Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Biology > Topic 7 - Ecology > Flashcards

Topic 7 - Ecology Flashcards

1
Q

What is an ecosystem ?

A

The interaction of a community of living organisms with the non-living parts of their environment.

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

What is a community ?

A

All of the living organisms within a habitat

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

List 3 things which animals compete for

A

1) Food
2) Mates
3) Territory

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

List 4 things which plants compete for

A

1) Light
2) Space
3) Minerals (ions)
4) Water

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

What is interdependence ?

A

Where species depend on other species

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

What is a stable community ?

A

Where all the species and environmental factors are in balance so that population sizes remain fairly constant.

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

What are abiotic factors ?

A

Non-living factors

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

What are biotic factors ?

A

Living factors

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

What are 6 abiotic factors ?

A

-Moisture level
-Temperature
-Levels of oxygen or carbon dioxide
-pH levels
-Light intensity
-Weather (wind)

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

What are 4 biotic factors ?

A

-Food availability
-New predators
-Competition
-Pathogens

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

What are adaptations ?

A

Any feature that allows an organism to survive in it’s habitat

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

Name the three types of adaptation

A

-Structural
-Functional
-Behavioural

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

Name a type of structural adaptation

A

Thorns on a rose

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

Name a type of functional adaptation

A

Snakes having venomous bites

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

Name a type of behavioural adaptation

A

Hibernating during winter

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

What are extremeophiles ?

A

Organisms that are adapated to live in extreme conditions

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

What is biomass ?

A

The total mass of biological material in a given area or population

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

Where does all biomass come from ?

A

Producers

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

Lettuce-> slug–>blackbird–> sparrow hawk
Identify the trophic levels in this food chain.

A

Lettuce - Producer
Slug - Primary consumer
Blackbird - Secondary consumer
Sparrow hawk - Tertiary consumer

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

Why does the population of predators and prey fluctuate ?

A

-When the populations of prey decreases there is less food available for the predators,
-so fewer were able to survive
-so the population decreases
-Fewer predators means less predation so more prey were able to survive
-so the population increases
-More prey means more food for predators so their population increases
-More predators means more predation so fewer prey survive

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

Describe the trophic levels

A

Level 1: producers.
Level 2: primary consumers.
Level 3: secondary consumers.
Level 4: tertiary consumers.

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

Describe the role of decomposers

A

Break down plant and animal matter through enzymes released

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

How do you calculate the efficiency of energy transfer ?

A

efficiency = (biomass of trophic level/biomass of trophic level below) x 100

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

Name 3 reasons why not all biomass is transferred

A

-Some lost as faeces and urine
-Some lost through respiration as carbon dioxide
-Not all biomass is consumed by the next trophic level (bones, feathers etc).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Why is the number of organisms lower at the higher trophic levels ?

A

There is less biomass / energy being transferred as you move thorught trophic levels, so less organisms can be supported.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

What is the purpose of random sampling ?

A

To estimate abundance (size of a population)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

How do you achieve random sampling ?

A

By using randomly generated numbers to make coordinates in a grid. Place a quadrat at each of the randomly generated coordinates.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Why should sampling be random ?

A

To avoid bias

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Why might you use a transect instead of random sampling ?

A

To measure distribution over an area or with a specific abiotic factors.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

How do you carry out a transect ?

A

Lay out a tape measure across the area to be studied. Place a quadrat at regular intervals along the line and record the species present.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

How do you find the mean amount of individuals per quadrat ?

A

Sum of the individuals in all quadrats / Number of quadrats

32
Q

What is the state change when a liquid turns to a gas ?

A

Evaporation

33
Q

What process removes water from the atmosphere ?

A

Photosynthesis

34
Q

What process releases water into the atmosphere ?

A

Respiration

35
Q

Where is water stored in organisms ?

A

In their bodies

36
Q

Describe the water cycle

A

1) Water can be stored within the bodies of organisms
2) Some water can be transferred to the atmosphere through respiration and evaporation
3) Some water can be removed from the atmosphere through photosynthesis
4) Water can drain from the land into the rivers and seas

37
Q

Describe the carbon cycle

A

1) Carbon can be stored within the bodies of plants and animals.
2) Some carbon is transfered to the atmosphere by respiration as carbon dioxide
3) Carbon dioxide can be removed from the atmosphere by photosynthesis
4) Some carbon is transferred to the atmosphere by the death and decay of organisms
5) Some carbon is trapped in the bodies of organisms that become fossil fuels

38
Q

How do decomposers help cycle nutrients through an ecosystem ?

A

They can break down dead material to release the nutrients (ions) to the soil which can then be uptaken by other organisms

39
Q

Describe how the temperature, water and oxygen levels impact the rate of decay

A

Temperature: increased temperature causes rate of decomposition to increase. Decomposition stops if temperature becomes too high
Water: decomposition only occurs with water available
Oxygen: increased oxygen causes rate of decomposition to increase

40
Q

Describe why too high temperatures stop decomposition

A

Decomposition stops at high temperatures as enzymes are denatured

41
Q

Describe why increased oxygen increases the rate of decomposition

A

increased oxygen increases rate of respiration and therefore rate of decomposition

42
Q

Describe the purpose of compost

A

Compost is used as a natural fertiliser for growing crops

43
Q

What does anaerobic decay produce ?

A

Methane

44
Q

What is the purpose of biogas ?

A

To decompose waste material and produce methane gas as a fue

45
Q

What is biodiversity ?

A

The variety of different species of organisms on the earth or in an ecosystem

46
Q

Why is higher biodiversity beneficial ?

A

Great biodiversity means the ecosystem is less dependent on one species, so if the population falls it will be less likely to affect the ecosystem.

47
Q

Why is biodiversity important for humans ?

A

Humans rely on other organisms for food, medicines and building materials.

48
Q

What 3 activities reduce biodiversity ?

A

1) Deforestation
2) Global warming/ Pollution
3) Over hunting/ fishing

49
Q

What has caused an increase pressure on land and resources ?

A

An increase in the global population

50
Q

Describe water pollution

A

Sewage or toxic chemicals in rivers or water sources

51
Q

Describe air pollution

A

Smoke, toxic or acidic gasses being released into the atmosphere

52
Q

Describe land pollution

A

Dumping of rubbish in landfill

53
Q

What are the consequences of increased pollution ?

A

Animals and plants are killed which reduces biodiversity

54
Q

How do humans reduce the land available for other organisms ?

A

Building, Farming, Waste disposal and quarrying

55
Q

Describe the link between farming and the 3 types of pollution

A

Water pollution- fertilisers get into water bodies.
Air pollution-machinery produces acidic gases.
Land pollution- soil erosion, pesticides

56
Q

What is peat ?

A

Partially decomposed organic matter

57
Q

Why is peat important in the carbon cycle ?

A

Peat stores a lot of carbon

58
Q

What happens when peat is burned ?

A

Carbon is released into the atmosphere which links to clilmate change/ global warming

59
Q

Name 3 human activities which add to the amount of greenhouse gases

A

1) Burning of fossil fuels
2) Deforestation
3) Agriculture

60
Q

What is global warming ?

A

The change in global temperatures and climates

61
Q

Describe 2 biological impacts of climate change

A

1) Reduction in biodiversity
2) Increase in the levels of disease

62
Q

What is deforestation ?

A

The large scale removal of naturally grown forests

63
Q

How does deforestation contribute to global warming ?

A

1) Burning of trees can release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere
2) Trees can no longer photosynthesise and remove carbon from the atmosphere

64
Q

What is meant by maintaining biodiversity

A

Keeping the distribution and populations of species constant

65
Q

What are 5 actions to maintain biodiversity levels ?

A

1.Breeding programmes for endangered species
2.Protection and regeneration of rare habitats
3.Reintroduction of field margins and hedgerows
4.Reduction in deforestation and carbon dioxide emissions
5.Recycling resources

66
Q

What is food security ?

A

Having enough food to feed a population.

67
Q

Name 6 factors which threaten food security

A
  1. increasing birth rate
  2. changing diets in HIC
  3. New pests and pathogens
  4. environmental changes (droughts)
  5. cost of agricultural inputs
  6. conflicts/war
68
Q

What is sustainability ?

A

Meeting the needs of people today without impacting the needs of people in the future

69
Q

Describe 3 issues with the fishing industry

A

-Fish stocks have declined dramatically.
-Breeding is threatened.
-There is a risk of extinction

70
Q

Explain how larger holes in fish nets help maintain population sizes

A

Large holes in nets enables smaller fish to escape, so they can continue to grow to matuirty and therefore breeding age.

71
Q

Describe some conflicts between increasing food security and animal welfare

A

-intensive farming is viewed as cruel –Use of pesticides and fertilisers is damaging the environment.

72
Q

List 2 biochemical solutions to food insecurity

A
  1. Genetic modification
  2. Use of microorganisms
73
Q

What is mycoprotein ?

A

A protein rich food suitable for vegetarians.

74
Q

Describe how the fungus Fusarium is used to produce mycoprotein.

A

The fungus is grown on glucose syrup, in aerobic conditions, and the biomass is harvested and purified.

75
Q

Explain how genetic modification can help increase food security

A

GM crops could provide more food or food with an improved nutritional value

76
Q

What is golden rice ?

A

A variety of rice that was genetically modified to contain more vitamin A.

Biology (7 decks)

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