Science - Biology - Ecology - B7a Flashcards
what is a population ?
all the organisms of one species living in a habitat
what is a habitat ?
the place where an organism lives
what is a community ?
the population of different species living in a habitat
what are abiotic factors ?
non - living factors of the environment
what are biotic factors ?
living factors of the environment
what does abiotic mean ?
non - living
what does biotic mean ?
living
give an example of an abiotic factor of the environment
temperature
give an example of a biotic factor of the environment
food
what is an ecosystem ?
the interaction of a community of living (biotic) organisms with non - living (abiotic) parts of their environment
what is competition ?
organisms competing with other species for the same resources / roles in an ecosystem
give an example of competition
male peacocks displaying their feathers to females during mating season
what is interdependence ?
a community depending on each other for food, shelter, e.t.c
what is a food web ?
a diagram showing what animals eat what in an ecosystem
what can taking one species out of an ecosystem do to it ?
disrupt a whole food-chain which will damage the ecosystem
what is a stable community ?
communities where species and environmental factors are in balance so the population sizes are constant
list abiotic factors in an ecosystem
- moisture levels
- temperature
- light intensity
- carbon dioxide levels
- wind intensity and direction
- oxygen levels
- soil PH and mineral content
list biotic factors in an ecosystem
- new predators arriving
- competition
- new pathogens
- availability of food
give an example of when an abiotic factor can affect the environment
decrease in light, temperature, carbon dioxide levels - less photosynthesis so less plant growth
give an example of when a biotic factor can affect the environment
- new predator can decrease the prey population
give an example of when biotic organisms have outcompeted each other
- red squirrels in the UK being outcompeted by grey squirrels resulting in less red squirrels
what is an adaptation ?
the features of an organism which is adapted to live in an environment
what are the 3 types of adaptation ?
- structural
- behavioral
- functional
what is a structural adaptation ?
an adaptation to do with body structure, e.g shape, colour
what is a behavioral adaptation ?
the way an organism behaves
what is a functional adaptation ?
what goes on inside an organisms body that is related to a process, such as reproduction
give an example of a structural adaptation
- arctic animals, such as an arctic fox having white fur to camouflage against the snow to hide from predators
give an example of a behavioural adaptation
- species such as swallows migrating to warmer climates during winter to avoid the problems of living in cold conditions
give an example of a functional adaptation
desert animals conserving water by producing very little sweat and small amounts of concentrated urine
what is an extremophile ?
an organism/microorganism that’s adapted to live in very extreme conditions
give an example of an extremophile
thermoccus litoralis is a bacterium which live in deep hydrothermal vents, they can survive and reproduce at temperatures between 85-88 degrees celcius
how are weddell seals adapted to live in the cold antarctic conditions and hunts fish in ice covered water, they have whiskers, a streamlined body, and a layer of blubber. How are they adapted to suit their environment ?
- whiskers help them to detect fish in the dark underwater
- layer of blubber insulates them in cold water
- streamlined body helps them reduce resistance in the water so they can swim faster and catch fish
what is a food chain ?
a diagram showing what eats what in an ecosystem
what is a producer ?
organism at the start of the food chain - makes their own food using energy from a primary source such as the sun
what is biomass ?
the mass of a living material
what does a producer do linked to biomass ?
the producer uses some of its glucose to create its biomass
how is energy transferred in an ecosystem ?
organisms eating other organisms
what is a primary consumer ?
the consumer which eats the producer
what is a secondary consumer ?
the consumer which eats the primary consumer
what is a tertiary consumer ?
the consumer which eats the secondary consumer
give an example of a food chain
dandelion - rabbit - fox
what is a predator - prey cycle ?
a cycle showing how the population of one organism affects the population of another organism
give an example of a predator prey cycle
if the number of prey increases, the number of predators will increase
what is a predator ?
an animal that hunts and kills other animals
what is prey ?
an animal that is eaten by other animals
what can environmental changes cause ?
distibution of organisms to change
what does a change in distribution mean ?
a change in where an organism lives
give an example of an environmental change in availability of water ?
distribution of plant and animals change in trophics changes between wet and dry seasons, where there is more or less rainfall
give an example of an availability of water change ?
in africa yearly giant wildebeest migrate moving north then back south as rainfall patterns change
how does change in temperature affect distribution ?
distribution of bird species changes due to change in temperature
how does the change of composition of atmospheric gases affect distribution ?
changes in areas where there is more air pollution
give an example of how atmospheric gases affect distribution ?
species of lichen can’t grow in areas where sulpher dioxide is given out by certain industrial processes
what factors cause these environmental changes ?
-seasonal
- geographic
- human interaction
explain the water cycle
- energy from the sun makes water evaporate from the land, sea turning it into water vapour
- water also evapourates from plants in transpiration
- water vapour rises up, cools and condenses
- this forms clouds
- water falls from clouds as precipitationonto land providing fresh water
how do living things made of materials using the world around them ?
plants turn elemtns such as carbon, oxygen, hyrdorgen, nitrogen from the soil and air and turn them into compounds which make up living organisms
why do materials decay ?
they have been digested by microorganisms
what are the optimum levels for decay ?
in warm, moist, aerobic, conditions as microorgansisms are most active in these
what does decay do ?
puts stuff plants need to grow back into the soil
what happens in a stable community with decay ?
materials taken out of the soil and used by plants are balanced by those put back in
describe the carbon cycle ?
- CO2 in the air
- carbon is used in photosynthesis
- carbon compounds are used in plants through eating, respiration
- products are made from plants and animals which have carbon, e.g clothes
- animals dies and decay where C02 is released
- fossil fuels are burnt releasing carbon in the air
how is carbon taken out of the air ?
in photosynthesis by green plants and algae
how is carbon used in photosyntheisis ?
to make glucose which helps make up the bodies of the plants and algae
how does carbon move through food chains ?
carbon become part of the fats and proteins in animals when green plants and algae is eaten
energy from green plants and algae moves up food chain
what do detritus feeders and microorganisms do when animals die ?
feed on their remains