Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

enviromental science > The living enviroment > Flashcards

The living enviroment Flashcards

1
Q

What are ectotherms

A

Ectotherms do not have to use energy to generate their own heat

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are endotherms

A

Endotherms internally generate heat, this requires a lot of heat

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is ecological efficiency

A

The percentage of biomass produced by one trophic level that is transferred and incorporated into biomes at the next trophic level

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

How do you calculate ecological efficiency

A

percentage energy transfer = biomass in higher trophic levels / biomass in lower trophic levels x 100

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is a pyramid of energy

A

It Illustrates the transfer of energy from one level to another

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

A pyramid of biomass

A

Shows the weight of biological material at each trophic levels

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

A pyramid of numbers

A

Shows the number of each organism at each trophic level

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is a population

A

A population is a group of individuals of the same species who live together in the same habitat and are likely to interbreed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Things that effect population density

A

•Birth
•Deaths
•Immigration
• immigration

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is carrying capacity

A

The maximum population number which can be supported with the resources available

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Density dependant factors

A

•Parasites
•Disease
•Competition between species
•Rates of predation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What does density dependant factors mean

A

Conditions that will effect an ecosystem if the number of a specific species goes above the carrying capacity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What does density independent factors mean

A

These are conditions that will effect an ecosystem regardless of the number of species within a particular area

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are some examples of density independent factors

A

•Heavy rainfall
•Freezing temperatures
•Decrease in oxygen
•pollution events
•A risk of forest fire

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What will animals be in competition for

A

Food, territory and a mate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What will plants be in competition for

A

Space, sunlight, pollinators and water

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is intra specific completion

A

competition between a species

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is inter specific competition

A

Competition between different species for the same resources

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What is logistic population growth

A

Population grows until it reaches carrying capacity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What is exponential growth

A

The population increases overtime regardless of resources limits or abiotic factors

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What is an non native invasive species

A

A non native invasive species is a species which isn’t native to the habitat and is competing against the native species

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Non native invasive species impact

A

•Out competing native species
•Prey on native species
•Spreading disease to native species
•hybridisation with native species

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

The methods used to control the spread of non native invasive species

A

•Culling
•Plant control
•Introduction of natural predators

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What is commensalism

A

Commensalism is a relationship where one benefits one is uneffected

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
What is parasitism
Parasitism is where one benefits whilst the other is harmed
26
What is mutualism
Two species benefit from living in close proximity to one another eg reproduction, survival
27
What is symbiosis
symbiosis is a relationship between 2 different species that live closely together
28
What is a plagioclimax
Plagioclimax is where a plant community is prevented from fully developing due to human intervention
29
What is a hydrosere
Succession that takes place in or on water
30
What is a Halosere
Succession that takes place on mud
31
What is a psammosrere
Succession that takes place on sand
32
Examples of pioneer species
Mosses and lichen
33
What do pioneer species do
Colonise the rock and start to break it down into soil, they then die off and add nutrients to the soil
34
What do pioneer species do
Colonise the rock and start to break it down into soil, they then die off and add nutrients to the soil
35
What is succession
Succession is a sequence of changes in the types of species present in a community due to changes in abiotic and biotic
36
What is primary succession
Takes place in an environment with no soil or vegetation can take 1000+ years
37
What is secondary succession
Succession that takes place in an environment that was once inhabited and has become barren, but still contains soil nutrients
38
Features of a Climax community
-High biomass -complex food webs -high biodiversity -stability -gross productivity
39
What factors determine which climax community
Edaphic and climatic factors
40
What is Scotlands climax community
Scots pine and birch forests
41
Examples of Plagioclimax
Heather moorland
42
Order of Dunes
Sand line The embryo dunes Fore dunes Yellow dunes Grey dunes Duneslacks Climax community
43
How is reliablity ensured when sampling
By taking multiple measurements and calculating the average
44
How is validity ensured when sampling
by having robust experimental design eg keeping the equipment / variables the same
45
Sampling methods can be either
Qualitive techniques Quantitative techniques
46
What is the Qualitive techniques
These assess the presence / absence a species list
47
What is the Quantitative Techniques
Produce data about numbers and densities
48
What equation estimates population size
1st sample x 2nd sample/ 2nd sample previously marked
49
name equipment used for
define genetic diversity suggest one weakness for the lincoln index
50
Features of the strand line
Maximum salinity Strong winds Very dry Very alkaline
51
Forre dunes / embryo dune Features
Hummus content increases Sand is more stable
52
Yellow dunes features
More hummus in soil More sheltered More stable
53
Grey dune features
lower in height Thin soil as more water Higher acidity
54
Dune slacks features
Damp acidic soil
55
Why does muir burning happen
To trigger secondary succesion To provide better grazing for sheep and grouse
56
What is a point transect
systematic or random locations along a tape extended across a transect
57
What js a Line transects
A line is placed between 2 points and every organism that is touching the line is recorded
58
What is a belt transect
Records all species found between 2 lines, how far they are from a point and how abundant they are
59
What are abiotic terrestrial factors
Moisture Light intensity pH Temperature
60
What are abiotic aquatic factors
Biological oxygen demand Oxygen concentration water flow rate Salinity
61
What do you use to measure light levels, and how?
A light metre is used. You hold it at soil surface and then point it in the direction of the most light
62
What would you use to measure pH, and how?
A soil meter is used. Put the probe in the soil and clean after use
63
What would you use to measure soil temperature, and how?
A soil thermometer is used. Put the probe into the top few centimetres of the soil and clean after each use
64
What is used to measure soil moisture, and how?
A soil moisture metre is used. Put the probe into the soil and clean after each use
65
How do you measure soil temperature, and how?
A soil thermometer is used. Put the probe into the top few centimetres of soil and clean after each use.
66
What is used to measure wind speed and direction, and how?
An anemometer is used. Wind direction is measured by a wind or weather vane
67
What are examples of non invasive sampling
Pitfall trap Quadrants Tree beating Kicksweep method
68
What is Biotic index?
Used to assess water quality
69
What is a biotic indices
used to compare the relative frequency of indicator species and assess the enviromental health
70
What are the two types of pollution?
Point pollution and Diffuse pollution
71
What is point pollution?
pollution is coming from one point. This source of pollution is easy to trace
72
What is diffuse pollution
Arises from land activities, spread across a large area and have no specific point of discharge
73
What is ecological productivity
Productivity is the amount of organic matter (Biomass) being created in an area during a period of time.
74
What is gross productivity?
The rate at which autotrophs produce biomass per unit area per unit time
75
What is net primary productivity?
The energy which is left after losses as a result of respiration, growth, heat and movement
76
Factors that effect productivity
These will be the same as the factors affecting the rate of photosynthesis Light intensity Temperature Rainfall Soil moisture / nutrients Co2 concentration
77
What does it mean when BOD is High?
Levels of bacteria are high. This means that levels of dissolved oxygen are low which indicates a high levels of pollution.
78
What is an indicator species?
A species whose presence, absence or abundance reflects a specific environmental condition, habitat or community
79
An example of an indicator species?
Lichen are very sensitive to air pollution. Green bushy lichen shows clean air. Crusty lichen can survive with more polluted air
80
What is biomagnification
process by which toxins are passed from one trophic level to the next up the food chain.
81
What is bioaccumulation
Build up of toxins in the tissues of an individual organism
82
What is fragmentation
When parts of a habitat are destroyed, leaving smaller unconnected areas
83
What is a key stone species
These are plants or animal species that play a unique or critical role in the way an ecosystem functions
84
What is meant by Biological oxygen demand?
The amount of dissolved oxygen used up by micro organisms when decomposing organic matter in water
85
What direction does wind always blow
From high pressure to low Pressure
86
What replaces the hot air that rises at the equators?
Cooler air from the tropics
87
Where does the hot air move towards after rising at the equators?
The tropics (30°N or 30°S)
88
89
What does the ferrel cell solely rely on?
Friction from the other 2 cells
90
does the equator have high or low pressure
Low pressure
91
Does 30•N and S have high or low pressure
High pressure
92
does 60•N and S have high or low pressure
Low pressure
93
Describe the Hadley cell
Air is heated at the equator, Hot air rises and is replaced by cooler air from tropics. This hot air moves towards 30•N or 30•S once it reaches here it cools and sinks back towards the surface
94
Describe the Polar cell
Air is cooled at the poles, Becoming denser and sinking towards the surface, it then moves towards 60•N or S where it becomes hotter and less dense, then it rises. The air then returns to the poles and the cycle repeats
95
Describe the Ferrel cell
When hot air in the polar cell rises, it drags up hot air with it, this hot air travels to 30•N or S. The air then cools and when the cold air from the hadley cell sinks it drags the cool air down with it. This air then travels to 60•N or S and the process repeats
96
What 4 things is ocean circulation driven by
Thermohaline circulation, surface winds, position of the continents and the coriolis force
97
How do surface winds effect ocean circulation
Wind blowing along the surface drags surface layers along with it. The surface layers also drag deeper water along with it causing currents to form
98
How does coriolis force effect ocean circulation
When earth rotation causes surface winds and currents to deflect. This forms gyres which are huge rotating spirals of ocean currents. These currents transfer warm water from equator towards the poles
99
How do the Continents effect ocean circulation
The shape and position of the continents along with the topography of the sea floor also deflects currents
100
Describe Thermohaline circulation
Thermohaline is driven by water density’s. Equator-Less salty warmer = less dense Poles- More salty from sea ice and cooler =more dense Warm water at equator travels along surface towards poles then cools becomes saltier and sinks to sea floor, then travels to the equator where it heats up and rises. this cycle repeats
101

enviromental science (3 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions