Chapter 4 Ecology Flashcards

1
Q

Ecology def

A

Is the study of how living things interact to eachother and their environment

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2
Q

Environment

A

all the conditions in which the organism lives which affect the growth and development of the organism

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3
Q

Biosphere

A

Is the part of the planet where the life exists. eg. land, ocean etc.

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4
Q

Ecosystem

A

is a community of living things interacting with one another and their environment within a particular place within a particular area

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5
Q

Habitat

A

is the particular place within the ecosystem where an organism lives

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6
Q

Habitat example

A

bats- hollow trees/attics

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7
Q

Population

A

A group of individuals of the same species living together in an ecosystem.

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8
Q

Reasons for living in a population

A

safer in a group
habitat provides shelter and food
availability of a mate for breeding

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9
Q

Community

A

All populations in an ecosystem

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10
Q

primary source of energy

A

sun- light energy

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11
Q

Energy flow def

A

The pathway of energy transfer from one organism to the next in an ecosystem due to feeding

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12
Q

Food chain def.

A

A list of organisms in which each organism is eaten by the next one in the chain.

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13
Q

Grazing food chain

A

Where initial plant is living

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14
Q

detritus food chain

A

chain begins with dead organic matter.

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15
Q

Producers

A

Make their own food by photosynthesis

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16
Q

Consumer

A

get their food from plants or other animals.

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17
Q

Herbivore

A

Feed on producers

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18
Q

Carnivores

A

Feed on primary consumers

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19
Q

Tertiary

A

Feed on secondary consumer

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20
Q

Omnivore

A

Eats both plants and animals

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21
Q

decomposers and importance

A

Feed on dead organic matter

break down waste and return nutrients to the soil

22
Q

Trophic level

A

Refers to the position of an organism in the food chain

23
Q

Pyramid of numbers

A

A diagram that represents the number of organisms at each trophic level in a food chain.
The number in each level decreases as you go up
Body size increases

24
Q

Inaccuracy of the pyramid of numbers

A

Doesnt take into account size of animal

Cant be drawn to scale so not accurate

25
Q

Energy loss-
why does the number in each level get smaller
OR
Why are food chains short

A

90% of energy is lost mostly through heat energy. Energy reduces so rapidly that food chain is limited in length. Also limited in organism numbers because of this.

26
Q

Inverted Pyramid

A

If bottom layer is a large orgnism

27
Q

Parasitic Pyramid

A

Produces inverted/partially inverted pyramids

Because loads of flies/mites can live on one fox.

28
Q

Competition def.

A

When organisms fight for resources in short supply

29
Q

Intra competition

A

Same species

30
Q

Inter competition

A

different species

31
Q

Difference between Scramble and Contest competition

A

Scramble: Organism tries to get as much as possible (eg. ivy plant and hawthorn tree compete for light)
Contest: Active physical confrontation between 2 organism s. One wins.(eg. Badgers fight for a burrow)

32
Q

Parasitism def.

A

Two organisms living close together. one organism benefits from the host and causes harm.

33
Q

Ectoparasites vs. Endoparasites

A

Ectoparasites: Living on the outside of the host (eg. fleas on a dog)
Endoparasites: Living on inside of the host. (eg. Liverfluke in cattle)

34
Q

Symbiosis def.

A

Relationship where two organisms live in close proximity to one another where at least one of them benefits. No harm caused.

35
Q

Symbiosis example

A

Bacteria in the roots of plants.
Bacteria gets a living environment.
Bacteria fixes nitrogen into usable form.

36
Q

Predation def.

A

The act of some animals of capturing and killing other animals for food.
eg. Ladybird-Aphid
Hawk-Earthworm

37
Q

Adaptation def.

A

Is a structure that organisms have developed to survive.

38
Q

Examples for adaptation

A

Zebras have stripes so lions cant tell where one ends and the other begins.
Ladybird has strong mouth and contains formic acid which is unpalatable.

39
Q

Relationship between prey and predator numbers.

A
(See diagram in copy)
Prey increases as less predators
Predators increase as more food 
Prey decrease because they are eaten.
Predator decrease because less prey 
ETC. ETC....
40
Q

Interdependence def.

A

Two organisms rely on each other for survival.

41
Q

Interdependence example

A

Bee and Flower
Bee pollinates flower.
Flower provides nectar

42
Q

Abiotic factors def. and eg.

A

Non-living factors

Light intensity, water current, altitude, aspect.

43
Q

Biotic factors def. and eg.

A

Living factors

Food and shelter, Predators, Prey, Decomposers

44
Q

Climatic factors def. and eg.

A

Weather conditions

Wind, temperature, humidity

45
Q

Edaphic factors def. and eg.

A

To do with soil

Soil type, Water content, Soil pH

46
Q

Examples of environmental factors
Light intensity
Aspect
Temperature

A
1.Light intensity
High- More plants
Low- Less plants and animals
2.Aspect
North-less light-less plants
South-more light-more animals
3.Temperature
Ideal-supports plant growth
High-Desertification
Low-Hibernation and immigration
47
Q

Benefits of predation

A

controls population
Eliminates weak prey
Stops overgrazing

48
Q

Strategies to avoid competition example

A

Daisy has short roots, dandelion has long roots

49
Q

examples of adaption

A

beaver- has nostrils and ears that close underwater.

Fennec foxes- have large ears to let heat escape

50
Q

examples of interdependence

A

clownfish and sea anemone- clownfish eat anenome parasites, faeces give nutrients, clownfish protected by stinging cells.

Pilot fish and shark- fish cleans algae off shark teeth

51
Q

Niche

A

The functional role of an organism in an ecosystem