Topic 9 – Ecosystems & Material Cycles Flashcards
Individual/Organism
- Single member of a species
Population
- A group of organisms of the same species living in the same place at the same time
Community
- All of the populations living in the same area at the same time
Ecosystem
- All the biotic factors and all the abiotic factors that interact within an area at one time
How can communities be affected by abiotic factors (temp, light, water, pollutants):
- Temperature and Light: affects rate of photosynthesis
- Water: Plants and animals need to survive
- Pollutants: Affect air and water quality
How can communities be affected by biotic factors (competition, predation):
- Competition: Better-adapted animals use resources more effectively and outcompete others, causing less adapted species to breed less as less will be alive
- Predation: Controls the population sizes of prey animals
Describe the importance of interdependence in a community:
- Keeps stability as the species and environmental factors are in balance so that population sizes remain fairly constant
How the survival of some organisms is dependent on other species (parasitism and mutualism):
- Parasitism: The parasite derives nutrients, shelter, or other resources from the host to survive
- Mutualism: Both species involved benefit from the relationship
How is some energy is transferred to less useful forms at each trophic level:
- Heat
- Metabolic
- Respiration
What are some of the effects of the fact some energy is transferred to less useful forms at each trophic level:
- Limits food chain length
- Determines biomass pyramid shape in an ecosystem
Benefits and Negatives of Fish Farming
+. Reduces pressure of endangered fish
-. Introduces disease and parasites
Benefits and Negatives of Introducing Non-Indigenous Species
+. Increased biodiversity
-. May outcome native species
Benefits and Negatives of Eutrophication
+. Increased primary productivity
-. Oxygen depletion due to algal blooms
What is this benefit of of maintaining local and global biodiversity: (Ecological):
- Biodiversity increases ecosystem stability
What is this benefit of of maintaining local and global biodiversity: (Environmental):
- Organisms provide support in many cycles
What is this benefit of of maintaining local and global biodiversity: (Economical):
- Organisms contribute to medicines ecotourism, science and technology
Food security
- The condition in which people have access to food
How does increasing human population affect food security?
- As number of people increases, demand for food increases
How does increasing meat and fish consumption affect food security?
- As demand for these foods increase, more animals are needed`
How does the impact of pests and pathogens affect food security?
- Increase in pests and pathogens may damage crops
How does environmental changes caused by human activity affect food security?
- Crops can be degraded as soil fertility can be damaged
How does use of land for biofuel production affect food security?
- Land is used for biofuels and not agriculture
How does Carbon cycle through the biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem
Biotic:
- Photosynthesis
Abiotic:
- CO2 in atmosphere
How does Water cycle through the biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem
Biotic:
- Plants absorb water through roots
Abiotic:
- Ocean, Clouds (vapour)
How does Nitrogen cycle through the biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem
Biotic:
- Nitrogen-fixing bacteria
Abiotic:
- The atmosphere
Importance
