4. Ecology And The Environment Flashcards by cara Koutzaroff-Richards

What is the Definition of POPULATION!?

. The total number of individuals of one species in a particular habitat at a particular time

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What is the definition of BIODIVERSITY!?

. The measure of how many DIFFERENT SPECIES live in an ecosystem

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What is the definition of a HABITAT!?

. A place where a specific organism lives

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what is the definition of a COMMUNITY !?

. Is formed of the populations of all the species present in an ecosystem at a particular time

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What is the definition of and ECOSYSTEM!?

. An easily described system or area where organisms interact with their physical environment

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Practical: Investigating population size of an organism in two different areas

. Pick two contrasting areas and set up a grid in each. Use RANDOM SAMPLING to take repeated measurements with a QUADRAT and compare the average results

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Practical: Investigating the distribution of organisms in their habitats and measure biodiversity

Calculate the area of the habitat
Lay out two tape measures at right angles- generate random numbers
Measure the number of individuals in one quadrat and repeat many times to make sure our result is reliable (at least 10 times)
Calculate the average number of individuals in one quadrat
Calculate how many quadrats fit into the total area

6.multiply up

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What are the ABIOTIC factors!?

. Non-living factors:
-temperature
-carbon dioxide concentration
-oxygen concentration
-minerals in the soil
-light intensity

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What are the BIOTIC factors!?

. Living factors:
-humans
-plants
-animals
-fungi
-microorganisms

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Pyramids of number:

These are drawn to show the number of each organism counted in the ecosystem. They can be odd shaped due to different masses

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Pyramids of biomass:

Total mass if the organisms in each trophic level, more accurate

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Why does only 10% of energy get transferred from one trophic level to another !?

. Energy lost
- via evaporation
-movement, heat loss, egestion of waste

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Pyramids of energy:

. Drawn to show the total energy available in each tropic level per square meter

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Label:

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How might sewage enter water supplies !?

. Leaking pipes
. Run off from farm land

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What is sewage made up of !?

. Sewage is undigested food material
(contains carbs, proteins, nucleic acids and fats)

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What are the biological consequences of sewage to the water supplies !?

. Provide a good source of food for bacteria
(Bacteria therefore multiply rapidly
. The large population of bacteria respire, using up oxygen in the water
. Decreasing the level of oxygen, meaning death of other organisms

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Why do other organisms die when there is an increase in the population of bacteria in water (sewage) !?

. As they cannot respire aerobically

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Are nitrates and phosphates soluble in water ?!

. Very soluble in water (fertilizer)

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What is the definition of leaching !?

When a lot of fertiliser is present on farmland surrounding a river, it is washed out of the soil when it rains into the river

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When plants photosynthesise carbon atoms from carbon dioxide become part of glucose molecules in the plant. what happens to the carbon in this glucose?
(respiration)

Some of the glucose will be broken down by the plant in respiration. The carbon in the glucose becomes part of the carbon dioxide molecule again, and is released back into the air

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What is glucose stored as in plants !?

Glucose is stored as starch

When plants photosynthesise carbon atoms from carbon dioxide become part of glucose molecules in the plant. what happens to the carbon in this glucose?
(eating)

Some of the carbon compounds in the plant will be eaten by animals, the animals respire, releasing some of it back into the air as carbon dioxide

When plants **photosynthesise** carbon atoms from carbon dioxide become part of glucose molecules in the plant. what happens to the carbon in this glucose? (*decomposers*)

When the plant or animal dies, **decomposers** (bacteria and fungi) will feed on them. Carbon becomes part of the decomposers’ bodies, and when they respire they release the carbon dioxide into the air again.

How do **fossils** form !?

Fossilisation occurs when living things **do not decay fully** when they die due to the conditions in the soil. fossil fuels and then formed over millions of years by process called **locking in** these include coal, oil, and natural gas

When plants **photosynthesise** carbon atoms from carbon dioxide become part of glucose molecules in the plant. what happens to the carbon in this glucose? (*fossils*)

When fossil fuels are **burnt (combustion)** carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere

Label:

What is **acid rain**!?

Acid rain is rain with pollutants dissolved in it. This low pH can have a very negative impact on the environment

What three **gases** released into the atmosphere from cars and factories react with atmospheric water vapour to produce **dilute acids**?

**Sulphur dioxide** Nitrogen monoxide Nitrogen dioxide

What effect does the **dilute acid** have on the environment?

It can dissolve limestone, buildings and statues The rain when it falls, can decrease the pH of rivers and lakes. The acid rain can also kill trees and other plants It can increase dissolution of some metal ions in the soil.

What effect does **decreasing the pH** of the rivers and lakes due to **dilute acid** have?

This can have a catastrophic effect on the **enzymes** of the organisms in the rivers and lakes, resulting in the death of fish and other animals

What impact does **the Increase of dissolution of some metal ions** in the soil due to **dilute acid** have on the environment?

The increase of dissolution of some metal ions in the soil, including aluminium, can run-off into rivers and lakes, where they poison fish

How does an **increase in human population** affect **rate of pollution**!?

**Increasing human population** has led to an increase in pollution

Why has **pollution increased** regarding an increase in human population?

. More **fossil fuels are being burnt** to heat and power. . More movement, and use of **transport** . Higher levels of **industry** for houses and goods

How is **carbon monoxide** formed?

When substances containing carbon are burned in a **limited supply of oxygen** carbon monoxide is formed

Why is **carbon monoxide** *dangerous pollutant* !?

As it binds more strongly with **haemoglobin** than oxygen

What would happen if a person inhales **carbon monoxide** for a period of time !?

if a person inhaled carbon monoxide for a period of time, more and more haemoglobin becomes bound to CO, and not O2, and this person will lose consciousness, and eventually die due to **anaerobic respiration**

Why do farmers add **fertilisers** to the soil?

Farmers adverse rises to the soil to **increase the yield** of their crops

What do **fertilisers** usually contain !?

Fertilisers usually contain **nitrates** and **phosphates**

Are **fertilisers** *soluble* or *insoluble*?

Fertilisers are very **soluble** in water

What is **leaching** !?

When a lot of fertiliser is present on farmland surrounding a river, it is **washed out** of the soil when it rains into the river. This is called **leaching**

What are the effects of **leached nitrates** !? (***EUTROPHICATION***)

How might **sewage** enter water supplies !?

This could be due to leaking pipes or run-off from farmland

What is **sewage** !?

Sewage is **undigested food material**- it contains lots of biological molecules including *carbohydrates, proteins and nucleic acids and fats*

How Is **sewage** beneficial for **bacteria**!?

Sewage provides a good source of **food for bacteria** The bacteria, therefore **multiply rapidly**

How does the **rapid multiplication of bacteria** due to an increase of **sewage** effect other organisms!?

The large population of bacteria respire, increasing the **B.O.D using up oxygen** in the water This **decreases the level of oxygen** and results in **death** of other organisms in the water, -e.g. **fish** (*they**cannot respire aerobically***)

What is the *difference* between **pollution of water by sewage** and **eutrophication**?

They are different as pollution of water by sewage does not involve algal bloom

Which gases cause the **greenhouse effect** !?

. Water vapour . Carbon dioxide . Nitrous oxide . Methane . And CFCs

How does **human activity** produce **CO2**?

Burning fossil fuels Slash and burn forest clearance

How does **human activity** produce **methane**?

cattle produce large volumes of methane from the anaerobic activity of the bacteria in the gut Bacteria in waterlogged paddyfields for rice cultivation give off methane

How is **methane** generated!?

Methane is generated by bacteria in **anaerobic** conditions

How does **human activity** produce **nitrous oxides**?

Burning fossil fuels

How does **human activity** produce **CFCs**?

They were used as a solvent for **aerosols**, such as deodorants. They were also used in fridges and freezers.

What were **CFCs** also blamed for, (*bar the greenhouse effect*) ?

CFCs were also blamed for the hole in the **ozone layer**

What is the **extra greenhouse effect** caused by **human activity** called !?

**Enhanced greenhouse affect**