B16 Ecology

Question 1

What is a habitat?

Answer 1

The part of an
ecosystem where an
organism lives

Question 2

What is a species?

Answer 2

This is a group of
organisms that can
breed together

Question 3

What is a population

Answer 3

This is the organisms of
the same species that
share a particular
habitat

Question 4

What is a community?

Answer 4

This is made up of all the
organisms that share a
particular habitat

Question 5

What do all organisms often need?

Answer 5

The same resources

Question 6

What is interdependence?

Answer 6

A description of
how organisms rely on
and impact upon each
other

Question 7

What are biotic factors?

Answer 7

Factors which are living which affect organisms

Question 8

What are abiotic factors?

Answer 8

Factors which are not living which affect organisms

Question 9

How does light intensity affect communities?

Answer 9

Can limit photosynthesis so affects distribution of plants and animals
Breeding cycles of many animals and plants is linked to day length and light intensity

Question 10

How does temperature affect communities?

Answer 10

Limits photosynthesis so it affects distribution

Question 11

How do moisture levels affect communities?

Answer 11

Moisture levels affect the type of plants and animals which can survive and the number of them

Question 12

How does soil pH and mineral content affect communities?

Answer 12

The levels of mineral ions impacts the distribution of plants
Acidic soils inhibit the breakdown of plants which reduces the amount of mineral ions in the soil

Question 13

How does wind intensity and direction affect communities?

Answer 13

The direction of the wind affects the shape of the trees and environment
Transpiration occurs faster

Question 14

How does the availability of oxygen affect communities?

Answer 14

Heavily affects water-living communities ability to grow

Question 15

How does the availability of carbon dioxide affect communities?

Answer 15

Limiting factor for photosynthesis

Affects distribution of certain organisms

Question 16

How do new pathogens or parasites affect communities?

Answer 16

Organisms have no resistance to new pathogens or parasites, so populations can be reduced or wiped out

Question 17

How do new predators affect communities?

Answer 17

Organisms that have no defences against new predators may be quickly wiped out

Question 18

How does interspecific competition affect communities?

Answer 18

A new species of an organism may outcompete the existing one, reducing their successful breeding capabilities

Question 19

What are carnivores in competition for?

Answer 19

Prey animals

Question 20

What are prey animals in competition for?

Answer 20

Surviving predators

Question 21

Why do animals need to set up and defend territory?

Answer 21

To raise their breed and raise their young, and have a source of food

Question 22

How do males compete for females?

Answer 22

Males fight each other to be able to mate or they make themselves stand out to attract females

Question 23

What do plants compete for?

Answer 23

Light, water and mineral ions

Question 24

How do plants avoid competition?

Answer 24

They grow earlier in season, have different root lengths and are adapted to lower light levels

Question 25

How do plants spread their seeds?

Answer 25

By wind, water or explosive seed pods

Question 26

What is a structural adaptation?

Answer 26

An adaptation related to physical structures, such as colour or shape

Question 27

What is a behavioural adaptation?

Answer 27

Adaptations related to short or long term behaviours

Question 28

What is a physiological adaptation?

Answer 28

Adaptations related to biological processes, such as metabolism

Question 29

What are two structural adaptations of plants?

Answer 29

Spines to ward off potential predators | Large leaves to maximise photosynthesis

Question 30

What are two behavioural adaptations of plants?

Answer 30

Plant shoots grow towards the sunlight to maximise photosynthesis Roots grow downwards to maximise water absorbtion

Question 31

What are two physiological adaptations of plants?

Answer 31

Poisonous when eaten | Poisonous when touched

Question 32

What are two structural adaptations of animals

Answer 32

Large claws to dig burrows or catch prey | Good eyesight and hearing to detect predator or prey

Question 33

What are two behavioural adaptations of animals?

Answer 33

Mating rituals to attract mates | Working in groups to attack prey

Question 34

What is a physiological adaptation of animals?

Answer 34

Production of venom to attack and for self defence

Question 35

What is a producer?

Answer 35

A producer is an organism which creates its own biomass

Question 36

What is a consumer?

Answer 36

A producer is an organism which gains biomass from other organisms

Question 37

What is a predator?

Answer 37

A predator is an organism which gains biomass from prey

Question 38

What is prey?

Answer 38

Prey is an organism which gains biomass from producers and is hunted by predators

Question 39

What are decomposers?

Answer 39

Decomposers are a group of microorganisms which feed on dead organisms

Question 40

What do decomposers do?

Answer 40

Decomposers return dead and waste materials and return nutrients into the soil

Question 41

What is precipitation?

Answer 41

Precipitation is when water droplets become too heavy to stay suspended in air and fall as rain or other types of precipitation

Question 42

What is percolation?

Answer 42

Percolation is when water trickles through gaps in soils and rocks

Question 43

What is transpiration and respiration?

Answer 43

Transpiration and respiration are ways plants and animals lose water vapour to the atmosphere

Question 44

What is evaporation?

Answer 44

Evaporation is the process of liquid water becoming water vapour when heated

Question 45

What is condensation?

Answer 45

Condensation is the cooling of water vapour back into liquid water droplets