topic 2 Flashcards
definition; example
fundamental niche vs realised niche
definition:
-fundamental is the entire set of conditions a popoulation can SURVIVE and REPRODUE
-realised is set of conditions ACTUALLY used to SURVIVE and REPRODUCE due to biotic conditions
example:
in a forest, sparrows feed on berries growing on bushes
-fundamental: anywhere there is berries, including entire bush and forest floor; anywhere there is the resource
-realised niche: there is resources competition on the forest floor, so sparrows’ niche is only area on bushes
Predation example
Dingo, sheep
Herbivory example
Elephants grazing on shrubs
Parasitism example
Ticks on moose
Mutualism example
Bees pollinating flowering plants
Commensalism example
Barnacles on humpback whales
Named example of a food chain involving producers, consumers, decomposers
Grassland ecosystem foodchain: grass –> grasshopper –> rat –> snake –> fungi
2 examples
examples of bioaccumulation
-mercury building up in fish
-pesticides building up in small animals
2 examples
examples of biomagnification
-high concentration of heavy metals in apex predator fish such as tuna as a result of acccumulation along the food chain being magnified
-high concentration of DDTs in apex predator birds such as the bald eagle as a result of consuming prey (small fish) with DDTs
detailed example of how humans impact energy flows
deforestation
* trees play a role in the energy cycle, absorbing and converting sunlight
* when large areas deforested, energy that would have been absorbed/converted is instead REFLECTED, contributing to global warming
(4 points)
detailed example of impact of urbanisation on matter cycle (carbon)
-increases need for energy and thus increases use of fossil fuels, leading to increased combustion –> creates more matter (carbon) which cannot be adequately integrated into carbon cycle, leading to climate change
-decreased land covered by vegetation, reducing photosynthesis –> less matter can be cycled through vegetation for absorption and conversion, tldr global warming
-increases food requirements, leading to increased land use for agriculture
-increased requirement and transport of food leads to greater energy requirements and increased fossil fuel use –> creates more matter etc same as above
what human activities impact energy flows and matter cycling
-through large scale activities:
* deforestation
* pollution
* urbanisation
* overexplotation of resources
outline structure for how humans impact energy flows
-role thing plays in energy flow/system
-what would happen to the energy –>
-how [human activity] changes what happens to the energy
-impact
detailed example of agriculture’s impact on matter cycle (nitrogen)
-industrial agricultural techiniques of NITROGEN FIXATION –> significantly INCREASED the amount of GLOBAL NITROGEN FIXATION –> INCREASED amounts of useable nitrogen in fertilisers
-application of nitrate fertiliser to increase crop yield and save money in agriculture –> biologically available nitrogen in ecosystem INCREASES, runs off or leaches into bodies of water –> causes EUTROPHICATION and DISRUPTION to ecosystem –> eutrophophication leads to LOW OXYGEN LEVELS, changing food-web structure and resulting in habitat degradation
-nitrogen in crop biomass is transferred across locations –> this removes the matter from the cycle in one location and adds it to another –> this alters the nitrogen cycle and can cause DISRUPTION to ecosystems
-agricultural soils become waterlogged as a result of irrigation –> denitrifying bacteria INCREASES –> rate of nitrogen gas returning to the atmosphere INCREASES
4 main activities that impact carbon cycle matter cycling
-urbanisation
-deforestation
-agriculture
-fossil fuel use
