B7 - Ecology Flashcards
What are decomposers?
Organisms that break down dead plant and animal matter by secreting
enzymes into the environment
What are pyramids of biomass?
Constructed to represent the relative
amount of biomass in each level of a food chain. Trophic level 1 is at the
bottom of the pyramid
What is food security?
Having enough food to feed a population
What is mycoprotein?
A protein-rich fungus food suitable for vegetarians (Quorn)
What is an ecosystem?
Interaction of a community of living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) parts of their environment
What is interdependence?
Each species in a community depending on one another e.g. food, shelter, seed dispersal, pollination. If one species is removed, it can affect the whole community
What is an abiotic factor?
Non-living factors that can affect a community e.g. light, temperature, soil pH
What is a biotic factor?
Living factors that can affect a community e.g. availability of food, new predators arriving, new pathogens
What what are adaptations?
Features that enable organisms to survive in the conditions in which they normally live. They could be behavioural, structural or functional
What is a producer?
Starts off a food chain. Usually a green plant or alga that photosynthesises. Eaten by primary consumers
What is a quadrat?
Square frame used to count organisms to estimate a population, e.g. random sampling
What is a transect?
A straight line where samples are taken at regular intervals using a quadrat
What is a predator?
Consumer that kills and eats other animals
What is the carbon cycle?
Returns carbon from organisms to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide to be used by plants in photosynthesis
What is the water cycle?
Provides fresh water for plants and animals on land before draining into seas. Water is continuously evaporated and precipitated
