Rosie Week 4 Flashcards
Define an ecosystem.
The interaction between a community and non-living parts of an environment
What do animals in a community compete for?
Space, food, water or mating partners
What do plants in a community compete for?
Light, space, water and mineral ions
What are abiotic (non-living) factors in a community?
Light intensity, temperature, humidity, soil ph, wind intensity, carbon dioxide and oxygen levels
What are the three types of adaptations?
Behavioural, structural, functional
What are behavioural adaptations?
The way an organism behaves
E.g.
playing dead
Basking in the Sun to absorb heat
Coating behaviour
What are structural adaptations?
The shape or colour of an organism
E.g.
Sharp teeth to tear meat apart
Thick fur for insulation
The ability to camouflage (e.g the tan color of lions)
What are functional adaptations?
Adaptations that are involved in internal processes such as reproduction or metabolism
E.g.
The conservation of water through the production of very little sweat
What are extremophiles?
Organisms that live in very extreme environments
What is a producer (in the food chain)?
A plant or algae that synthesises molecules
They are the start of food chains
How is carbon dioxide removed from the air?
Through photosynthesis by plants and algae
The plants are eaten by primary consumers and the carbon moves up the food chain
How is carbon dioxide returned to the air?
- when plants algae and animals respire
- When wood and fossil fuels are burnt
How is water removed from land?
- The Sun’s energy causes water to evaporate from the sea and lakes forming water vapour
- the water vapour rises and condenses to form clouds
How is water returned to land?
By precipitation (rain, snow or hail)
Precipitation returns water to lakes these then run into the sea
What are factors that affect decomposition?
Temperature, water, availability of oxygen
How does temperature affect decomposition?
Reactions are faster in warmer conditions
if temperatures get too high, enzymes can become denatured which stops decomposition
How does water affect decomposition?
Microorganisms grow faster in wet conditions as water is needed for respiration
Therefore more water leads to fast decomposition
How does the availability of oxygen affect decomposition?
Most decomposers respire aerobically (meaning oxygen is required for decomposition)
How is bio fuel produced?
Through the anaerobic decay of waste which produces methane gas
What are the main ways that pollution can occur?
- in water, from sewage, fertiliser or toxic chemicals
- in air from smoke and acidic gases
- on land from landfill and toxic chemicals
What is peat?
A material that forms when plant material has not fully decayed as there is insufficient oxygen
How can peat be used?
- it can be used as compost (as natural fertiliser)
- it can be dried to use as fuel (as it contains carbon dioxide)
What is the issue with the destruction of peat bogs?
- it destroys this area of habitat and thus the variety of different plant, animal and microorganism species that live there
- the decay or burning of the peat releases carbon dioxide
What are the consequences of global warming?
- rising sea levels
- Destruction of habitats
- Change of migration patterns
- Reduction in biodiversity
What are the ways humans have negatively affected biodiversity?
- producing greenhouse gases which lead to global warming
- producing sulphur dioxide which leads to acid rain
- chemicals used in farming leak into the environment
- clearing land and destroying habitats in order to build on
How have humans helped to improve biodiversity?
- preserving areas of scientific interest by preventing human access
- attempting to reduce water pollution
- helping to maintain rainforests, ensuring habitats are not destroyed
What are decomposers?
They are micro organisms that breakdown dead plant and animal matter by secreting enzymes into the environment
What percent of energy from the sun do producers (plants) transfer?
1 percent
Why do producers transfer so little of the energy from the Sun?
Not all light lands on photosynthesising parts of the plant
What percent of biomass is transferred between each tropic level approximately?
10%
Why is only 10% of biomass transferred between each tropic level?
- not all the ingested materials absorbed, some is lost as faeces
- some absorbed material is a lost through respiration which produces carbon dioxide as a waste product
What are factors that affect food security?
- increased birth rate
- New pests and pathogens that affect farming
- Environmental changes such as a lack of rainfall
- The cost of agricultural inputs (Such as the machinery needed for farming)
- Conflicts (war)
How do farmers prevent energy wastage by animals?
Limiting their movement and controlling the temperature of their surroundings
What methods do we have to prevent over fishing?
- controlling net size so that smaller fish are not caught and can survive to breed
- fishing quotas are only a certain number of fish can be caught
What are the benefits of mycoprotein?
- it is protein rich
- It does not require animals: So it would help to reduce land use and reduce methane contributions
- it is suitable for vegetarians
What are the uses of biotechnology?
- to produce mycoprotein
- To genetically modify bacteria to produce insulin
- genetically modified crops to make them resistant to pests
- Genetically modified crops so that they have greater nutritional value
