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Biology > Year 11 Term 1 > Flashcards

Year 11 Term 1 Flashcards

1
Q

What happens to living organisms in the environment

A

They remove materials for growth and other processes these materials are passed along a food chain as one organism feeds on another all materials removed from environment are eventually returned and recycled providing building blocks for future organisms

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2
Q

Carbon cycle info

A

Plants and algae remove CO2 from air for photosynthesis carbon is incorporated into compounds (carbohydrates, fats, proteins) that make up plants and algae some CO2 returned to air when plants respire when plants eaten, these carbon compounds are then in their body and so on when animals respire CO2 released

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3
Q

Decomposition

A

Microorganisms and detritus feeders break down dead organisms in ecosystems, recycling materials which is vital in an ecosystem

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4
Q

Water cycle

A

Changes to water when it evaporates into the air. condenses into clouds and then precipitates down to earth

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5
Q

Evaporation

A

When water changes from a liquid to a gas when heated

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6
Q

Transpiration

A

Passage of water vapour from plant to atmosphere

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7
Q

Condensation

A

Cooling of water changing from gas to liquid

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8
Q

Precipitation

A

Water droplets fall from atmosphere in form of rain, snow, sleet or hail

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9
Q

Percolation

A

Water trickles through gaps in soils and rocks

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10
Q

Run off

A

Rainfall that isn’t absorbed by soil and travels to the ocean

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11
Q

Why is the water cycle so important

A

responsible for distributing water across the earth vital for sustaining life on earth by providing water to plants, animals and humans

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12
Q

Why is water important

A

Solvent, transpiration stream, osmosis, expands on freezing, metabolic functions, lubricant, support, thermoregulation

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13
Q

How does decomposition work

A

Detrius feeders/detritivores start process of deacy by breaking plant tissue into smaller pieces, increasing SA for action of decomposers which are bacteria and fungi that make things rot by releasing enzymes onto the dead animal or plant, breaking them down into soluble ones that can be absorbed by decomposers

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14
Q

What factors affect the rate of decay

A

Temperature

Availability of water

Availibility of oxygen

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15
Q

Recycling kitchen or garden waste

A

Compost heap and put grass cuttings, weeds and vegetable peelings etc.

bacteria and fungi break down the material giving off CO2

once broken down, material used as fertiliser can take about a year to make

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16
Q

How do farmers/gardeners try to provide optimum conditions for rapid deacy

A

Warmth

Moisture

Oxygen

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17
Q

How does putting a plastic sheet over the compost waste, with tyres holding it down increase the rate of decay

A

Holes in plastic, allowing organisms to respire

Not too hot so enzymes don’t denature

cover holds in moisture but may need to water occasionally if dry

Warmth generated by respiring organisms

Aerated by pitch fork

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18
Q

Examples of where decay of microorganisms is useful

A

Compost heap

gardeners putting horse manure on roses etc.

farmers decomposing animal waste

in sewage works

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19
Q

What are biogas generators

A

Flammable mixture of gases formed when bacteria break down waste material

mainly methane but varies depending on type of bacteria and waste used

bacteria work best at 30*C exothermic reaction

variety of bacteria used

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20
Q

What goes into the biogas generator

A

Animal/human dung

farm waste

garden rubbish e.g faeces/urine of cows and sheep

21
Q

What comes ot of a biogas generator

A

Methane for cooking, heating and refridgeration

Slurry, which can be used as fertiliser

Used in developing countries as electricity as well

22
Q

Scaling up of biogas generators

A

Many countries experimenting using on larger scale

waste from sugar factories, sewage farms + rubbish tips can be used to make biogas

23
Q

Pro’s of floating drum biogas generator

A

Easy construction

Easy to operate

Steady gas pressure produced

Reliable, well tried technology

24
Q

Con’s of floating drum biogas generator

A

Metal holder expensive

Metal holder may rust

25
Q

Pro’s of fixed dome biogas generator

A

Intitial cost low

Long useful life-no moving or rusting parts involved

well insulated

26
Q

Con’s of fixed dome biogas generator

A

Sealing of the gas holder is not always tight

Gas pressure fluctuates

27
Q

What is water pollution caused by

A

Fertilisers

Toxic chemicals- kill animals and plants if they drink the water , reducing biodiversity

Sewage- causes increase in bacteria in water which remove O2 from water when respiring so kill fish

28
Q

What is air pollution caused by and what problems does it cause

A

When fossil fuels burned, acidic gases + smoke released

can cause breathing problems and lead to acid rain, damaging the environment

leads to death of animals and plants

29
Q

How is smog formed

A

Smoke and chemicals e.g Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen add together forming smog

Forms haze of small particles and acidic gases that can be seen in air over major cities

30
Q

Exponential drowth of human population is due to:

A

Lack of predators

Advances in medicine

Increased efficiency of food production

Modern farming methods which increase productivity

31
Q

How do human reduce the amount of land for animals and plants

A

Building

Farming

Quarrying

Dumping waste

32
Q

How is the land polluted

A

Landfill or toxic chemicals from houshold/indutry waste

Pesticides and herbicides used in farming may be washed from land by rain into streams etc.

these all have an effect on biodiversity

33
Q

What’s the problem with pollution of the land

A

May kill insects e.g predators of the pest leading to pest resurgence

May kill food plants reducing wild flower biodiversity

May cause long term damage, accumulating along the food chain

pests could develop resistance through genetic mutation

34
Q

What is bioaccumulation

A

Occurs when toxic chemicals are taken up by producers and get passed along the food chain to the primary consumers to secondary and so on.

at each stage, toxin accumulates in larger amounts as organisms consume large numbers of the organism below them in the food chain.

Normally most harmful to top carnivores and can cause their death

35
Q

Why do countries with strict controls over sulfur dioxide levels still suffer from acid rain

A

Because of prevailling winds from other countries blow the sulfur over causing the acid rain

36
Q

What are the effects of acid rain

A

Makes water acidic and increases the amount of water which enters lakes from the soil

Damages forests and leaves directly

leaches essential mineral ions out of the soil and releases toxic aluminium ions into soil

37
Q

What is biodiversity

A

The variety of all different organisms on earth, or within an ecosytem

38
Q

What does high biodiversity help us to ensure

A

Ensures stability of ecosytems as reduces dependency of of one species on another for food, shelter and the maintenance of the physical environment

39
Q

How are humans affecting biodiversity

A

Increased human population means more waste causing polltuion of water, land etc. this can kill plants and animals, reducing biodiversity

40
Q

Global warming and rising sea levels

A

Leads to flooding resulting in loss of habitat in low-lying places. higher temps makes ice melt so water currently ‘trapped’ on land e.g. glaciers and poles, runs into the sea rising level even more.

As sea gets warmer, it expands causing sea level rise

41
Q

Global warming and changes in the distribution of organisms

A

Species become more widely distributed e.g species needing warmer climates spread further as warmer temps are now spread over a wider area.

species needing colder temps become less widely distributed as conditions they thrive in exist over a smaller area

42
Q

Global warming and changes to migration patterns

A

Lots of birds migrates. studies shown birds living in Africa in winter have started to migrate back to Europe in summer earlier than before due to temp change as their food source appears earlier

43
Q

Global warming and less biodiversity

A

Some species may be unnable to adapt to a change in climate. may not survive and species will beome extinct

44
Q

Why is deforestation happening

A

To clear land for farming (e.g cattle or rice crops) to provide more food/ paper industry

To grow crops from which biofuels could be produced

Quarrying and dumping waste

45
Q

Problems caused by deforestation

A

Less biodiversity as fewer habitats

More CO2 released into atmosphere from burning

less CO2 locked up in trees and amount of CO2 removed from atmosphere is reduced as trees lock up some of the carbon they absorb during photosynthesis in their wood.

46
Q

What are peat bogs

A

Areas of acidic and water-logged land where there’s a lack of decay and not enough oxygen.

partly rotten plants build up to form brown soil like material- peat

They act as carbon sinks and are often drained and used as farmland, fuel or sold to gardeners as compost

Peat is being used quicker than its formed

47
Q

What are the problems of peat bogs

A

Draining peat means more air so more decomposition, the microbes release CO2

CO2 also released when peat is burned

Destroying the bogs reduces natural habitats so biodiversity

48
Q

Examples of maintaining biodiversity

A

Breeding programmes and protecting rare habitats

Field margins and hedge-rows where farmers can only grow one type of crop

Reduction of deforestation and CO2 emissions by government

recycling resources rather than dumping waste in landfill

49
Q

Conflicting pressures on how biodiversoty is maintained

A

Costs money- e.g. hedgerows costs to put in place and need to be checked

Cost to livelihoods- e.g. reducing deforestation means people left out of work effecting economy

Conflict when protecting food security- e.g. farmers need to kill pests to protect crops

Development- e.g. houses need to be built and hugh demand for land usage

Biology (16 decks)

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