Topic K (Ecology) Flashcards

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1
Q

What is ecology?

A

The study of organisms and their relationship with each other and the environment

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2
Q

What % energy is passed onto the next trophic level?

A

10%

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3
Q

How is energy lost?(5)

A

1) Uneaten parts
2) Undigested parts
3) Heat produced in respiration
4) Movement
5) Waste products/ Egestion

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4
Q

Predator

A

Something that eats prey

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5
Q

Population

A

A collection of the same species

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6
Q

Producer

A

Something, which produces its own food

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7
Q

Quadrat

A

A square object usually used to sample plant

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8
Q

Consumer

A

Cannot produce its own food and eats other species (plant or animal)

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9
Q

Ecosystem

A

This is made up of all the living organisms and the conditions in which they live

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10
Q

Habitat

A

Where something lives

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11
Q

Trophic level

A

A common feeding stage in a food chain

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12
Q

Biological control

A

When we use one species to control an infestation of another species

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13
Q

Carbon cycle

A

Describes the movement of carbon in an ecosystem

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14
Q

Competition

A

When organism fight for resources we say they are in competition with each other

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15
Q

Food chain

A

Relates what eats what in a lineal fashion

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16
Q

Egestion

A

Removal of faeces

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17
Q

Excretion

A

Removal of waste products of metabolism

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18
Q

Metabolism

A

The chemical reactions that occur in cells

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19
Q

Who are primary consumers?

A

Animals who eat the producers

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20
Q

What is dry mass?

A

Dry mass is everything in the plant or animal except water

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21
Q

Why is biomass called this way?

A

It is made by living organisms

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22
Q

Why is dry mass contain?

A

It is mostly carbohydrates, proteins and fats

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23
Q

What % of cow’s food is lost as heat in respiration?

A

33%

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24
Q

What % of cow’s food is energy lost in waste?

A

63%

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25
Q

What % of cow’s food is used for growth?

A

4%

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26
Q

How does energy enter the food chain?

A

Through the sun or light energy

27
Q

How would humans benefit if we were all vegetarians?

A

More energy would be available for us. Same area would be able to produce food for more people

28
Q

Decay and decomposition

A

The process of recycling the nutrients

29
Q

List the two types organisms that decompose food?

A

Detritivores and Decomposers

30
Q

Describe how Detritivores eat,digest and what happens to the nutrients

A

EAT: Dead material
DIGEST: Internally
NUTRIENTS: Returned to the soil

31
Q

Describe how Decomposers eat,digest and what happens to the nutrients

A

EAT: Secrete enzymes onto dead matter
DIGEST: Externally
NUTRIENTS: Absorb nutrients over surface

32
Q

Give an example of a Detritivore (2)

A

Earthworms, maggots

33
Q

Give an example of a Decomposer (2)

A

Bacteria, fungi

34
Q

Under what conditions will the process of decay occur faster? (3)

A

Warm, moist, oxygen-rich environment

35
Q

What type of nutrition do decomposers have?

A

Saprotrophic

36
Q

How often can bacteria reproduce in ideal conditions?

A

Reproduce in 2 every 20 minutes

37
Q

What are the three types of bacteria?

A

1) Cocci (Spheres)
2) Bacilli (Rods)
3) Spirilli (Spirals)

38
Q

What are the three types of nutrition

A

1) Autotrophic
2) Heterotrophic
3) Saprotrophic

39
Q

Autotrophs

A

Organisms that synthesise their own food

40
Q

Heterotrophs

A

Organisms that eat other organisms

41
Q

Saprotrophs

A

Digest and absorb dead material externally

42
Q

Example of an Autotroph

A

Green plant

43
Q

Example of a Heterotroph

A

Herbivores, carnivores

44
Q

Example of a Saprotroph

A

Decomposers

45
Q

What three biological substances contain carbon?

A

1) Proteins
2) Fats
3) Sugars

46
Q

In what format carbon is present in the atmosphere?

A

CO2

47
Q

What is the only way carbon leaves the atmosphere?

A

Plant in photosynthesis

48
Q

How CO2 enter the atmosphere (4)

A

1) Respiration of plants
2) Respiration of animals
3) Respiration of decomposers
4) Combustion of fossil fuels

49
Q

How does carbon from the plant gets into the animals?

A

By feeding

50
Q

How does sulfur dioxide appear in the atmosphere?

A

From burning the fossil fuels with impurities

51
Q

How is sulfur dioxide converted into acid rain?

A

It mixes with water in the clouds

52
Q

What are the main causes of acid rain? (2)

A

1) Power stations 2) Internal combustion engines

53
Q

What does acid rain damage? (2)

A

Trees, lakes

54
Q

Eutrophication

A

The enrichment of a water body with nutrients, usually with an excess amount of nutrients.

55
Q

Explain how eutrophication happens

A

1) Fertiliser is sprayed 2) Rain 3) Leaching of mineral ions including nitrates 4) Algae appear on the water’s surface 5) Bacteria respire using O2 6) Dead fish

56
Q

What are the four main affects of deforestation?

A

1) Leaching 2) Soil erosion 3) Water cycle 4) balance of CO2 and O2

57
Q

What is leaching?

A

Nutrients being washed away by water

58
Q

Why is leaching bad?

A

Infertile soil is left behind as trees do not take them up

59
Q

What is soil erosion?

A

Soil being washed away, as there are no roots to hold it

60
Q

Why is soil erosion bad?

A

Leaves infertile soil

61
Q

How does deforestation disturb the water cycle? (2)

A

1) Trees stop water reaching rivers too quickly 2) Make local climates drier

62
Q

What can deforestation lead to?

A

Flooding

63
Q

How does deforestation disturb the balance of CO2 and O2? (2)

A

Trees convert CO2 in O2. Carbon is stored in them. When they are turned the carbon is released into the atmosphere, which causes global warming