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ATDCSMAN Year 1 > PSEC Year 1 > Flashcards

PSEC Year 1 Flashcards

1
Q

Name 2 Abiotic factors in Ecology

A

Any two from:
-Temp -Soils
-Relative humidity
-pH -Topography
-Salinity -Altitude
-Pollutants -Latitude
-Climate -Nutrient availability
-Geology -Stochastic events

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2
Q

Name two levels of organisation in ecology

A

Any two from:

Biosphere
Biome
Ecosystem
Community
Population
Organism

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3
Q

Name 3 Biotic Factors that could influence an ecosystem

A

Any 3 from:
Competition
Predation
Herbivory
Pollination
Seed Dispersal
Reproduction
Care of offspring
Social Interactions
Paracitism
Disease
Mutualism (symbiosis)
Defences

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4
Q

Define the term ‘Niche’ in terms of ecology

A

The role and position a species has in its environment

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5
Q

What is an autotroph

A

An organism that is able to use external sources of energy (e.g sunlight) in the synthesis of their organic food materials.

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6
Q

What are photosynthetic organisms and give an example.

A

Autotrophs that have special pigments that capture and convert light into usable chemical energy

e.g Algae, plants and certain prokaryotes

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7
Q

What is Heterotrophic nutrition and name the four different types

A

Heterotrophic organisms must be supplied with ready made organic compounds from which they derive their energy

holozoic
saprotrophic
parasitic
mutualism

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8
Q

Define holozoic nutrition

A

Complex food taken into specialised digestive system – characteristic of free-living animals

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9
Q

Define Saprotrophic nutrition

A

Where an organism feeds on dead organic remains of other organisms

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10
Q

What is parasitic nutrition

A

Where an organism obtains food from another living organism, called a host

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11
Q

What is Mutualism

A

A form of symbiosis – Two organisms where both organisms derive a benefit from the relationship

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12
Q

Put these 5 stages of Holozoic nutrition in order:
Digestion
Assimilation
Egestion
Ingestion
Absorption

A

Ingestion
Digestion
Absorption
Assimilation
Egestion

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13
Q

Define ingestion

A

Food taken into the body through the mouth

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14
Q

Define the term digestion

A

Food broken down by enzymes in the stomach, duodenum and ileum

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15
Q

Define the term absorption in terms of ecology

A

Smaller molecules taken into the bloodstream through duodenum and ileum

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16
Q

Define the term Assimilation

A

absorbed products are incorporated and used by the organism

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17
Q

Define Egestion

A

The undigested parts of food are dispensed through defaecation

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18
Q

What is another name for saprotrphic organisms and give two examples

A

Decomosers

Fungi and bacteria

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19
Q

what are parasites that live on the outside of the hosts body called

A

Ectoparasites

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20
Q

What are parasites that live inside the host called

A

Endoparasites

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21
Q

what % of energy is carried over between trophic levels

A

10%

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22
Q

what % of energy is lost through respiration between trophic levels

A

90%

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23
Q

what is gross primary productivity (GPP)

A

All the biomass generated by primary producers

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24
Q

What is Net Primary Productivity (NPP)

A

What is left over after the primary producers have used the energy for respiration

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25
What does the 10% rule limit
The number of trophic levels an ecosystem can support.
26
What is Parasitism
is a relationship where one organism benefits whilst reducing the fitness of another.
27
What is parasitoidism
is a relationship where one organism benefits and the other organism dies (not necessarily immediately !)
28
What is commensalism
a relationship between two organisms where one organism benefits and the other is not negatively affected.
29
what is a predator prey relationship?
a feeding relationship between two organisms (hunter and hunted).
30
List 4 predator attributes
Any four from: Teamwork Camouflage Patience/ immobility Trapping Strength Lures/ deception Stamina Venom/poison Sonar/Electromagnetism Use of tools/ weaponry Stealth Speed
31
Define the term population
all the individuals of a species that live together in an area
32
What are the three key measures of population
Size Density Dispersion
33
define fecundity
The Biological potential to have offspring dictated by the number of gametes
34
define fertility
the actual rate of reproduction and births (Measurable)
35
What are the three types of dispersion
clumped even or uniform random
36
what are limiting factors and name two
Any biotic or abiotic factor that restricts the existence of organisms in a specific environment. Amount of Food Amount of Water Temperature Amount of Suitable Habitat Available Light
37
Define density dependent factors
Factors that can affect a population that increase as the population density increases.
38
name 2 density dependent factors
Disease Parasitism Prey Availability Predation Competition
39
Define density independent factors
factors that control a population irrespective of population density
40
List 2 density independent factors
Light Nutrients Climate Seasonality Natural Disasters
41
what is a carrying capacity?
the maximum population size that can be supported by the available resources
42
List three qualities of r strategists
Short life span Small body size Reproduce quickly Have many young Little parental care
43
give an example of an r strategist
Cockroaches, Weeds, Bacteria, House Flies
44
what kind of environments do r strategists live in
unstable
45
what kind of environment do K strategists live in?
Stable
46
List three qualities of K strategists
long life span large body size reproduce slowly have few young provides parental care
47
Give an example of a k strategist
humans, elephants
48
What is a type I survivorship curve
organisms that have low mortality until late in life when aging takes its toll.
49
Give an example of an organism with a type I survivorship curve
humans
50
What is a type II survivorship curve
the chance of death is equal at all ages or those that suffer severe random mortality throughout life
51
Give an example of a type II survivorship curve
Many songbirds
52
What is a type III survivorship curve
very high mortality among the young but flattens out as those individuals who reach maturity survive for a relatively longer time
53
Give an example of an organism with a type III survivorship curve
Small Mammals and Fish (many r strategists)
54
What are the 3 forms of competition
Interference Competition Exploitation Competition Apparent Competition
55
what is a boom population cycle
Small population well below carrying capacity Absence / low population of a predator / competitor High Fecundity Low Infant Mortality High Food Availability High quality, available habitat
56
What is a bust population cycle
Population outstripping the carrying capacity – The environment is no longer able to support the large population Increased intra-specific competition Decreased food availability Reduced fecundity Reduction in habitat Increased mortality (often severe)
57
What is taxonomy
The classification and naming of living organisms in an ordered system
58
What are the five kingdoms
Animalia Plantae Fungi Protoctista Monera
59
what is the genetic make up of of an organism called
A Genotype
60
Define the term 'Divergent evolution'
Divergence from a common ancestor. One species becomes many to fill the available niches
61
give an example of divergent evolution
Darwins finched
62
Define parallel evolution
organisms not closely related evolve similar adaptations as they live in similar environments or ecological niches e.g Hedgehog/Echidna/Tenrec/Porcupine
63
Define convergent evolution
Very distantly related organisms evolve similar traits (analogous structures) as a result of having a similar lifestyle. ​ e.g Birds (Aves), Mammals (Mammalia) and Reptiles (Reptilia) independently evolved the wing
64
What is the difference between parallel and convergent evolution
convergent evolution occurs when descendants resemble each other more than their ancestors did with respect to some feature. Parallel evolution implies that two or more lineages have changed in similar ways, so that the evolved descendants are as similar to each other as their ancestors were
65
What is Co-evolution
one species acts as a selective force on a second species, inducing adaptations that in turn act as selective force on the first species.​
66
What did Mendel figure out
he basic principles of​ genetics. He showed that offspring ​ received characteristics from both ​ parents, but only the dominant ​characteristic trait was expressed.
67
What was darwins theory
Where food was limited, competition meant that only​ the fittest would survive.​ ​ This would lead to the natural selection of the best adapted individuals and ​eventually the evolution of a new species.
68
What was Alfred Russell-Wallace's theory?
species evolve by adapting to their environment
69
Name 3 reasons for global ecosystem change
any three from: Over harvesting Introduction of non native species Habitat destruction Fragmentation Climate change Any form of pollution

ATDCSMAN Year 1 (6 decks)

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