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ecology Flashcards

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1
Q

DEFINITION OF ECOLOGY

A

Ecology - is the scientific study of the interactions between different organisms and between organisms and their environment or surroundings

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2
Q

ECOSYSTEM

A

Ecosystem – is a group of living and nonliving organisms, which function together as a unit.

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3
Q

ECOLOGICAL FACTORS

A

1.biotic FACTORS
2.Abiotic factors

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4
Q

Biotic factors

A

they are living components in an ecosystem.

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5
Q

Abiotic factors

A

they are non-living, physical components in an ecosystem.

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6
Q

SOME INSTRUMENTS USED IN ECOLOGICAL STUDIES AND THEIR USES

A

✓ Wind vane – wind direction
✓ Anemometer – wind speed
✓ Hygrometer – Relative humidity
✓ Rain gauge – Rainfall

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7
Q

examples of Biotic factors

A

plants
animals
protists
fungi
bacteria.

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8
Q

examples of Abiotic factors

A
  • sunlight,
  • air,
  • water,
  • temperature,
  • and mineral
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9
Q

photosynthesis

A

Photosynthesis - the use of light energy (sunlight) to convert carbon dioxide and warer into glucose and oxygen. E.g., plants

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10
Q

Chemosynthesis

A

Chemosynthesis - the use of chemical energy to produce glucose. E.g., bacteria

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11
Q

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND CHEMOSYNTHESIS

A

– photosynthesis uses light energy (sunlight) while chemosynthesis uses chemical energy.

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12
Q

RAW MATERIALS REQUIRED FOR PHOTOSYNTHESI

A

Carbon dioxide and water

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13
Q

PRODUCTS of phosynthesis

A

Glucose and oxygen

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14
Q

CONDITION NECESSARY FOR PHOTOSYNTHESIS

A

Carbon dioxide,
water,
sunlight
and chlorophyll.

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15
Q

Autotrophs or Producers

A

autotrophs or producers are organisms that uses energy from sun (light) or other chemicals to produce their own food.

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16
Q

Heterotrophs or Consumers

A

these are organisms which derives their nutrients, energy, and food from eating other organisms

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17
Q

Decomposers

A

– these are fungus or bacteria, that feed on and break down dead plant or animal matter, thus making organic nutrients available to the ecosystem

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18
Q

TYPES OF CONSUMERS

A

Herbivores
Herbivores
Omnivores

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19
Q

Herbivores

A

organisms that feed only on plants.

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20
Q

Carnivores

A

organisms that feed only on animals.

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21
Q

Omnivores

A

organisms that feed on both plants and animals.

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22
Q

FOOD CHAIN

A

Food chain – is the feeding relationship in which energy is transferred from plants through series of organisms, with each stage feeding on the preceding stage and proving food for the succeeding one

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23
Q

Example of a food chain

A

a food chain in aquatic habitat: Algae → tilapia → cat fish
a food chain in terestrial habitat: Grass → grasshopper → toad → snake

the arrow shows the direction in which the food is being transferred.

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24
Q

Food web

A

is a complex feeding relationship among organisms in the same environment, with two or more interrelated food chains.

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25
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN FOOD CHAIN AND FOOD WEB
No Foodchain Food web 1 Food chain is a linear feeding relationship. Food web is a complex feeding relationship. 2 It involves one food chain. It involves two or more food chains. 3 It involves fewer organisms|. It involves many organisms. | 4 Organisms have lesser chance of survival. Organisms have greater chance of survival
26
Trophic level 0r energy level
Trophic level - is the feeding level or each stage in a food chain or food web
27
various trophic levels
Level 1 - Producers (autotrophs) ✓ Level 2 - Primary Consumers (herbivores) ✓ Level 3 - Secondary Consumers (carnivores or omnivores) ✓ Level 4 - Tertiary Consumers (carnivores - usually top carnivores)
28
Primary consumers
they are herbivores that feed only on plant or primary producers.
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Secondary consumers
they are carnivores or omnivores that feed on herbivores or primary consumers.
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Tertiary consumers
they are animals that obtain their nutrient by eating primary consumers and secondary consumers.
31
describe ENERGY FLOW IN AN ECOSYSTEM
green plants us chlorophyll in their leaves to trap energy from the sun to prepare their food during photosynthesis. Energy from the sun is stored in the food that green plants prepare. As herbivores eat the plant, the energy stored in the plant is transferred to the herbivores. The herbivores transfer the energy to carnivores that are secondary consumers as the herbivores are fed upon by the carnivores. The energy in the carnivores is transferred to tertiary consumers when the tertiary consumers feed upon the secondary consumers.
32
ECOLOGICAL PYRAMID
Ecological pyramid – is a diagram that shows the relative amount of energy or organisms contained within each trophic level of an ecosystem
33
ENERGY PYRAMID
Energy Pyramid - shows relative amount of energy available within each trophic level of an ecosystem.
34
WHAT IS THE 10 PERCENT LAW OF ENERGY FLOW?
The 10 percent law of energy flow states that when energy is passed on from one trophic level to another, only 10 percent of the energy is passed on to the next trophic level.
35
BIOMASS PYRAMID
Biomass Pyramid - represents the amount of living biomass or organic matter at each trophic level of an ecosystem
36
BIOMAGNIFICATION
Biomagnification – the accumulation of a particular substance in the body of the organisms at different trophic levels of a food chain.
37
examples of Biomagnification
The accumulation of insecticide DDT which gets accumulated in zooplanktons. Small fishes consume theses zooplanktons. Small fishes are consumed by large fish which are finally consumed by fish-eating birds present at the highest position in trophic level. Hence, the organism at the highest trophic level has the maximum of toxic substances Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) is an insecticide used in agriculture
38
COMPETITION
Competition – is an interaction between organisms of the same or different species in which both compete or require a resource that is in limited supply
39
REASONS FOR COMPETITION AMONG PLANTS
✓ Inadequate light ✓ Inadequate space ✓ Inadequate nutrition ✓ Inadequate water
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REASONS FOR COMPETITION AMONG ANIMALS
✓ Inadequate food ✓ Inadequate space ✓ Inadequate mates
41
TYPES OF COMPETITION
1 Intraspecific competition 2 Interspecific competition
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Intraspecific competition
competition between organisms of the same species. Examples Two male deer competing for mates. * Two oak trees growing too close together competing for sunlight and nutrition.
43
Interspecific competition
competition between organisms of different species Examples * Herd of cattle and a herd of antelopes on a grazing land. Iroko tree and terminalia in a forest competing for light .Mango plants and grasses
44
HABITAT
Habitat – is a particular area within an environment where an organism can successfully live and it is the natural dwelling place of an organism
45
Ecological niche
the ecological niche involves both the place where an organism lives and the roles that an organism has in its habitat.
46
example of Ecological niche
The ecological niche of a sunflower growing in the backyard includes absorbing light, water and nutrients (for photosynthesis), providing shelter and food for other organisms ## Footnote If the niche of two species is very similar, they might compete for food or other resources. Such as space, light etc.
47
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HABITAT AND NICHE
a habitat is the place where an organism lives while a niche is that organism’s role within that environment
48
BIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATIONS
Symbiosis Mutualism Parasitism Commensalism Predation
49
Symbiosis
Symbiosis – is a close ecological relationship between two different species in nature.
50
Mutualism
Mutualism – is a close relationship between two organisms of different species in which both partners benefit Examples hermit crab and sea anemone flowers and insects alga and fungus in lichen bacteria in the rumen of ruminants , human and intestinal bacteria etc
51
Parasitism
Parasitism – is a close relationship between two organisms, in which one, the parasite, live in or on the body of the other, the host, deriving benefit from it and causing harm to it Examples – human and a tapeworm , human and mosquitoes, fleas on dogs, etc
52
Commensalism
Commensalism - is a close relationship between two organisms of different species which is beneficial to one (commensal) but does not affect the other, the host Examples – remora fish and shark , oyster and crab , barnacles on a whale, etc.
53
Predation
Predation – is a biological association involving an organism killing and feeding on other organisms Examples – lion and goat, hawk and chicks of domestic fowls
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Predator
Predator – an animal that kills and feeds on other animals
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Prey
Prey – an animal that a predator eats or preyed upon.
56
Environment
Environment – is the living and the nonliving factors in the surroundings that affects the organism
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Population
Population – is a group of organisms of the same species, in the same place (at the same time), which can interbreed with each other.
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Community
Community – refers to a population of different species living together in an ecosystem and interacting with each other.
59
POPULATION ECOLOGY
Population ecology – is the study of the population in relation to the environment
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POPULATION DENSITY
Population density – is the number of individuals per unit area or volume in a population at a given time
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Population dispersion
Population dispersion – is the pattern in which individuals in a population are dispersed in an area. ## Footnote It is also known as population distribution
62
PATTERN OF DISPERSION
Pattern of dispersion – refers to how the individuals in a population are distributed in space at a given time.
63
types of PATTERNS OF DISPERSION
Uniform dispersion n – organisms are evenly spaced over the area they occupy Clumped dispersion – organisms are clustered together in groups. Random dispersion – organisms have an unpredictable distribution
64
MAIN FACTORS WHICH AFFECT THE SIZE OF POPULATION
Birth rate or natality – refers to the rate of given birth to new organisms Death rate or mortality – refers to the rate at which organisms die in a habitat Immigration – refers to the movement of organisms from different habitats into a new habitat. Emigration – refers to the movement of organisms out of a particular habitat for settlement into a new habitat. ## Footnote If the death rate is very low compared to the birth rate, the population will not reduce.
65
DEMOGRAPHY
Demography - is the study of the vital statistics of a population and how they change over time. ## Footnote Demographers – scientists who study human population statistics
66
CARRYING CAPACITY
Carrying capacity – is the maximum population size of a species that a particular environment can “carry” or sustain or normally and consistently support in terms of resources.
67
FACTORS WHICH AFFECT CARRYING CAPACITY
✓ Food availability ✓ Habitat space ✓ Water supply ✓ Competition ✓ Extreme heat ✓ Drought
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FACTORS THAT INCREASE CARRYING CAPACITY
✓ Increasing food production ✓ Eliminating competing organisms ✓ Controlling disease organisms ## Footnote Read more on the above factors.
69
FACTORS THAT DECREASE CARRYING CAPACITY
✓ Natural disasters (Read more) ✓ Competitors ✓ Disease and parasite ✓ Weather ✓ Predators Note: Read more on the above factors.
70
LIFE TABLE
Life table – is an age-specific summary of the survival pattern of a population. (Read more

BIOLOGY (7 decks)

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