Year 11 Flashcards
What is ecology
The study of living things, how they interact with each other and their environment
What is the environment
The physical,chemical and biological environment in which an organism lives
What is a habitat
Where an organism lives
What is biodiversity
all of the plant and animal life-forms found in a particular area
What is populatio
The number of organisms in any one species living in a particular area at a given time
What is a community
The collection of organisms from different populations living in a particular area
What is an Ecosystem
Biological community and the physical factors associated with it
What is the first stage in the process of decay
Autolysis-Enzymes inside the organism start to break down body tissues
What is the second stage in the process of decay
Scavengers + detritus feeders-They feed on the remains of dead organisms and their waste products
Scavengers-Large animals which feed on the remains(Fox/Raven)
Detritus feeders-Smaller animals which feed on small fragments of the dead organism(Beetles/Earthworms)
What is the third stage in the process of decay
Fungi-Grow on dead and produce enzymes to digest cells + their contents.External digestion absorb digested material through their hyphae-Important as they produce cellulase enzymes
What is the Fourth stage in the process of decay
Bacteria-Secretes enzymes which digest organic material,releasing nutrients + minerals-external digestion
What is the rate of decay affected by
Temperature-Decomposers work faster at high temperatures
Moisture-Work faster in a suitable amount of water
Oxygen-Most saprophytes use oxygen for respiration to carry out decay
Why is carbon needed
Used to make carbohydrates,proteins and fats.These molecules make up living organisms
Describe the processes in the carbon cycle
Photosynthesis-CO2 is taken in by plants and made into starch + sugar + other organic compounds
Feeding-Animals eat plants + carbon is built up into organic compounds within them.The compounds are being transferred along the food chain
Respiration-When plants,animals + decomposers respire they return carbon compounds to eh air as CO2.CO2 is excreted
Combustion-Burnijng fossil fuels returns carbon to the air as CO2
Describe Nitrogen fixation
Nitrogen fixing bacteria,found in the root nodules of plants convert nitrogen gas into nitrates in the soil
