SB9 Flashcards

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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
Q

How is energy eventually lost from the ecosystem

A

By decomposers and energy lossed during respiration

26
Q

What is interspecific competition

A

Competition between organisms from different species

27
Q

What is intraspecific competition

A

Competition between organisms from the same species

28
Q

What is competition for

A

Food, space, shelter, water and mate

29
Q

What is mutalism/symbiotic

A

A relationship between 2 organisms where both organisms benefit
E.g oxpecker and buffalo

30
Q

What is parasitism

A

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
Q

What are indicator species

A

Organisms that are very sensitive to changes in the environment so can be studied to see the effect of human activities

32
Q

What is wrong with indicator species

A

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
Q

What species indicate air pollution

A

Lichen - sensitive to car pollutants. Lots of lichen = clean air
Black spot fungus - lots of black spot fungus on rose leaves = clean air

34
Q

What species indicate water pollution

A

Stonefly larvae and freshwater shrimp means the water is clean
Blood worms, sludge worms and rat tailed maggot indicate polluted water

35
Q

What is biodiversity

A

The variety of living organisms in an ecosystem

36
Q

Name 3 places with low biodiversity

A

Artic, Sahara desert and the Australian

37
Q

Name 3 places with high biodiversity

A

Oceans, woodland and tropical rainforest

38
Q

What is fish farming

A

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
Q

What is eutrophication cycle

A

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
Q

Why do we use intensive farming

A

Feed our growing population, small spaces - waste less energy, no competition, increase yield, monoculture

41
Q

Organic farming techniques

A

Costs more, more time consuming, use organic manure, nitrogen fixing crops, weeding

42
Q

What is reforestation and what does it do

A

When land that forest previously stood is replanted to male a new forest and it can increase biodiversity

43
Q

What are the 2 conservation schemes

A

Protecting a species ‘natural habitat’

Protecting species in safe areas outside their habitat

44
Q

What are the advantages of maintaining biodiversity

A
Protects the human food supply
Ensures minimal damage to food chains
Provides future medicines 
Cultural aspect
Ecotourism
Provides new jobs
45
Q

What biological factors affect food security

A

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
Q

What environmental changes can affect food security

A

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
Q

How do pests effect food security

A

They can destroy crops leading to a decrease in the amount we can eat

48
Q

How does sustainability effect food security

A

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
Q

Explain the carbon cycle

A

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
Q

Explain the nitrogen cycle

A

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
Q

How can farmers increase the nitrogen in the soil

A

Crop rotation - different crops are grown each year in a cycle
Fertilisers - spread animal manure or compost in fields

52
Q

Explain the water cycle

A

Sun makes water evaporate where it is carried up then condenses. Then the water precipitates onto land and drains into the sea

53
Q

What is drought

A

When there isn’t enough precipitation. We use methods like desalination to produce potable water

54
Q

What is desalination

A

Removes salt from salt water. Thermal desalination salt is boiled till it evaporates, steam rises, condenses down a tube back into pure water

55
Q

What is reverse osmosis

A

Opposite osmosis, reverses the process of osmosis

56
Q

What factors effect the rate of decay

A

Temperature - enzymes
Water availability - enzyme H2O solvent
Oxygen availability- aerobic resperation

57
Q

What is another word for bacteria / fungi

A

Saprophytes

58
Q

What is the cycle of decomposition

A

Consumers - breakdown - decomposers - nutrients in environment- photosynthesis - producers - feeding

59
Q

What are detritivores

A

Worms / maggots / woodlice

60
Q

Name 3 types of food preservation and why they are good

A

Fridges - lowers temperature - can’t grow as fast
Salting - water - osmosis
Pickling - changes pH - goes down - acidic