Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Biology🍃 > Topic1.7 - Ecology > Flashcards

Topic1.7 - Ecology Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
AP® Biology flashcards Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Biodiversity

A

A measure of the range of different species of organism living in an area

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Community

A

The relationships between all the living species in an area

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Ecosystem

A

The relationship between the living species and their habitat

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Habitat

A

The place where an organism lives and breeds

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Population

A

The number of organisms of a single species in a given habitat

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Ways to sample the environment

A 
Pitfall trap
Quadrat
Pooter 
Sweep net
Belt transect
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Why are coordinates randomly chosen when using a Quadrat?

A

To prevent bias as this would reduce the validity of the results

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What abiotic factors must also be measured to fully understand an ecosystem?

A 
Light intensity (light meter)
Temperature (thermometer)
Wind speed (anemometer)
Water availability (moisture sensor)
pH (pH meter)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

……………… will also affect the numbers of organisms living in an area.

A

Cultivation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

An important aspect of sampling data (biotic or abiotic) is…

A

Reliability. The more sampling points used the more reliable the data.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What can allow an organism to be classified?

A

A key

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Classification allows…

A
  • a better understanding of evolution
  • biodiversity
  • how best to conserve species for future generations
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are the 5 kingdoms of organisms?

A 
Protoctista 
Bacteria
Fungi
Plants
Animals
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Protoctista nutrition, cell wall and cellular organisation

A

Saprophytic or photosynthetic
Cellulose / no cell wall
Single called with nucleus / algae that aren’t truly multicellular

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Bacteria nutrition, cell wall and cellular organisation

A

Saprophytic
Non-cellulose
Single-celled, lacking a nucleus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Fungi nutrition, cell wall and cellular organisation

A

Saprophytic or parasitic
Non-cellulose
Single or multicellular, sometimes difficult to distinguish cells and so are referred to as acellular.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Plants nutrition, cell wall and cellular organisation

A

Photosynthetic
Cellulose
Single or multicellular

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Animals nutrition, cell wall and cellular organisation

A

Heterotrophic
None
Single or multicellular

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What is a species?

A

A species is a group of organisms with similar observable features that can breed to produce fertile offspring.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

………. also create a big problem in classification as they are on the boundary between living and non-living. The reason for this is…

A

Viruses

…. that they need a host cell to reproduce.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

The 7 life processes

A 
Movement
Respiration
Sensitivity 
Growth
Reproduction 
Excretion
Nutrition
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

If birth rate = death rate, this is known as a…

A

Stable population

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Population change equation

A

birth rate + immigration - ( death rate + emigration )

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Birth rate exceeds death rate reasons

A

More food
More resources
Better healthcare
Better hygiene

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Death rate exceeds birth rate reasons

A 
Shortage of food
Shortage of space
Infertility 
Disease
War 
Predators
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

…………. is the primary source of energy. This is bc…

A

The Sun

…plants are able to absorb light energy from the sun and convert it into chemical energy in the form of food.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Plants are referred to as ……..

A

Producers - they make their own food during photosynthesis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

All other living things rely on plants for food. They consume the food in the plants or the animals that have previously eaten the plants, they’re called …

A

Consumers

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

The primary consumer is often a …

A

Herbivore (only eat from plant sources)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

The secondary or tertiary consumers may be … or …

A

Carnivores (only eat from animal sources) or omnivores (eat from both plant and animal sources)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

Each stage in a food chain is called a…

A

Trophic level (or feeding level)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

The arrows in a food chain represent…

A

The flow of energy between trophic levels

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

Energy is lost at each trophic level through…

A

Respiration eg movement and waste materials i.e. excretion can egestion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

The energy which is “lost” from each trophic level goes into the atmosphere and gradually…

A

Heats it up

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

Why would it make more sense for man to have as short a food chain as possible?

A

Less energy is lost, more energy available to humans.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

Why in countries prone to famine is it better to grow crops rather than try to raise livestock?

A

A shorter food chain therefore more energy for humans to stay alive.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

Pyramids of number definition

A

Convey the number of organisms involved at each trophic level

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

What causes an inverted pyramid?

A

It’s possible to have many organisms feeding off one much larger one.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

What is a pyramid of biomass?

A

Indicated how much matter is contained in each trophic level - won’t give you an inverted pyramid.

40
Q

Food webs show…

A

That organisms feed on a variety of things

41
Q

What are decomposers?

A

i.e. fungi (mushrooms and toadstools) and bacteria

They digest dead material from food chains using enzymes.

Some of the products are used by the decomposers for growth etc.

42
Q

By digesting dead material, decomposers…

A

Are making nutrients available to the food chains again
E.g. Some bacteria that break down protein in plants and animals into nitrates that can be absorbed by the roots of plants.

43
Q

What is biomass?

A

The amount of matter contained at each trophic level

44
Q

What is the only thing that removes CO2 from the atmosphere?

A

Photosynthesis as plants use it to make fats, carbohydrates and proteins

45
Q

What puts CO2 back into the atmosphere?

A

Respiration from both plants and animals.

46
Q

Carbon from dead plants and animals can end up as…

A

Fossil fuels - when this is burned/combusted it releases carbon.

47
Q

Some dead plants and animals could be…

A

Fossilised
Decomposed by microorganisms
Turned into natural fertilisers by humans

48
Q

Learn the carbon cycle

A

Learn the carbon cycle

49
Q

Reasons why CO2 levels are rising in the atmosphere :

A

Burning a lot of fossil fuels

Deforestation

50
Q

There’s a trend between the increased levels of CO2 and…

A

The increase in global temperature (global warming)

51
Q

CO2 is one of the “greenhouse gases” thought to contribute to the greenhouse effect. What is the greenhouse effect?

A

This is where the radiation from the sun is trapped by the blanket of gases in the atmosphere instead of escaping back into space - leading to an increase in global temperature.

52
Q

Effects of global warming

A

Climate change - more weather extremes like droughts and severe storms
Polar ice caps melt
Increased flooding
More land to become desert

53
Q

Ways to reduce CO2

A

Plant more trees
Reduce deforestation
Burn less fossil fuels by using alternative fuels and/or becoming more energy efficient

54
Q

Learn the nitrogen cycle

A

Learn the nitrogen cycle

55
Q

All living things need nitrogen to make…

A

Protein for growth

56
Q

Most plants cannot use the nitrogen in the air as it is …

A

Insoluble. Nitrates are soluble and enter the roots dissolved in water.

57
Q

Decay…

A

Feed on dead material and release ammonia

58
Q

Nitrifying bacteria…

A

Convert ammonia to nitrates

59
Q

Denitrifying bacteria…

A

Convert nitrates to nitrogen gas

60
Q

Nitrogen fixing bacteria…

A

Convert nitrogen gas to nitrates

61
Q

Learn root hair cell diagram

A

Learn root hair cell diagram

62
Q

Why is the root hair cell shaped the way it is?

A

Greatly increases surface area of the cell, improving the rate of water and mineral absorption

63
Q

The process of absorbing minerals from the soil relies on …

A

Active uptake. This moves substances against the concentration gradient i.e. low -> high concentration

64
Q

Active uptake requires…

A

Energy from respiration (another reason why roots must have a sufficient supply of oxygen and glucose)

65
Q

Nitrate - importance to plant growth and development

A

Needed to make amino acids - the building blocks of proteins

66
Q

Calcium - importance to plant growth and development

A

A component of cell walls

67
Q

Magnesium - importance to plant growth and development

A

A component of the chlorophyll molecules

68
Q

Nitrate - outcome of deficiency in plants

A

Stunted growth

69
Q

Calcium - outcome of deficiency in plants

A

No growth at all - new cells cannot form

70
Q

Magnesium - outcome of deficiency in plants

A

Leaves appear yellowed

71
Q

Why must crops have a good supply of minerals?

A

If maximum growth, and therefore profit, is to be achieved

72
Q

Natural fertilisers

A

Compost
Manure
Slurry

73
Q

Natural fertiliser advantages

A

Less soluble than artificial fertilisers so less will be lost by leaching and run-off into waterways.

Improves soil quality by adding to the humus content of the soil.

74
Q

Natural fertiliser disadvantages

A

Difficult to store and spread

Difficult to know the mineral composition exactly

75
Q

Artificial fertiliser advantages

A

Easier to store

Can be applied in a more controlled manner

76
Q

Artificial fertiliser disadvantages

A

Soluble so can be easily washed away creating pollution problems.

Has to be purchased.

77
Q

What is slurry?

A

Faeces and urine from farm animals (usually cattle)

78
Q

What is compost?

A

Food waste e.g. veg peelings

79
Q

What is manure?

A

Animal faeces

80
Q

Process of eutrophication

A

1- Fertiliser runs into water following heavy rain.

2- Leads to increased rate of growth in water plants e.g. algae.

3- Algae forms a blanket layer, preventing light from reaching plants beneath.

4- The plants beneath die.

5- The decomposition of the dead plants uses up oxygen.

6- Therefore, fish and other animals cannot survive in water w/o oxygen.

81
Q

Other water pollutants

A

Household sewage

82
Q

Ways to reduce eutrophication

A

Don’t apply near stream or ditch

Rely more on natural fertilisers

Use in dry weather

83
Q

Why is slow moving water more likely to become polluted?

A

Minerals become more concentrated in slow moving water.

84
Q

The combustion of fossil fuels releases….

A

Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides

They dissolve in water vapour, making it acidic (sulfuric and nitric acid)

85
Q

Why does the acid rain fall hundreds of miles away from where it is produced?

A

Prevailing winds carry the clouds

86
Q

Detrimental effects of acid rain

A

Causes soil to become more acidic and this means trees are no longer living in good conditions - the leaves will fall off the trees (defoliation)

Causes lakes and rivers to become more acidic - poisons fish

Corrosion of stonework on buildings

87
Q

Strategies to reduce/overcome effects of acid rain

A

Use filters in power stations and factories that trap harmful gases like sulfur dioxide

Other sources of generating electricity, such as wind, water, solar, and even nuclear power, may be better long-term solutions than fossil fuels

Neutralise acid in lakes and replace trees

88
Q

What can be measured to assess the rate of global warming?

A

CO2 levels in air

Sea levels

Ice density

89
Q

Where do lichens grow?

A

Simple plants that often grow on the roof tiles of houses and also on the bark of trees

90
Q

How are lichens useful when monitoring air pollution levels?

A

Most lichens will not grow where there are high levels of air pollution. They’re relatively rare in industrial towns and cities but become quite abundant in many rural areas.

91
Q

How are bloodworms useful when monitoring water pollution levels?

A

Bloodworms are particularly common in polluted water. They are a good indicator of eutrophication as they are particularly abundant in water with low oxygen levels

92
Q

What is an indicator species?

A

A species whose numbers indicate the level of pollution

93
Q

How can governments play a role in reducing carbon emissions ?

A

Legislation e.g. decisions on energy sources, limits on CO2 emissions from vehicles, regulations on house insulation, grants for installing solar heating.

Education and advertising

94
Q

How can governments play a role in increasing renewable energy?

A

Key planning decisions on nuclear power stations and wind farms

Providing grant aid for household solar power

Fund research

95
Q

How can governments play a role in reducing agricultural pollution?

A

Ensure regulation to limit fertiliser application and maintain river quality

Encourage sustainable development by providing financial and other support for projects.

96
Q

Kyoto protocol

A

A summit that produced a widespread agreement on approaches to reduce the problems associated with climate change.

  • shouldn’t be preventing other countries from…
  • reducing CO2 emissions

Biology🍃 (9 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions