to maximise diffusion of O2 and CO2?
- moist lining for dissolving gases
- very thin walls minimising distance
- huge SA
- good blood supply to maintain conc gradient
How does distance affect the rate of diffusion?
Substances diffuse quicker when they don’t have as far to move
How does conc difference (gradient) affect the rate of diffusion?
substances diffuse faster if there’s a big difference in conc from and to the area of diffusion
How does SA affect the rate of diffusion?
the more SA there is for molecules to cross at, the faster they can move from one side to another
How does gas exchange happen in the alveoli?
- blood arrives at alveoli from the rest of the body, containing lots of CO2 and no O2
- this maximises conc gradient
- O2 diffuses out of air in the alveoli and into blood
- CO2 diffuses in the opposite direction to be breathed out
What is the job of the lungs?
to transfer O2 to the blood and to remove waste CO2 from it
What is the cardiac output formula?
Cardiac output = heart rate x stroke volume
What are the units for cardiac output, heart rate and stroke volume?
Cardiac output = cm3 / min
Heart rate = bpm
Stroke volume = cm3
What is the process of cellular respiration?
Transferring energy from the breakdown of organic compounds (usually glucose)
Is respiration exothermic?
Yes because energy is transferred to the surroundings
What is the energy used for that is produced in respiration?
- metabolic processes
- contracting muscles
- maintaining a body temperature
What is aerobic respiration?
Respiration when oxygen is plentiful - most efficient way
What is the formula for aerobic respiration?
glucose + oxygen —> carbon dioxide + water
What is anaerobic respiration?
Without oxygen - much less efficient as the glucose is only partially broken down
What is the formula for anaerobic respiration?
glucose —> lactic acid
How do pants respire when no oxygen is present?
Glucose —> ethanol + carbon dioxide
What are the control variables when investigating respiration?
Mass of maggots, atmosphere, mass of soda lime
What is the independent variable when investigating respiration?
Temperature of water bath
What is the dependent variable when investigating respiration?
Distance the fluid moves
What do phloem tubes do?
Transport food substance (mainly sucrose)
What is the process of translocation in phloem cells?
Transport food substances made in the leaves to the rest of the plant for immediate use or for storage in both directions
What makes up phloem tubes?
Made of columns of elongated living cells with small pores in the end walls to allow stuff to flow through
What do xylem tubes do?
Take water and mineral ions UP from the roots to the stem and leaves
What makes up xylem tubes?
made of dead cells joined end to end with no end walls between them and a hole down the middle
What strengthens xylem tubes?
A material called lignin
What is a transpiration stream in xylem tubes?
Movement of water from the roots, through the xylem and out of the leaves
What is transpiration?
caused by the evaporation and diffusion of water from a plant’s surface (mostly at the leaves)
What happens when a water shortage is created from transpiration in leaves?
More water is drawn up from the rest of the plant through the xylem vessels to replace it, meaning more water is drawn up from the roots
What are stomata?
Tiny pores on a plant’s surface mostly on the lower surface of a leaf
What do stomata allow?
Allow CO2 and O2 to diffuse directly in and out, and allow water vapour to escape in transpiration
How do stomata open and close?
Surrounded by guard cells
Guard cells = turgid = stomata open
Guard cells = flaccid = closed
What does turgid and flaccid mean?
Turgid = swollen with water Flaccid = low on water and limp
What 3 factors affect the transpiration rate?
Light intensity, temperature, air flow
How does light intensity affect the transpiration rate?
The brighter the light, the greater the rate
Stomata begin to close as it gets dark and photosynthesis can’t happen in the dark, so not much water can escpae
How does temperature affect the transpiration rate?
The warmer it is, the faster transpiration happens
Water particles have more energy to evaporate and diffuse out the stomata
How does air flow affect the transpiration rate?
Better the air flow, the greater the transpiration rate
If air flow is poor then the water vapour doesn’t move away it just sits around the lead so diffusion doesn’t happen as quickly
Why are leaves broad?
Gives a large SA for photosynthesis
What does the palisade later have which gets the most light?
Chloroplasts near the top of the leaf
What quality does the upper epidermis have and why?
Transparent so that light can pass through it to the palisade layer
How do xylem and phloem cells help a cell in gas exchange?
Provide leaf with water and take away glucose produced as well as supporting the structure of the leaf
Why are epidermal tissues covered with a waxy cuticle?
Helps to reduce water loss from evaporation
Why does the spongey mesophyll layer have air spaces?
To increase the rate of diffusion of gases into and out of the leaf
Why does the lower epidermis have lots of stomata?
To release CO2 directly out of the leaf
Go to picture 5 and describe the leaf
Picture 5
Investigating Respiration
What are the control variables?
Mass of maggots / atmosphere / mass of soda line
Investigating Respiration
What is the independent variable?
Temperature
Investigating Respiration
What is the dependent variable?
Distance fluid moves in manometer