5.1 - What is an ecosystem?

Question 1

define niche

Answer 1

specific role of an organism in its ecosystem
(both biotic & abiotic interactions)

Question 2

what are 3 types of adaptations?

Answer 2

1. physiological
2. anatomical
3. behavioural

Question 3

What is an ecosystem?

Answer 3

the interaction of the living organisms in a community with the non-living environment

Question 4

What is a community?

Answer 4

the populations of organisms in a habitat or ecosystem

Question 5

What is a habitat?

Answer 5

place with a distinct set of conditions, where an organism lives

Question 6

What is a population?

Answer 6

a group of interbreeding individuals of the same species found in an area

Question 7

Which 2 factors control the distribution of organisms in a habitat?

Answer 7

1. biotic
2. abiotic

Question 8

Which keyword explains why species compete with each other?

Answer 8

they have the same niche

Question 9

Why may the distribution of organisms be affected if 2 species have the same niche?

Answer 9

they will compete, and eventually one species will outcompete the other and exclude that species from the habitat

Question 10

What determines which species live in a habitat?

Answer 10

• Adapted to survive & reproduce there
• Dependent on which species wins the competition (of mates, territory, food etc)

Question 11

What are 3 examples of abiotic factors?

Answer 11

1. oxygen concentration
2. soil factors
3. climate

Question 12

What are 3 examples of biotic factors?

Answer 12

1. competition
2. predation
3. disease

Question 13

What is distribution?

Answer 13

the spread of an organism lives

Question 14

What are anthropogenic factors?

Answer 14

factors caused by human activity

Question 15

What are the 2 pieces of equipment that you need to measure species abundance?

Answer 15

1. transect
2. sampling

Question 16

What must you always remember when using a quadrat?

Answer 16

1. cover total area with quadrats
2. identify all species present in the area
3. count the number of these species

Question 17

How do calculate species cover?

Answer 17

total % cover in all quadrats/ number of quadrats

Question 18

How do you calculate percentage frequency?

Answer 18

(number of quadrats you found species in/total number of quadrats) x 100

Question 19

What is meant by succession?

Answer 19

the progressive change in the composition of diverity of the species in a community in one place over period of time

Question 20

Using a point quadrat, how do you calculate percentage cover?

Answer 20

(number of needles that hit species/total number of needles) x 100

Question 21

What are the 2 types of transect?

Answer 21

1. belt transect
2. interrupted transect

Question 22

What apparatus could use to measure angle of slope?

Answer 22

clinometer

Question 23

What apparatus could use to measure oxygen concentration?

Answer 23

oxygen probes

Question 24

What equipment could be used to measure pH?

Answer 24

universal indicator or pH meter

Question 25

What is are pioneer plants?

Answer 25

the first species to colonise bare ground

Question 26

What is primary succession?

Answer 26

occurs when the starting group is bare with no living things present

Question 27

What is secondary succession?

Answer 27

occurs on bare soil, where an existing community has been cleared

Question 28

What is a climax community?

Answer 28

all the species that in the stable finale ecosystem, after succession has taken place

Question 29

Why is it difficult for species to colonise the sand? (3 reasons)

Answer 29

1. high salt concentration 2. free draining soil 3. soil has low nutrient status

Question 30

What is the start of a sand dune called?

Answer 30

an embyro dune

Question 31

What is the first phase of primary succession called?

Answer 31

colonisation (pioneer phase)

Question 32

What are the two species of plant that live on embryo dunes?

Answer 32

sea holly and sea rocket

Question 33

What are the 2 characteristics that pioneer plants need to survive on embyro dunes?

Answer 33

1. xerophytic 2. halophytic

Question 34

what does xerophytic mean?

Answer 34

dry loving

Question 35

what does halophytic mean?

Answer 35

salt loving

Question 36

What is meant by 'succession'?

Answer 36

the progressive change in the composition & diversity of a community in one habitat over a period of time

Question 37

What is deflected succession?

Answer 37

how the makeup of the climax community depends on the climate & soil conditions

Question 38

What is a plagioclimax community?

Answer 38

type of community reached when interference by humans occurs

Question 39

What happens in the pioneer phase of succession?

Answer 39

- pioneer plants break up rock surface, allowing organic material to build up within the broken rock - this forms soil - the pioneers change the conditions in the habitat to make them suitable for other species

Question 40

What is the role of the pioneer species?

Answer 40

the pioneers change the conditions in the habitat to make them suitable for other species

Question 41

Which species moves into the habitat (embyro dunes) after the pioneer species?

Answer 41

couch grass

Question 42

What is the role of the couch grass in the habitat?

Answer 42

- stabilise the soil & absorb all available water

Question 43

In which 2 ways does the quality of the substrate improve as move back through the dunes?

Answer 43

1. nutrient levels increase 2. water retention improves

Question 44

After the substrate quality improves, why does a skeletal soil form? (3 points)

Answer 44

1. decay of plant material 2. death & decay of animals 3. decay of seaweed

Question 45

What type of dunes comes after embyro dunes?

Answer 45

yellow/building dunes

Question 46

What type of dunes comes after yellow dunes?

Answer 46

fixed/grey dunes

Question 47

What comes after fixed dunes in the succession of sand dunes ?

Answer 47

grassland

Question 48

What comes after grassland in the succession of sand dunes?

Answer 48

scrubs

Question 49

What is the stage of succession reached after scrubs?

Answer 49

climax community

Question 50

What is the main reason that causes secondary succession to occur?

Answer 50

habitat destruction, as the result of natural disasters

Question 51

what is the pioneer species on yellow dune?

Answer 51

marram grass

Question 52

How is marram grass well adapted as a pioneer species?

Answer 52

- blade-shaped leaves which roll inwards in dry conditions stomata are on the inward-rolling surface, so water loss by transpiration is reduced - large roots allows dune developments - shoots develop along it stem, to ensure that it is never covered w sand