Topic 5 Ecology Flashcards

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1
Q

Define ecosystem

A

A community of organisms in conjunction with non living factors

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2
Q

Define Community

A

The various different populations found in an area

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3
Q

Define population

A

A group of individuals of a single organism

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4
Q

Define habitat

A

Area with distinct set of conditions where an organism lives

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5
Q

Give the definition of biotic and abiotic factors

A

Biotic: factors based on living things like plants and animal interactions

Abiotic: factors based on non living things like sunlight and rainfall

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6
Q

State when it would be appropriate to use a spearman’s rank correlation analysis. Give an example

A

When examining two sets of data to determine how correlated they are to one another, an example of this would be plant coverage and light intensity along a transect.

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7
Q

State how you would correctly write a conclusion for the spearmans rank correlation if the result was significant.

A

At 10 DF and 5% significance level, the critical value is 0.648, our value is X, X>0.648 therefore we reject the null hypothesis, so there is a significant correlation between the two figures.

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8
Q

State how you would select the correct critical value to compare to in spearmans rank correlation

A

Use the number of pairs in the data at the 5% significance level

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9
Q

Stare how you would correctly write a hypothesis for the spearmans rank correlation

A

Null Hyp = there is no significant correlation between the two sets of data

Alt Hyp = There is a significant correlation between the two sets of data.

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10
Q

Give the definition of primary succession

A

Primary succession is the progression of a habitat from rocks to a climax habitat as the biodiversity of the area increases

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11
Q

Give the definition of a pioneer species

A

A plant species that can withstand harsh conditions that grows with very little nutrients, usually the first species to grow on rocks. The species has to transfer seeds by wind. Has to be able to fix nitrogen

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12
Q

Explain how pioneer species change the abiotic conditions in an ecosystem

A

When they die they break down into nutrient rich soil which can allow new plants to grow in their wake

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13
Q

Give the definition of a climax community

A

A community that has finished succession with a vast array of niches, and that has a vast biodiverse community of plants and animals

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14
Q

Explain the stages of succession from colonisation to climax community

A

Pioneer species grow on bare rock such as lichen,
Pioneer species break down into soil which is then exploited by new plants to grow and supply roots to hold the soil in place
New plants break down and form more soil, as the layer of soil becomes larger and more nutrient dense, larger plants can survive off the soil
Climax community where all plants and animals have competition and there is a vast variety of niches, Very little change occurs in the species at this point.

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15
Q

Where do light dependant reactions occur in the chloroplast

A

Thylakoid membranes

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16
Q

Where do light independent reactions occur in the chloroplast

A

Stroma

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17
Q

Define phosphorylation

A

Adding phosphate to a molecule (e.g. ADP-ATP)

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18
Q

Define Photophosphorylation

A

Adding a phosphate group using light

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19
Q

Define photolysis

A

Splitting (lysis) of a molecule using light (photo)

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20
Q

Define Hydrolysis

A

splitting of a molecule using water

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21
Q

Define decarboxylation

A

The removal of a carbon dioxide from a molecule

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22
Q

Define Dehydrogenation

A

The removal of hydrogen from a molecule

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23
Q

Define redox reactions

A

Reactions that involve oxidation and reduction.

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24
Q

What three things can be described by ‘reduction’

A

Gain of electrons,
Gain of hydrogen,
Loss of oxygen

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25
Q

What three things can be described by oxidation

A

Loss of electrons
Loss of hydrogen
Gain of oxygen

26
Q

Definition of a Co-Enzyme + an example of a co-enzyme

A

A molecule that aids an enzyme, transfers a chemical group (e.g. hydrogen) from one molecule to another, e.g. NADP in photosynthesis

27
Q

Give the use of NADP in photosynthesis

A

Transfers hydrogen from one molecule to another, therefore it reduces a molecule if it gives a hydrogen away or oxidises it if it takes it away from a molecule.

28
Q

Give the balanced symbol equation for photosynthesis

A

6CO2 + 6H2O —> C6H12O6 + 6O2

29
Q

Give the definition of photosynthesis

A

A series of chemical reactions that occurs in producers where light energy is converted into chemical energy

30
Q

Explain the meaning of the acronym OILRIG

A

Oxidation is Loss of electrons,
Reduction is Gain of electrons

31
Q

Give the equation to form ATP, state the name of the reaction and the enzyme responsible

A

Light dependant reaction, ATP synthase,
ADP + Pi + H2O —> ATP + O2

32
Q

Explain how ATP can be used as an energy source

A

Broken down by hydrolysis to form ADP + Pi, which in turn releases energy

33
Q

Describe the structure of ATP

A

Adenine base bonded to a ribose sugar bonded to three phosphate groups

(adenosine triphosphate)

34
Q

Compare and contrast the structure of ATP to a DNA nucleotide

A

Both contain a nitrate group and a phosphate group
DNA contains deoxyribose whereas ATP contains ribose
DNA contains adenine, cytosine, thymine and guanine whereas ATP contains adenosine
ATP contains three phosphate groups whereas DNA only contains one.

35
Q

State the adaptations a chloroplast has for photosynthesis

A

Chlorophyll for absorbing high energy frequencies of light,
Starch grain to provide energy for respiration
Enzymes to catalyse photosynthesis reaction
Higher surface area to increase light absorption.

36
Q

Explain photolysis

A

Light energy excites electrons in bonds and causes them to move away from molecule, breaking the molecule

37
Q

State the term used to describe the production of ATP via the light dependent reaction. Explain why it is given this name

A

Photophosphorlation because it requires light energy to attach a phosphate group to it

38
Q

State the term used to describe the process by which electrons move down the electron transport chain. Explain why the term is used

A

Redox, as one molecule gets reduced and another molecule gets oxidised

39
Q

State the three products of the light dependent reaction

A

ATP, Reduced NADP, Oxygen

40
Q

State the role of the three products of the light dependent stage

A

ATP: Provides energy
Reduced NADP: Provides Hydrogen for LIR
Oxygen: Respiration / waste product

41
Q

State the precise site of the LIRs

A

Stroma

42
Q

State the alternate name for the light independent reactions

A

Calvin cycle

43
Q

Describe what happens in carbon fixation

A

6CO2 binds to 6RuBP to form 12 GP, catalysed by rubisco

44
Q

Describe what happens in reduction

A

12ATP hydrolysed to 12ADP + 12P, NADPH oxidised to NADP and 12GP Reduced to 12GALP

45
Q

Describe what happens in phosphorylation in the LIR

A

2GALP Used in plant processes, 10GALP phosphorylated by 6P released by the hydrolysis of 6ATP to form 6RuBP

46
Q

Describe the process of the light independent stage

A

6RuBP are bonded to 6CO2, catalysed by rubisco enzyme to form 12GP. 12ATP is hydrolysed to make 12ADP + 12P and 12 Reduced NADP Oxidised to 12NADP. These two processes cause 12GP to be reduced to 12GALP, 2 of those GALP form glucose and other metabolic products, 10GALP will form the 6RuBP via the hydrolysis of 6 more ATPs to form 6ADP + 6P which is used to phosphorylate the 10GALP

47
Q

Describe how the products of the Light independent stage can be used to form cellulose cell walls.

A

GALP Condensed to form B-Glucose which then react together via condensation reaction to form an alternating inversion polysaccharide chain

48
Q

Explain why the light independent stage relies on the light dependent stage occurring

A

Because the light dependent stage produces ATP and Reduced NADP which are used in various stages in the light independent stage

49
Q

List 3 greenhouse gasses

A

CO2, CH4, Nitrous oxides

50
Q

Give a definition of the term anthropogenic

A

Caused by human influence

51
Q

Explain how greenhouse gases lead to the greenhouse effect

A

UV light shines onto earths surface, increasing surface temp, Heat energy is reemitted as infrared radiation into the atmosphere. Some infrared radiation escapes, some is absorbed by greenhouse gasses and reemitted back onto the earths surface, increasing average surface temp by trapping the infrared radiation in the atmosphere.

52
Q

Give a definition of global warming

A

Increase in average global surface temp due to greenhouse gas action.

53
Q

List the evidence of climate change

A

Pollen in peat bogs,
Dendrochronology
Temperature and carbon dioxide records

54
Q

Give the definition of a biofuel

A

A fuel made from organic materials that can be sustainably reproduced

55
Q

Explain why biofuels are considered carbon neutral

A

Plants absorb CO2 from atmosphere for photosynthesis, use this CO2 to produce the oils that are used as fuel, so when the fuel is burned it rereleases the CO2 back into the atmosphere therefore no new CO2 is being released.

56
Q

Give the advantages of using biofuel over using fossil fuels

A

Doesnt release stored carbon into the atmosphere therefore does not contribute to global warming

Doesnt rely on finite resources therefore is sustainable

57
Q

Give the disadvantages of using biofuels over fossil fuels

A

Biofuel production and transport requires energy that is produced by the burning of fossil fuels, therefore it is not carbon neutral

Biofuel production also requires the growing of monocultures which causes a decrease in biodiversity in the area and removes habitats that ecosystems used to rely on to thrive.

58
Q

Give the definition of allopatric speciation

A

Speciation due to geographic isolation

59
Q

Give the definition of sympatric speciation

A

Speciation due to random mutation that causes reproductive isolation

60
Q

Two populations of mice occupy the same habitat but are defined as two separate species. State what type of speciation occurred to form these two species, give a reason for your choice

A

Sympatric speciation as they are not geographically isolated but still speciated

61
Q

Two populations of sloth live on either side of the Andes mountain range and are defined as two separate species. State what type of speciation occurred to form these two species, give a reason for your choice

A

Allopatric speciation as there is a geographic isolation between the two species (mountain)