Topic 5 Biology Flashcards
Structure of a chloroplast
LOOK ON GOOD NOTES
Structure and function
Granum - made up of many layers of thylakoid membrane
- Increases surface area for light absorption.
Thylakoid membrane contains chlorophyll for absorbing light.
Electron carrier molecules are also found in the thylakoid membrane to generate ATP.
Chlorophyll
Absorbs light most strongly in the blue portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, followed by the red portion.
Poor absorber of green and near - green portions of the spectrum, hence the green colour.
First isolated and named by Joseph Bienaime Caventou and Joseph Pelletier in 1817
ATP synthesis - light dependent stage
Location - Thylakoid Membrane
Energy from light excites electron on the chlorophyll molecule
Which then pushes an electron away from it to a carrier in the thylakoid membrane
Electron moves thru a series of electron carriers (electron transport chain)
Each time it moves it gives out a bit of energy, which is used to create ATP
ATP and reduced NADP synthesis
The electron passes along the carriers in the thylakoids membrane which releases energy needed to convert ADP and PI to ATP.
——> photophosphorylation
Called the electron transport chain
These electrons can replace the missing electrons from the chlorophyll so it is ready to use again. Cyclic phosphorylation
Or the elections may also combine with oxidised NADP to make reduced NADP - non cyclic phosphorylation.
In this case chlorophyll’s electrons are replaced by splitting water using energy from light - Photolysis
Electron transport chain
The electron is passed down a series of electron carriers in the thylakoid membrane releasing energy at each stage.
The energy is used to pump H+ (protons) into the thylakoid space using proton pumps creating a proton gradient.
The protons then flow back into the stroma via facilitated diffusion via an ATP synthase enzyme
—> AKA ATP synthatase and sometimes ATPase
Uses the flow of H+ to provdide energy to combine ADP + Pi —> ATP
Chemiosmosis
8 stages of the light dependent stage
Stage 1 : light energy is absorbed by chlorophyll. Electrons in chlorophyll excited.
Stage 2 : Electrons are lost from the chlorophyll molecule and are transferred between electron carriers in the thylakoid membrane.
Stage 3 : Energy released during the transfer of the electrons along the electron transport chain is used to synthesise ATP. photophosphorylation
Stage 4 : H+ ions are pumped into the thylakoid space and flow into the stroma via ATP synthase enzyme (making ATP)
Stage 5 : Water molecules in the thylakoid space a split into electrons, hydrogen ions and oxygen using energy from light. ( photolysis)
Stage 6 : The electrons from water replace the electrons lost from the chlorophyll molecule to the electron transport chain.
Stage 7 : NADP is reduced by the addition of electrons that pass along the electron transport chain and hydrogen ions.
Stage 8 : Oxygen from the splitting of water is lost as a waste product.
Light dependent reaction products
ATP transfers energy and reduced NADP transfers hydrogen to the light independent reaction
Also during the process H2O is oxidised to O2
Photophosphorylation and photolysis
In the LD reaction, the light energy absorbed by the photosystems is used for three things :
- Making ATP from ADP and Pi - photophosphorylation
- Making reduced NADP from oxidised NADP
- Splitting water into protons (H+ ions), electrons and oxygen - photolysis
5.1 Understand the terms ecosystem, community, population and habitat.
Ecosystem - a community and its interactions with the non living parts of its habitat
Community - multiple populations living and interacting in the same area
Population - all of the individuals of one species living in a habitat
Habitat - the place where an organism lives
5.2 Understand that the numbers and distribution of organisms in a habitat are controlled by biotic and abiotic factors BIOTIC FACTORS
Biotic factors - living factors that influence populations within their community
Come about as a result of the activity of other organisms e.g.
- predation
- food availability
- Intraspecific community
- Interspecific community
- Cooperation between organisms
- Parasitism
- Disease
5.2 Understand that the numbers and distribution of organisms in a habitat are controlled by biotic and abiotic factors ABIOTIC FACTORS
Non-living factors that influence populations within their community
E.g.
- Light intensity and wavelength
- Temperature
- Turbidity, or cloudiness, of water
- Humidity
- Soil or water pH
- Soil or water salinity
- Soil composition
- Oxygen and carbon dioxide concentration
5.3 Understand how the concept of niche accounts for distribution and abundance of organisms in a habitat.
Definition of niche
Niche - the role of a species within its habitat
Important information about niches
- No two species can fill the same niche within a habitat
- If this happens the two species will be in direct competition, and one of the two species will out-compete the other, causing it to due out in the particular habitat.
- Can sometimes seem as though species are occupying the same niche, but there will still be subtle differences in their role; e.g. they might feed at different times of day, or have different food sources.
Abundance
The niche filled by a species determines its abundance within a habitat.
Definition : The number of individuals of a particular species living in a habitat.
- If two species occupy a similar niche within a habitat, they will be competing with each other, so their populations will be smaller, and their abundance will therefore be lower.
Distribution
The niche filled by a species determines its distribution.
Definition : where a species lives
Species can only survive in habitats to which they are well adapted; if they are not well suited to a habitats biotic and abiotic factors then they will move to a more suitable habitat and their distribution will change.
Core practical 10 : Carry out a study on the ecology of a habitat, such as using quadrats and transects to determine distribution and abundance of organisms, and measuring abiotic factors appropriate to the habitat.
Change
• Position of the quadrat along the transect. Regular intervals should be used along the transect (e.g. every 2
meters).
Repeat
• Repeat many times (at least 10) in each area/for each transect, calculate mean, discard anomalies, times mean amount in one quadrat by the number of quadrats that fit in the total area. Calculate standard deviation
Measure
• Dry mass, percentage cover, length/width, species richness, within quadrat & use as an estimate for the area
• Stats test to look for differences – T test for random sampling of 2 areas, Correlation coefficient for transect
Same
• Time of day, direction of transect, size of quadrat, method of sampling (e.g. kick sampling with the same force, for the same time), measure abiotic factors
Safety
• Don’t throw quadrats, sun protection, wear shoes in rivers to protect from infection
5.4 Understand the stages of succession from colonisation to a climax community
Succession - change in species inhabiting an area over time. It is brought about by changes to the environment made by the organisms colonising it themselves.
Primary succession
Occurs when an area previously devoid of life is first colonised by communities of organisms; for instance, after the eruption of a volcano - soil must first be established before more complex organisms can grow.
Secondary succession
Occurs with existing soil that is clear of vegetation. This may occur after an event such as a forest fire.
Pioneer species
- Area that is first colonised.
- e.g lichens, when are adapted to survive in harsh conditions (where other species would not survive)
Example - these species can penetrate rock surface and break it down into grains. Similarly their roots can hold together sands with a loose; shifting structure.
Humus
The organic component of soil.
Climax community
- organisms are decomposed over time
- the soil becomes richer in minerals, thus enabling larger, more varied and more productive plants such as shrubs to survive.
- CLIMAX COMMUNITY established - this is the most productive, self-sustaining and stable community of organisms that the environment can support, usually with only one or two species.
5.5 Understand the overall reaction of photosynthesis as requiring energy from light to split apart the strong bonds in water molecules, storing the hydrogen in a fuel (glucose) by combining it with carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen into the atmosphere.
Carbon dioxide + Water ——> Glucose + Oxygen
5.6 Understand how phosphorylation of ADP requires energy
- ATP is produced during respiration by the addition of inorganic phosphate (Pi), a type of phosphate group, to adenosine diphosphate, or ADP.
ADP + Pi → ATP
ADP contains two phosphate groups, hence diphosphate
The breakdown of glucose in respiration releases the energy needed to phosphorylate ADP
ATP
Adenosine Triphosphate - used to transfer and supply energy within cells
- Known as the universal energy currency
- ATP diffuses within cells to where it is needed.
Type of nucleic acid and it structurally very similar to the nucleotides that make up DNA and RNA.
- Phosphorylated nucleotide
- consists of a nitrogenous base, a sugar, and a single phosphate group.
- ATP contains three phosphate groups, hence triphosphate
Hydrolysis of ATP provides an immediate supply of energy for biological processes.
The hydrolysis, or breakdown, of ATP releases an inorganic phosphate as well as a small amount of energy which can be used by the cell
ATP → ADP + P
- The removal of a phosphate group is known as dephosphorylation
- The hydrolysis of ATP is catalysed by the enzyme ATPase
- The ADP and inorganic phosphate produced by the hydrolysis of ATP can be recycled to make more ATP.
5.7 Understand the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis including how light energy is trapped by exciting electrons in chlorophyll and the role of these electrons in generating ATP, reducing NADP in photophosphorylation and producing oxygen through photolysis of water.
- take place across the thylakoid membrane
- use of light energy to excite electrons in chlorophyll.
- photolysis/splitting of water to produce oxygen, electrons, and hydrogen ions.
- electrons used in the electron transport chain/ to replace those lost in chlorophyll
- generation of ATP/photophosphorylation
- reduction of NADP
Products of the light dependent reaction
- ATP —> used by the enzyme converting GP to GALP/ GALP to RuBP
- Reduced NADP - used to convert GP to GALP
5.8 i) Understand the light-independent reactions as reduction of carbon dioxide using the products of the light-dependent reactions (carbon fixation in the Calvin cycle, the role of GP, GALP, RuBP and RUBISCO).
- Calvin cycle
- rely on the products of the light-dependent reactions ATP/reduced NADP
- takes place in the stroma