Topic 7 Ecology Flashcards
What is interdependence and a stable community?
Interdependence is when one species is removed from a community, the entire community is affected
A stable community is when all the environmental factors are in balance so the population sizes remain fairly constant
What is an ecosystem, community and population?
Ecosystem=the interaction between a community of living organisms and how they react with the environment
Community=All of the different species living in the same habitat
Population=same or similar species living in a given area of habitat
Biotic and abiotic factors
Biotic: new Predators, prey,plants/food available, new pathogens, competition
Abiotic: Wind intensity and direction, moisture levels, soil pH and mineral ion content, oxygen and carbon dioxide levels , temperature, light intensity
What do plants and animals compete for?
Plants:Space,water,mineral ions,light
Animals:Mates,food,territory
Describe the water cycle!
Water in the seas/oceans evaporates in water vapour, which then condenses and turns into clouds, the clouds come together to form bigger heavier clouds. In precipitation, the clouds release rain/snow/sleet. Which then either travels back to the seas, or percolates through the soil and is absorbed the plants which then release it as water vapour by transpiration. Water from predication is fresh water
Describe the carbon cycle!
Plants/algae take in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during photosynthesis, they respire and release some CO2 back to the atmosphere or are eaten by animals which then respire and release carbon dioxide back to atmosphere. This can happen again and the animal is eaten by another. When the animal releases waste or dies, the carbon is taken by decomposing microorganisms who respire. If sufficient conditions for microorganisms are not met, the carbon forms fossil fuels. The fossil fuels are burnt by humans and the process of combustion release carbon to the atmosphere.
What does anaerobic decay produce and how can biogas generators be used?
Methane
Biogas generators can be used to produce methane gas as a fuel
What are the functions required by decomposes to cause material to decay and why?
Need moisture to dissolve the food
Need oxygen to respire
Need warm for enzyme activity
3 ways in which environmental change affects the distribution of species within an ecosystem
Temperature
Availability of water
Composition of atmospheric gases
(Can be seasonal, geographical, or caused by humans)
How do farmers be gardeners use conditions for decay to their advantage?
They can provide the optimum conditions to produce compost form microorganisms which is full of nutrients and can be a natural fertilizer
What is biodiversity and what does great biodiversity lead to ?
The variety of different species/organisms living on earth or within an ecosystem
Great biodiversity reduced the dependence of species on another for food, provides shelter and maintain the physical environment
What aspects of earth does waste impact?
Earth-landfill and toxic chemical
Water-sewage and fertilizers causing pollution
Air-smoke and acidic gases in the air
Name some examples of how humans are maintains biodiversity
Breeding programs, creating hedgerows and field margins where farmers only grow one crop,regenerating and protecting rare habitats, recycling resources
How are humans decreasing biodiversity through land use?
Quarrying, farming and building infrastructure
Destruction of peat bogs reduces habitats and variety of species-the decay and burning of peat also releases carbon dioxide
How is deforestation reducing biodiversity? And what for?
What does deforestation lead to ?
Deforestation creates land for crops to be grown for biofuels, land for farming cattle and paddy fields which destroys habitats
This also contributes to global warming-disease, loss of habitats, loss of species
