TOPIC B7 ECOLOGY

Question 1

habitat

Answer 1

place where an organism lives

Question 2

population

Answer 2

all organisms of 1species living in a habitat

Question 3

community

Answer 3

all populations of different species living in a habitat

Question 4

abiotic factors

Answer 4

non living factors of the environment
e.g temperature

Question 5

biotic factors

Answer 5

living factors of environments

Question 6

ecosystem

Answer 6

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

Question 7

state 4 things that plants compete for

Answer 7

-light
-space
-water
-mineral ions

Question 8

state 4 things that animals compete for

Answer 8

-space (territory)
-food
-water
-mates

Question 9

what is interdependence

Answer 9

-in a community each species depends on other species for things like food, shelter, and pollination

Question 10

state abiotic factors

Answer 10

-moisture level
-light intensity
-temperature
-carbon dioxide level

Question 11

state what the effect of dicrease in light has

Answer 11

-decreases the rate of photosynthesis
-which affects plant growth and causes decrease in population sizes

Question 12

4biotic factors

Answer 12

-new predators arriving
-competiton
-new pathogens
-availability of food

Question 13

state 3 adaptations for organisms in order to survive

Answer 13

1. structural, body structure. e.g shape and colour
2. behavioural
3. functional

Question 14

how do the following help the organism to survive

-artic animal
-animals living in cold places
-animals living in hot places

Answer 14

-artic fox has white fur so are camouflaged against the snow
-helps them to sneak up on prey

-whales in cold places have a thick layer of blubber and a low surface area to volume ratio
-to help them retain heat

-camels in hot places have a thin layer of fat +large surface area to volume ratio to help them lose heat

Question 15

state 2 functional adaptations animals do to survive

Answer 15

1. desert animals conserve water by producing little swear and small amounts of urine
2. brown bears hibernate over winter and have a lower metabolism, which conserves energy

Question 16

what do food chains always start with

Answer 16

• a producer
• they make their own food by using energy from the sun
  e.g plants and alage

Question 17

biomass

Answer 17

mass of living material

Question 18

what are producers eaten by

Answer 18

-primary consumers
-they are then eaten by secondary consumers
-they are eaten by teritary consumers

Question 19

state an example of a food chain

Answer 19

-5000 dandelions
-100 rabbits
-1fox

Question 20

how is energy from the sun used in the water cycle

Answer 20

• evaporation, where water from oceans, rivers, and lakes turns into water vapor
• condensation, where water vapor cools and forms clouds;
• precipitation, where water falls back to Earth as rain, snow, or hail; and collection, where water gathers in rivers, lakes, and oceans, ready to repeat the cycle.
• This cycle is powered by the Sun’s energy and helps regulate Earth’s climate, support ecosystems, and provide fresh water for living organisms.

Question 21

carbon cycle

Answer 21

The carbon cycle describes how carbon moves through the Earth’s ecosystems, atmosphere, oceans, and rocks. Carbon is an essential element for life and cycles continuously:

Photosynthesis: Plants absorb carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere to make glucose.
Respiration: Animals and plants release CO₂ back into the atmosphere when they respire.
Decomposition: Dead organisms are broken down by decomposers, releasing CO₂ into the air or soil.
Combustion: Burning fossil fuels and biomass releases stored carbon as CO₂.
Oceans and Sedimentation: CO₂ dissolves in oceans, where it can form carbonates and eventually become part of rocks like limestone.

Question 22

biodiversity

Answer 22

variety of different species of organisms on earth or within an ecosystem

Question 23

why is high biodiversity important

Answer 23

it keeps ecosystems stable
-as they depend on each other for shelter and food

Question 24

state 3 things producing waste

Answer 24

1. water, sewage and toxic chemicals
2. land, toxic chemicals for farming
3. air, smoke and acidic gases

Question 25

explain how gases in atmospheres contribute to increasing temperatures of the planet

Answer 25

-they naturally act as an insulating layer
-they absorb most the energy that would normally be radiated out into space and re-radiate it in all directions

Question 26

why is earth gradually heating

Answer 26

-because of increasing levels of greenhouse gases, which is global warming

Question 27

state the consequences of global warming

Answer 27

1. higher temps cause seawater to expand and ice caps to melt
2. changes in migration patterns
3. biodiversity is reduced if species are unable to survive

Question 28

what is deforestation

Answer 28

-the cutting down of forests and it will cause big problems when its done on a large scale

-clear land for farming, to provide more food
-grow crops from which biofuels are based on

Question 29

state 3 problems of deforestation causes

Answer 29

1. less carbon dioxide taken in
2. more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
3. less biodiversity

Question 30

state 3 things that have been done to protect ecosystems and biodiversity

Answer 30

1. breeding programmes
2. programmes to protect and regenerate rare habitats
3. programmes to reintroduce hedgerows