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SB9 Flashcards

(60 cards)

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1
Q

What is ecology

A

The study of ecosystems

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2
Q

What is an ecosystem

A

They are made up of the habitat (non - living) and the community (plants and animals)

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3
Q

What is the population

A

All the organisms of one species in a habitat

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4
Q

What is the community

A

All the organisms of different species living in a habitat ~ a non - living part of the ecosystem

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5
Q

What is biodiversity

A

The variety of living organisms in an ecosystem

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6
Q

What is a niche

A

The role/job of an organism

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7
Q

What are species

A

Group of similar organisms that reproduce to make fertile offspring

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8
Q

What are biotic factors

A

All the other living organisms in an ecosystem- predators/ prey/ competitors

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9
Q

What are abiotic factors

A

Non - living factors affecting organisms in an environment- temperature, rainfall, pH, minerals in soil and drought

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10
Q

What are natural ecosystems

A

Humans don’t control it/don’t have anything to do with it

E.g woodland or oceans

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11
Q

What are artificial ecosystems

A

Humans do control it

E.g fish farms

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12
Q

How can you collect/ sample organisms

A

Quadrants, pit -fall traps, long worth mammal traps, sweep nets, dip nets, pooters

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13
Q

What do plants need

A

Water, space, oxygen, warmth, mineral ions and co2

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14
Q

What do animals need

A

Space, oxygen, food and water

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15
Q

What is interdependence

A

When species depend on each other for resources

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16
Q

What is a trophic level

A

Each step or level along a food chain

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17
Q

What are producers

A

All plants, since they convert light energy into food energy

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18
Q

What is biomass

A

How much all the creatures at 1 trophic level weigh

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19
Q

What is the difference between pyramids of biomass and pyramids of numbers

A

Pyramids of numbers are always the right shape where as pyramids of numbers aren’t

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20
Q

What is energy measured in

A

J (joules) or kJ (kilojoules)

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21
Q

Can energy be created or destroyed

A

No it only changes from one form/type to another.

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22
Q

What is the efficiency formula

A

Efficiency = energy available to the next level
—————————————
energy that was available or the previous level
X 100

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23
Q

What is the efficiency

A

How good it is at passing on energy from one level to the next

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24
Q

What is the original source of energy in an ecosystem

A

The sun

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25
How is energy eventually lost from the ecosystem
By decomposers and energy lossed during respiration
26
What is interspecific competition
Competition between organisms from different species
27
What is intraspecific competition
Competition between organisms from the same species
28
What is competition for
Food, space, shelter, water and mate
29
What is mutalism/symbiotic
A relationship between 2 organisms where both organisms benefit E.g oxpecker and buffalo
30
What is parasitism
When parasites live very closely with the host species, the parasite takes what it needs to survive but the host doesn’t benefit E.g fleas and dogs
31
What are indicator species
Organisms that are very sensitive to changes in the environment so can be studied to see the effect of human activities
32
What is wrong with indicator species
They don’t give u an accurate number for the pollution as there can be other factors for why a species is or isn’t there
33
What species indicate air pollution
Lichen - sensitive to car pollutants. Lots of lichen = clean air Black spot fungus - lots of black spot fungus on rose leaves = clean air
34
What species indicate water pollution
Stonefly larvae and freshwater shrimp means the water is clean Blood worms, sludge worms and rat tailed maggot indicate polluted water
35
What is biodiversity
The variety of living organisms in an ecosystem
36
Name 3 places with low biodiversity
Artic, Sahara desert and the Australian
37
Name 3 places with high biodiversity
Oceans, woodland and tropical rainforest
38
What is fish farming
Food is out in into open areas of water leading to a lot of waste causing eutrophication. Fish farms act as a breeding site for parasites which can effect animals sometimes killing them
39
What is eutrophication cycle
Fertalizer in water - dissolves - run off- stream river- excess nitrates cause algae to grow fast and block out light - plants can’t photosynthesise (they die) - bacteria - microorganisms feed on dead plants and use the oxygen up - organisms that need oxygen for arsenic resperayion die
40
Why do we use intensive farming
Feed our growing population, small spaces - waste less energy, no competition, increase yield, monoculture
41
Organic farming techniques
Costs more, more time consuming, use organic manure, nitrogen fixing crops, weeding
42
What is reforestation and what does it do
When land that forest previously stood is replanted to male a new forest and it can increase biodiversity
43
What are the 2 conservation schemes
Protecting a species ‘natural habitat’ | Protecting species in safe areas outside their habitat
44
What are the advantages of maintaining biodiversity
``` Protects the human food supply Ensures minimal damage to food chains Provides future medicines Cultural aspect Ecotourism Provides new jobs ```
45
What biological factors affect food security
Increase consumption of meat and fish as animals need a lot of land so growing veg would be cheaper and better also overfishing which can lead to there being not enough fish to catch in the future
46
What environmental changes can affect food security
Burning fossil fuels which leads to global warming which lead to climate change which may effect the growth of crops for us to eat
47
How do pests effect food security
They can destroy crops leading to a decrease in the amount we can eat
48
How does sustainability effect food security
High input costs of farming may make it too expansive for farmers to continue farming also crops are being used to make biofuel meaning there is less for us to eat
49
Explain the carbon cycle
The co2 contributes to photosynthesis in plants. Animals then eat the plant and respire putting co2 back in the air also when the animals die and decay the co2 goes back in the air. Also products are made from plants and animals that we burn which puts co2 back in the air. Fossil fuels also decay putting cow back in the air
50
Explain the nitrogen cycle
Nitrogen goes into the soil by lightning and nitrogen fixing bacteria the nitrates in the soil go into plant roots which animals eat which goes back into the soil when the animals do their business. Also denitrifying bacteria put the nitrogen in the air. The nitrifying bacteria puts the dead remains black in the soil
51
How can farmers increase the nitrogen in the soil
Crop rotation - different crops are grown each year in a cycle Fertilisers - spread animal manure or compost in fields
52
Explain the water cycle
Sun makes water evaporate where it is carried up then condenses. Then the water precipitates onto land and drains into the sea
53
What is drought
When there isn’t enough precipitation. We use methods like desalination to produce potable water
54
What is desalination
Removes salt from salt water. Thermal desalination salt is boiled till it evaporates, steam rises, condenses down a tube back into pure water
55
What is reverse osmosis
Opposite osmosis, reverses the process of osmosis
56
What factors effect the rate of decay
Temperature - enzymes Water availability - enzyme H2O solvent Oxygen availability- aerobic resperation
57
What is another word for bacteria / fungi
Saprophytes
58
What is the cycle of decomposition
Consumers - breakdown - decomposers - nutrients in environment- photosynthesis - producers - feeding
59
What are detritivores
Worms / maggots / woodlice
60
Name 3 types of food preservation and why they are good
Fridges - lowers temperature - can’t grow as fast Salting - water - osmosis Pickling - changes pH - goes down - acidic

Biology (3 decks)

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