6.6 Ecosystems

Question 1

What is ecology?

Answer 1

The study of the relationship between organisms and their relationships

Question 2

What is an ecosystem?

Answer 2

Made up of all living organisms interacting with each other and physical factors in the area

Question 3

The boundaries of an ecosystem are defined by who?

Answer 3

The person studying them

Question 4

What are the 2 types of factors that can affect an ecosystem?

Answer 4

Biotic and abiotic

Question 5

What are biotic factors?

Answer 5

Living factors

Question 6

What are abiotic factors?

Answer 6

Non living factors

Question 7

Biotic factors involve interactions such as what?

Answer 7

Competition for food and resources

Question 8

Give examples of abiotic factors:

Answer 8

Light
Temperature
Water availability 
Oxygen availability 
Edaphic soil

Question 9

(Abiotic) plants are directly affected by light - why?

Answer 9

Required for photosynthesis

Question 10

(Abiotic) what strategies do plants have to cope with different light intensities?

Answer 10

Large leaves or pigments requiring less light in low light intensities
Reproductive systems operating at only optimum light availability

Question 11

(Abiotic) temperature affects what?

Answer 11

Enzymes controlling metabolic reactions

Question 12

(Abiotic) plants and ectothermic animals develop more rapidly where?

Answer 12

In warmer temperatures

Question 13

(Abiotic) changes in the temperature of an ecosystem can trigger what?

Answer 13

Migration or hibernation

Question 14

(Abiotic) in plants temperature can trigger what?

Answer 14

Leaf fall
Dormancy
Flowering

Question 15

(Abiotic) in aquatic conditions fast flowing water contains high what?

Answer 15

Concentrations of oxygen

Question 16

(Abiotic) if water is too warm or flow rate is too slow what can happen?

Answer 16

Aquatic organisms can suffocate

Question 17

(Abiotic) in waterlogged soul air spaces are what?

Answer 17

Filled with water reducing oxygen availability

Question 18

(Abiotic) edaphic soil - different types of soil have different what?

Answer 18

Particle sizes affecting an organisms ability to survive in them

Question 19

(Abiotic) clay has what?

Answer 19

Fine particles
Easily waterlogged
Forms clumps when wet

Question 20

(Abiotic) what does loam have?

Answer 20

different sized particles
Retaining water
Doesn’t become waterlogged

Question 21

(Abiotic) sand has what?

Answer 21

Well separated particles allowing draining so it doesn’t retain water and is easily eroded