Topic G: Ecology & the Environment Flashcards

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1
Q

What is a food web?

A

-A system of interlocking and independent food chains.

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2
Q

Define decomposer?

A

-An organism whose ecological function involves the recycling of nutrients by performing the natural process of decomposition as it feeds on dead or decaying organisms.

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3
Q

Define producer?

A

(1) An autotrophic organism capable of producing complex organic compounds from simple inorganic molecules through the process of photosynthesis (using light energy) or through chemosynthesis (using chemical energy).
(2) The first trophic level in a food chain in which it serves as a food source for consumers or for higher trophic levels.

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4
Q

Define primary consumers?

A

-Any organism that consumes or feeds on autotrophs or decaying matter.

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5
Q

Define secondary consumer?

A

-A group of organisms that largely feed on primary consumers.

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6
Q

Define adaption?

A

-The adjustment or changes in behavior, physiology, and structure of an organism to become more suited to an environment.

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7
Q

Define habitat?

A

-Place where an organism or a biological population normally lives or occurs.

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8
Q

Define population?

A

-A group of organisms of one species that interbreed and live in the same place at the same time (e.g. deer population).

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9
Q

Define biological community?

A

-A group of interdependent organisms living and interacting with each other in the same habitat.

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10
Q

Define ecosystem?

A

A system that includes all living organisms (biotic factors) in an area as well as its physical environment (abiotic factors) functioning together as a unit.

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11
Q

Define biological competition?

A

-A symbiotic relationship between or among living things for resources, such as food, space, shelter, mate, ecological status, etc. A general rivalry.

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12
Q

Define species?

A

An individual belonging to a group of organisms (or the entire group itself) having common characteristics and (usually) are capable of mating with one another to produce fertile offspring. Failing that (for example the Liger) It has to be ecologically and recognisably the same.

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13
Q

What are the factors of physical conditions?

A

These are abotic factors.

  • temperature
  • light intensity
  • water availability
  • minerals
  • carbon dioxide concentration
  • oxygen concentration
  • soil type
  • relief
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14
Q

What are the biological factors of a habitat?

A
  • These are biotic factors

- the plants and animals that live there and interact with them.

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15
Q

Define a pyramid of numbers?

A

-This is a diagrammatical representation of the number of different organisms at each trophic level in a ecosystem at any one time.

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16
Q

Define pyramid of Biomass?

A

-This is a representation of the biomass (amount of mass of each individual) at each trophic level at any one time
Not accurate, they change at different times of year
If inverted the ecosystem is on the verge of collapse.

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17
Q

Pyramids of energy transfer?

A

-This shows the amount of energy that is transferred from one level to the next.
These are never inverted
Measured in energy/area/time
All energy starts at the sun.

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18
Q

What is a quadant?

A

-A quadrat is usually a square made of wire. It may contain further wires to mark off smaller areas inside, such as 5 x 5 or 10 x 10 squares. The organisms underneath, usually plants, can be identified and counted.
Quadrats may also be used for slow-moving animals such as slugs and snails.

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19
Q

How is energy transferred through a food chain?

A

-All energy starts at the sun.
Energy is lost at each level because of excretion and using energy etc… Only 10% on energy gets from one tropic level to the next.

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20
Q

What should you do when using a quadrat?

A
  • It should be placed randomly so that a representative sample is taken.
  • The validity and reproductibility of the results increases as the results from more quadrats are analysed.
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21
Q

What is capture, recapture with quadrats?

A

-One way to estimate the population size of an animal species is capture-recapture. Some animals are trapped, for example, using pitfall traps. They are marked in some harmless way then released. Traps are used a few days later. The numbers of marked and unmarked animals caught in the traps are recorded. The population size is estimated using this formula:
Population size =
Number in first sample times number in second sample over number in second sample previously marked.

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22
Q

When using capture-recapture data, you have to make assumptions including?

A
  • There is no death, immigration or emigration.
  • The sampling methods used are identical.
  • The marking has not affected the survival rate of the animals.
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23
Q

Define the water cycle?

A

-The cycle of evaporation and condensation that controls the distribution of the earth’s water as it evaporates from bodies of water, condenses, precipitates, and returns to those bodies of water. Also called hydrologic cycle.

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24
Q

Define the Nitrogen cycle?

A

-The circulation of nitrogen; nitrates from the soil are absorbed by plants which are eaten by animals that die and decay returning the nitrogen back to the soil.The environmental circulation of nitrogen, which passes through the food chain, the soil and the open air environment.

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25
Q

Define the carbon cycle?

A

The circulation of carbon atoms in the biosphere as a result of photosynthetic conversion of carbon dioxide into complex organic compounds by plants, which are consumed by other organisms: the carbon returns to the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is also released in combustion and also from the bacteria that help with decomposition.

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26
Q

Define polluted air?

A

-This contains lots of carbon dioxide, nitrous oxides and CFCs. These greenhouse gasses let heat through from the sun. The warmed earth gives off heat which is radiated back to the earth by the layer of greenhouses.

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27
Q

What are the green house effects?

A

-Earths temp rising Ice caps are melting Sea levels rising Lowland areas face flooding.

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28
Q

Global warming what is happening?

A

-Gradual increase of temperature across the world, Global warming is accelerated by humans.

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29
Q

How does it work?

A

-Refer to global warming presentation.

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30
Q

What are we dong to cause it?

A

-Extra gases are produced from burning fossil fuels through activities that produce carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and ozone CFCs These involve activities such as making energy and products, also cars aircraft.

31
Q

What is CO?

A

-Carbon monoxide. This comes from burning fossil fuels mostly in cars or planes, it can not be smelled.Carbon monoxide is released when engines burn fossil fuels. Emissions are higher when engines are not tuned properly, and when fuel is not completely burned. Incomplete combustion. Cars emit a lot of the carbon monoxide found outdoors. Furnaces and heaters in the home can emit high concentrations of carbon monoxide, too, if they are not properly maintained.Carbon monoxide makes it hard for body parts to get the oxygen they need to run correctly. Exposure to carbon monoxide makes people feel dizzy and tired and gives them headaches. In high concentrations it is fatal. Elderly people with heart disease are hospitalized more often when they are exposed to higher amounts of carbon monoxide.

32
Q

What is SO2?

A

-Sulphur dioxide. A corrosive gas that cannot be seen or smelled at low levels but can have a “rotten egg” smell at high levels.SO2 is a colourless gas. It smells like burnt matches. It can be oxidized to sulphur trioxide, which in the presence of water vapor is readily transformed to sulphuric acid mist. SO2 can be oxidized to form acid aerosols. SO2 is a precursor to sulphates, which are one of the main components of respirable particles in the atmosphere. Sulpher is also given off by exothermic vents.

33
Q

Define eutrophication?

A

-Fertilisers are often used in farming, sometimes these fertilisers run-off into nearby water causing an increase in nutrient levels.This causes phytoplankton to grow and reproduce more rapidly, resulting in algal blooms.This bloom of algae disrupts normal ecosystem functioning and causes many problems.The algae may use up all the oxygen in the water, leaving none for other marine life. This results in the death of many aquatic organisms such as fish, which need the oxygen in the water to live.The bloom of algae may also block sunlight from photosynthetic marine plants under the water surface.Some algae even produce toxins that are harmful to higher forms of life. This can cause problems along the food chain and affect any animal that feeds on them. So this could be a danger to us. Sewage contains nutrient which enable algae to flourish. They take up sunlight and oxygen. Many fish die and other organisms die. Decomposers thrive on there dead bodies; meaning even more oxygen is taken up by microorganisms. This is using up a lot of oxygen and is possibly a main contributing factor of global warming.

34
Q

Cutting down the rain forests effects?

A

-As we all no trees take in co2 and release oxygen through photosynthesis. If we cut down the trees less co2 is being turned back to oxygen and increasing the greenhouse gas level. Unfortunately because of this there is am increasing amount of CO2 in the atmosphere and a decreasing amount of oxygen in the atmosphere.

35
Q

Why is it not all our fault?

A

-Animals release a lot of methaneAgriculture is responsible for an estimated 14 percent of the world’s greenhouse gases. A significant portion of these emissions come from methane, which, in terms of its contribution to global warming, is 23 times more powerful than carbon dioxide.However we are breeding cows because we like eating burgers so that does not helpThey are working of genetically modified cows that release a lot less methane. However we could be to blame because we over breed cows to make burgers.

36
Q

What is going to happen?

A

-The ice caps are melting at an alarming rate and also, Water expands when it’s heated and oceans absorb more heat than land, so sea levels would rise.Sea levels would also rise due to the melting of the glaciers and sea ice.Cities on coasts would flood.Already the sea is being heated dramatically, this has caused many coral reefs and types of sea creatures to die out, possibly even some that we have not discovered yet.

37
Q

What is going to happen to us?

A

-Places that usually get lots of rain and snowfall might get hotter and drier.Lakes and rivers could dry up.There would be more droughts making hard to grow crops.Less water would be available for drinking, showers and swimming pools.Some plants and animals might become extinct because of the heat.There will possibly be more extremes everywhere around the world. So in winter, rainy season there will be more rain and in the summer or the dry season there will be more drought.

38
Q

What can we do to help.

A

-Get the bus, save electric etc..

39
Q

Why do people cut down trees?

A

-The rain forest and forest here is mainly being cut down to provide room for farming and housing. Unfortunately some people do not realize some of the major impacts of chopping down the rain forests (deforestation).

40
Q

Why should we keep the trees?

A

-Obviously some of the main reasons for keeping the trees include, a potential lack of oxygen in the years to come. As we all no, trees photosynthesis and a lack of oxygen could lead to rapid global warming. Wide range of plants can be used as a valuable source of medicine. Scientists are still looking for cures in plants for illnesses that people are fighting at the moment. Examples of this would be Cancer. The trees also provide home to lots of wild life. Humans can learn lots about the animals that may include how to fight infections etc..Anchor the soil to the ground, hold the ground together. They take lots of water out of the ground, so they can help avoid flooding.

41
Q

Define leaching?

A

-Leaching: If heavy rainfall hits the soil minerals such as nitrates are washed out. These are valuable to help plants grow. When these minerals are washed out it is called “being leached out”.

42
Q

Patterns of rainfall?

A

-As temperatures rise and the air becomes warmer, more moisture evaporates from land and water into the atmosphere. More moisture in the air generally means we can expect more rain and snow (called precipitation) and more heavy downpours. But this extra precipitation is not spread evenly around the globe, and some places might actually get less precipitation than they used to get. That’s because climate change causes shifts in air and ocean currents, which can change weather patterns.

43
Q

Human impacts on air pollution?

A

-Burning fossil fuels, this is air pollution that is contributing to global warming.

44
Q

Human impacts of air pollution?

A

-CFC’s from aerosols and fridges are pollutants. This are found in most compressed things in a can. acid rain, fish dying.

45
Q

Define Acid rain?

A

-Acid Rain is produced when the chemicals that are released into the atmosphere dissolve in the water in the clouds. This forms Acid Rain. Ether Sulphuric acid or Nitric Acid. Acid rain can destroy trees as shown in the picture above and can also cause major damage to buildings destroying metal and stonework. Acid rain causes leaching. Minerals are washed away.

46
Q

Acid rain and environment?

A

-Acid Rain causes Poisons from the soils can be washed into the soil such as mercury and lead. These elements are very dangerous and can give people brain damage. These elements are also very dangerous to animals. Fish die when chemicals from power stations are pumped into the rivers.

47
Q

How can we help avoid air pollution?

A

-How can we help to avoid air pollution, this kind of includes the same things we can do to avoid the increase of global warming. ETC.. Re-cycle glass bottles, jars, newspapers and magazines and tin cans.

48
Q

What are nitrogen fixing bacteria?

A

-Nitrogen fixing bacteria can be found in the soil and in the roots of some plants. Some people harbour this to get nitrogen.

49
Q

How is water sewage depleting the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere?

A

-Refer to global warming project, This is because some algae is multiplying and blocking out light for the underwater plant life, therefore stopping photosynthesis.

50
Q

An example of a tropic producer?

A

-leaves

51
Q

An example of a Primary consumer?

A

-worm

52
Q

An example of a Secondary consumer?

A

-moles

53
Q

An example of a tertiary consumer?

A

-owl

54
Q

Tropic levels in order?

A

-producer - primary consumer - secondary consumer - tertiary consumer.

55
Q

An example of a decomposer?

A

-mushrooms

56
Q

What effect would a decrease in the population size of catapillars have on the population size of blue jays?

A

-Decrease

57
Q

Name two molecules that are found in the blood of a deer that the tick could feed from?

A
  • Carbs/ glucose
  • Proteins/ amino acids
  • Water / mineral
58
Q

Suggest how you should maintain the water quality in a pond?

A
  • More oxygen, prevents stagnation, bubbling or add plants.
  • Remove dead fish, waste and faeces and leaves.
  • Prevent eutrophication, don’t fertilise nearby fields, prevent algal growth.
59
Q

How can students control the diseases in there pond?

A

-They can add antibiotics, fungicide , kill bacteria, reduce numbers and don t over crowd. Keep out wild fish.

60
Q

Suggest feeding methods to use in the pond?

A

-Small quantities, frequently, several times a day, high protein, remove waste food, less bacteria growth.

61
Q

Suggest how students could control there predation in the pond?

A

-Separate species, fence, net, scarecrow, shoot predators.

62
Q

Why are there not normally more then five stages in a food chain?

A

Because energy is lost at every trophic level.

63
Q

Describe how you would compare the population size of a plant in two different places. One place is on the side of a hill and the other place is on a piece of flat ground?

A

Divide both areas to grids using a quadrate and a set of random number, to place the quadrate then count the numbers and compare sites.

64
Q

What term describes a balanced community of organisms and habitat in which they live?

A

ecosyestem

65
Q

What is denitrification?

A

nitrates moving into the air.

66
Q

Name a chemical which is made by plants from the nitrates they absorb from the soil.

A

proteins

67
Q

Excretory products containing nitrogen, which is produced by animals.

A

Urea

68
Q

Effects of removing trees on animal life.

A

There less habitat, can’t eat leaves.

69
Q

Why do crops fail after a few years?

A

Lack of minerals and effects of soil erosion

70
Q

Describe the possible consequences of too much Carbon Dioxide in the Air.

A

Global Warming which makes the ice caps melt which then causes a rise in the sea level. There could be a loss of habitat and therefore a loss of food for both humans and animals. This can lead to extinction or effectors of development because of desertification and climate change.

71
Q

Food chain arrows point…?

A

Direction of energy transfer.

72
Q

Two reasons for more energy being converted to plant biomass?

A
  • Less Pests
  • fertile soil
  • GM crops
73
Q

estimate using a quadrat?

A

Repeat
Random
method of finding data e.g. weighing
multiply to the total area.