4. Ecology and the Environment Flashcards
(26 cards)
What factors affect population size/distribution?
Abiotic (non-living, e.g., temperature) and biotic (living, e.g., predators) factors.
What are trophic levels?
Producers: make their own food (plants)
Primary consumers: eat producers
Secondary consumers: eat primary consumers
Tertiary consumers: eat secondary consumers
Decomposers: break down dead material.
What is a food chain?
Sequence of organisms where each is eaten by the next.
What is a food web?
Network of interlinked food chains.
What are pyramids of number, biomass, and energy?
Diagrams showing number, mass, or energy at each trophic level.
Why is only about 10% of energy transferred between trophic levels?
Most energy is lost as heat, waste, or used in respiration.
What are the stages in the carbon cycle?
Photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, combustion.
Biological consequences of air pollution by sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide?
Acid rain (sulfur dioxide), reduced oxygen transport (carbon monoxide).
What are greenhouse gases?
Water vapour, CO₂, nitrous oxide, methane, CFCs.
How do human activities contribute to greenhouse gases?
Burning fossil fuels, agriculture, deforestation.
What is the enhanced greenhouse effect?
Increased greenhouse gases trap more heat, causing global warming.
Biological consequences of water pollution by sewage?
Decreases oxygen in water, kills aquatic life.
What is eutrophication?
Excess nutrients cause algal blooms, deplete oxygen, harm aquatic organisms.
Surface area to volume ratio, distance, temperature, concentration gradient.
What factors affect the rate of movement of substances?
The process by which plants convert light energy to chemical energy.
What is photosynthesis?
Carbon dioxide + water → glucose + oxygen.
Word equation for photosynthesis?
6CO₂ + 6H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂.
Symbol equation for photosynthesis?
Carbon dioxide concentration, light intensity, temperature.
What factors affect photosynthesis rate?
Glucose → lactic acid (+ energy).
Word equation for anaerobic respiration (animals)?
Glucose → ethanol + carbon dioxide (+ energy).
Word equation for anaerobic respiration (plants/yeast)?
Ribs, intercostal muscles, diaphragm, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli, pleural membranes.
Key structures of the thorax?
They contract and relax to ventilate the lungs.
Role of intercostal muscles and diaphragm?
Large surface area, thin walls, moist, rich capillary supply.
How are alveoli adapted for gas exchange?
Lung damage, increased risk of coronary heart disease.
Consequences of smoking?
