Y9 Ecosystems & Material Cycles Flashcards
What is a food chain?
A linear sequence showing the energy transfer between different organisms when eaten.
What is a Food web?
A food web shows the energy transfer between many different organisms when eaten and it can have many different paths.
What is mutualism?
It is when two different species of organisms depend on each other to live.
What are parasites?
Parasites take up the resources, such as food, blood, etc. Of other organisms.
What are indicator species?
Indicator species are species that can indicate something, such as pollution levels. This is normally shown by the amount living in a certain area.
What is food security?
It is the state of having reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food.
What happens in the Carbon cycle?
Carbon in the air is used by plants in photosynthesis. Carbon is released back into the air by plants and animals during respiration. Dead plants and animals are used as fossil fuels which when burnt, cause carbon to be released into the atmosphere.
What happens in the nitrogen cycle?
Nitrogen in the air is absorbed by plants. Some of the plants are eaten by animals and the animals take in the nitrogen. Animal waste and dead plants and animals are broken down by decomposers and ammonia is released into the soil. The ammonia is turned into nitrates and the nitrates are absorbed by plants. Denitrifying bacteria also absorb the nitrates and releases them into the air as nitrogen.
What happens in the water cycle?
Water from the sea evaporates and then the water condenses and forms clouds. The tiny rain droplets then form together and become heavier causing them to fall back down to the ground. Some of the water runs of the land and into the sea again. The other drops are absorbed by plants. The plants use up some of the water but through transpiration the water is released and it condenses and forms clouds.
