Paper 4 Flashcards
Population
All the organisms of one species in a habitat
Habitat
The place where an organism lives
Community
All the Populations of different species living in a particular area and all the abiotic conditions
Abiotic conditions
Non-living features of an ecosystem e.g. Temp
Biotic conditions
Living features of an ecosystem e.g. Predators
Niche
The role of a species within its habitat e.g. What it eats
Species abundance
Number of individuals of one species in a particular area
Species frequency
Number of samples a species is found in
Percentage cover
How much of the area is covered by a species
Species distribution
Where a particular species is within the area investigated
Random sampling…
Avoids bias
Repeat - reliable and representative
Random number generated
Number of individuals estimated
Pitfall traps
For ground insects
Insects fall in and can’t escape
Sample can be affected by small predators
Pooters
For ground insects
When inhaling through shorter tube, air is drawn through the longer tube, sucking the insect into the jar
Can take a long time to get and large sample - some species may be missed
Quadrants
For plant populations
Measure species frequency or % cover (more than half - quick)
Large plants and trees need large quadrats
Transects
For plant populations
Line transact - touch; interrupted transact - take measurements at intervals
Shows how plants are distributed across and area
Beating trays
For insects in vegetation Sheet/tray(white) under plant/tree Shaken to make insects fall Large samples - good estimates Only insects that fall easily
Mark-release-recapture
For mobile species
Capture a sample and count, Mark, release
Wait appropriate time (1 week) and take second sample and count how many marked. Repeat.
Total popn size = (number in first sample x number in second sample)/number marked in second sample
Assumptions for Mark-release-recapture
Enough time to mix back in
Marking doesn’t affect chances of survival and is still visible
No changes in popn size due to births, deaths and migration
Interspecific competition
Between different species
- compete for the same resources
- less available to both populations - limited pops
- less energy for growth and reproduction eg red/grey squirrels
- one may be better adapted - outcompeted
Intraspecific competition
Competition within a species
- population increases, so more organisms competing for same space and food
- food and space limiting so popn declines
- smaller popn - less competition and popn grows
Predation
- as prey popn increases, more food for predators
- predator popn grows and more prey eaten so prey popn decreases
- less food so popn decreases
- other factors involved eg food for prey
Nutrient cycles
Inorganic molecule or ion ➡️ absorption ➡️ organic molecule on producers (death) ➡️ organic molecule in consumers ➡️ organic moe,duke in saprobionts ➡️ extra cellular digestion (respire + CO2) decomposition
Carbon cycle
CO2 in atmosphere and water ➡️ photosynthesis ➡️ carbon compound in plants (respiration and decomposition) ➡️ feeding and digestion ➡️ carbon compound in animals (respiration) ➡️ decomposition ➡️ carbon compound in saprobionts (respiration) ➡️ carbon in fossil fuels ➡️ combustion
Global warming
The increase in average global temp over the last century caused by human activity, enhancing greenhouse effect
Effects of global warming
- different rainfall patterns and changes to seasonal weather patterns
- increase in crop yields (CO2)
- life cycles and numbers (warmer and wetter) of some insects may change - larvae stage quicker as higher metabolism.
- could affect distribution and numbers of many wild animals and plant species - more wide (warmer temps) or less wide (coolers temps)
Nitrogen cycle
Atmospheric nitrogen ➡️ nitrogen fixation (nitrogen fixing bacteria - mutualistic relationship with plants (nitrogen compounds for carbohydrates) ) ➡️ ammonia ➡️ ⚪️ammonia compounds in soil ➡️ nitrites in the soil ➡️ nitrates in the soil ⚪️ (nitrification by aerobic nitrifying bacteria) denitrification by anaerobic denitrifying bacteria to ammonia ➡️ absorption and assimilation by active transport ➡️ nitrogen compounds in plants (DNA, RNA, amino acids and proteins) ➡️ nitrogen compounds in animals ➡️ urea/ excretion and death (ammonification - saprobiotic bacteria and fungi) to ammonia ➡️ ammonium compounds in soil or atmospheric nitrogen.
Leaching
Water-soluble compounds in the soil are washed away by rain or irrigation systems - often into nearby ponds and rivers.
Eutrophication
- nitrates leached from fertilisers fields stimulate growth of algae
- large amounts block light to plants below
- plants die - can’t photosynthesise enough
- bacteria feed on dead plant matter
- reduce oxygen concentration - aerobic respiration of bacteria
- fish and other organisms die due to lack of dissolved oxygen
Succession
The process by which an ecosystem changes over time
Primary succession
On newly formed or exposed land eg new rock surface from volcanic eruption
Secondary succession
Land is cleared of all plants but soil remains eg after forest fire
Pioneer species
Colonise new land eg lichen from seeds and spire and are specialised to do so