Ecology

Question 1

what is the importance in nature of recycling elements such as carbon and nitrogen?

Answer 1

to be able to use the elements again, as they are finite resources

Question 2

name 2 of the types of bacteria that play a role in the nitrogen cycle

Answer 2

nitrifying bacteria
denitrifying bacteria
nitrogen-fixing bacteria

Question 3

explain what is meant by “predation”

Answer 3

predation is the act of an animal hunting and killing another animal

Question 4

what is meant by the term “conservation (of species)”?

Answer 4

keeping a certain endangered species safe until their population is strong enough to uphold a predator-prey relationship

Question 5

explain the term “quantative survey”

Answer 5

a quantative survey records the numbers of organisms that are present

Question 6

explain the term “qualative survey”

Answer 6

a qualative survey records the presence or absence of organisms

Question 7

name an ecosystem and describe how you conducted a quantative survey of flora present in it

Answer 7

grassland habitat
quadrat
threw pen over shoulder
counted flora present
wrote a percentage cover and frequency table

Question 8

suggest a possible source of error in a quantative survey

Answer 8

being biased

Question 9

during the nitrogen cycle, nitrogen from the air is converted into nitrates. of what benefit is this?

Answer 9

so it can be used by plants and animals