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Biology > A local ecosystem > Flashcards

A local ecosystem Flashcards

1
Q

what is abiotic and biotic, give examples:

A
  • biotic: living organisms
    plants, animals, fungi, algae
  • abiotic: non-living
    soil, rock, temperature, wind
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2
Q

methods to test:temperature

A

thermometer, soil and air temp

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3
Q

methods to test: aspect

A

clinometer, nesting, roots

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4
Q

methods to test: humidity

A

hygrometer, transpiration

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5
Q

methods to test:wind speed

A

anemometer, plant growth

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6
Q

methods to test: light availability

A

light (lux) meter: photosynthesis

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7
Q

methods to test: soil salinity

A

silver nitrate (drop onto soil sample, see if any white colour forms: meaning salt is present), water/mineral uptake

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8
Q

methods to test: soil pH

A

universal indicator (sprinkle barium sulphate then few drops of indicator, read the graph), growth restrictions

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9
Q

Compare/contrast- terrestrial and aquatic environment: buoyancy

A

terrestrial:
- little, from air

aquatic:

  • higher
  • no gravity/less dense
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10
Q

Compare/contrast- terrestrial and aquatic environment: temperature variation

A

terrestrial:

  • large variation,
  • based on sunlight (abiotic)

aquatic:

  • stable, doesn’t absorb heat as fast
  • poor heat conductor
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11
Q

Compare/contrast- terrestrial and aquatic environment: light penetration

A

terrestrial:

  • easy through the atmosphere
  • better, absorbs it better on some surfaces

aquatic:

  • 100m+ is black
  • poor, only surface is good
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12
Q

Compare/contrast- terrestrial and aquatic environment: strength of natural forces

A

terrestrial:
- have potential to be more damaging

aquatic:

  • more stable
  • tornado, volcano, tidal wave
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13
Q

distribution meaning

A

where a species can be found, a range

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14
Q

abundance meaning

A

how many individuals are there are at a specific time and area

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15
Q

sedentary meaning

A

doesn’t move, corals

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16
Q

community meaning

A

lots of different species

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17
Q

environment meaning

A

organisms surroundings, both abiotic and biotic

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18
Q

ecosystem meaning

A

an environment which has living organisms interacting as well as with abiotic features

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19
Q

how to measure quadrats and purpose

A

lay down random sampling squares, record findings

  • a sample of a community
  • overall view
  • series population density: counting individuals
  • percentage cover: where species occupy space
  • frequency occurrence of species
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20
Q

how to measure transect and purpose

A

line of string/tape, record on the line

  • useful for the transition of species as environmental conditions change
  • investigate gradients eg. zonations
21
Q

what does quadrats and transects measure:

A

quadrats:
ABUNDANCE

transect:
DISTRIBUTION

22
Q

general equation for aerobic cellular respiration

A

glucose + oxygen –> carbon dioxide + water + ATP

23
Q

role of respiration in ecosystem

A

changes glucose to create ATP, useable/chemical energy:

  • growth and repair
  • movement
  • keep organs working
  • chemical reactions
  • movement of substances in organisms
  • synthesis of compounds
24
Q

role of photosynthesis in ecosystem

A
  • energy needed for all life processes

- changes light energy from the sun into glucose

25
Q

detail of respiration cycle:

A

Stage 1: Glycosis
- produces ATP in cell cytoplasm

Stage 2: Krebs cycle

  • found in mitochondria, ATP
  • expels carbon dioxide

Stage 3: Electron transport chain
- produces most ATP
- expels water
-

26
Q

population trends: stable/in balance

A
  • where numbers remain constant in an area over a period of time
  • assume resources are sufficient to sustain a steady population
27
Q

population trends: explosion

A
  • number increase dramatically due to more plentiful resources available

(eg. Crown of thorns)
- natural environmental conditions
- human impact: high nutrient run off, phytoplankton

28
Q

population trends: decreasing

A
  • disease, predation, competition, loss of habitat, human impact all contribute to decline/extinction

eg. northern hairy wombat
- endangered from loss of habitat from farming
- competition with rabbits, sheep, cattle for food
- loss of native grasses
- inbreeding: susceptible to disease

29
Q

predator-prey relationship:

A

where one species eats another, is dependent on density, control each others population: equilibrium

30
Q

factors affecting predator/prey relationship

A
  • size of the ecosystem
  • availability of food for prey
  • reproductive cycles
  • diseases
  • seasonal migrations
  • summary: all populations depend on births, deaths, emigration, immigrations
31
Q

relationships:

A
  • predator-prey
  • allelopathy: where organism secretes substance with an inhibitory effect on another organism, prevents growth of other plant (eg. casuarina glauca)
  • parasitism: external and internal parasite, benefits one, harms the host
  • symbiosis:
    - commensalism: where one species benefits, no harm to the other
    - mutualism: where both species benefit
32
Q

decomposers:

A

recyclers: organisms which absorb nutrients from dead tissue or waste products of organisms- returning organic matter to the soil (eg. bacteria and fungi)

33
Q

detritus/detritivores

A

detritus: dead plant and animal matter
detritivores: worms, snails which break down detritus to form what is finally consumed by decomposers

34
Q

trophic interactions:

A

transfer of energy between levels

35
Q

food chains:

A

linear relationship of ONE transfer of energy

  • starting from producer,
  • arrow showing flow of energy to
  • NOT equal energy transfer each time
36
Q

food web:

A

network of branching diagram show feeding relationships of all things in an ecosystem or particular area

37
Q

biomass:

A

mass of organisms in an area, by units of energy, dry mass

  • can be in pyramid form
  • energy is lost in each step
38
Q

adaption

A

special features adapted to a particular environment:

  • general (wings on bird, human fingers)
  • specific (humps on camel, burrowing frog skin)
39
Q

structural adaptations:

A
  • SHAPE and size of features

- (Tazi have large proboscis eyes, see better in dark)

40
Q

physiological adaptations:

A
  • FUNCTION of structural feature

- (network of blood vessels in paws of red kangaroo, risen and licked to cool down)

41
Q

behavioural adaptations

A
  • ACTION done by organism, reactions to stimuli

- (lizard lie in sun to warm up, find shelter to cool)

42
Q

intraspecific, interspecific and competition

A
  • intra: between one species
  • inter: between different species
  • comp: struggle between organisms for same resource
43
Q

short term consequence on ecosystem for species competition

A
  • usually one species is outcompeted, decrease in abundance of species
44
Q

long term consequence on ecosystem for species competition

A
  • less successful may become extinct

- each organism adapts to habit its own niche in the ecosystem

45
Q

human impacts:

A 
land clearing, habitat destruction
erosion
salination, desertification
species loss and loss of biodiversity
depletion of  the world's ozone layer
global climate change, greenhouse gas emissions
46
Q

evaluate how human impacts can affect an environment

A

pros: maintenance, science, species protection, restoration
cons: pollution, habitat destruction, invasive species

47
Q

discuss how decomposers are vital to ecosystem health

A
  • decomposers: recycle nutrients (making nutrients/minerals available) –> constant supply to other organisms
  • reduces the likelihood of diseases –> removal of faeces
  • remove dead organisms –> increase diversity
  • could cause disease if populations too high
48
Q

explain how competition can affect a community

A

intra:

  • lead to increase/decrease to population
  • changing time spent mating
  • tercundity declines longtime

inter:
- greater effect on communities –> flow onto the food web

Biology (9 decks)

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