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Biology > Ecology > Flashcards

Ecology Flashcards

1
Q

Define habitat.

A

The place where an organism lives

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2
Q

Define population

A

all the organisms of one species living in a habitat.

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3
Q

Define community

A

The population of different species living a habitat

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4
Q

Define what abiotic factors are.

A

non- living factors of the environment

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5
Q

define what biotic factors are

A

living factors of the environment.

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6
Q

Define ecosystem

A

The interaction of a community of living organisms with the abiotic parts of the environment.

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7
Q

List the 4 things that plants need in order to survive and reproduce in their environment.

A

1) light
2) space
3) water
4) mineral ions from soil

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8
Q

List the 4 things that animals need to survive and reproduce in their environment.

A

1) territory (space)
2) food
3) water
4) mates

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9
Q

who do organisms compete with for recourses in their environment.

A

other species and their own species.

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10
Q

Define what interdependence is

A

where each species depends on other species for things such as food, shelter, pollination and seed dispersal.

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11
Q

Define what a stable community is.

A

Where all the species and environmental factors are in balance so that the population sizes are roughly constant.

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12
Q

Give 7 abiotic factors in an ecosystem.

A

1) moisture level
2) light intensity
3) temperature
4) carbon dioxide level for plants
5) wind intensity and direction
6) oxygen level for aquatic animals
7) soil pH and mineral content

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13
Q

How can a decrease in light intensity, temperature or carbon dioxide levels affect a plant species ?

A

decrease rate of photosynthesis, affecting growth and decrease a population size.

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14
Q

How can a decrease in mineral content of the soil affect a plant species ?

A

can cause nutrient deficiencies affecting plant growth and decrease a population size.

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15
Q

Give 4 biotic factors in an ecosystem.

A

1) new predators
2) competition
3) new pathogens
4) availability of food

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16
Q

Define adaptations.

A

The way in which organisms and microorganisms are adapted through features or characteristics that allow them to live in different environmental conditions.

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17
Q

Give the 3 types of adaptations that organisms and microorganisms can have.

A

1) structural
2) behavioural
3) functional

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18
Q

What is a structural adaptation ?

A

These are features of an organisms body structure such as shape or colour.

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19
Q

Explain how artic animals having white fur is a structural adaptation that helps them survive.

A

This is so they are camouflaged against the snow, helping them avoid predators and being able to sneak up on prey.

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20
Q

Explain how animals that live in cold places having a thick layer of blubber (fat) and a low surface area to volume ratio is a structural adaptation that helps them survive .

A

helps them retain heat

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21
Q

Explain how animals that live in hot places having a thin layer of fat and a large surface area to volume ratio is a structural adaptation that helps them survive.

A

helps them lose heat

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22
Q

What is a behavioural adaptation ?

A

These are the ways that organisms and microorganisms behave in order to survive.

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23
Q

many ______ migrate to _______ climates during winter to avoid problems of living in ____ conditions. ( behavioural adaptation )

A

species, warmer, cold

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24
Q

What is a functional adaptation ?

A

These are things that go on inside an organisms or microorganisms body that can be related to reproduction and metabolism in order to survive.

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25
Q

Desert animals ______ water by producing very little _____ and small amounts of concentrated ____.
( functional characteristic )

A

water, sweat, urine

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26
Q

Why do brown bears hibernate over winter explaining how it helps them to survive as a functional characteristic .

A

hibernating lowers their metabolism conserving energy so they don’t have to hunt when there’s not much food about.

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27
Q

Define extremophile.

A

microorganisms that are adapted to live in very extreme conditions.

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28
Q

Give one example of an extremophile.

A

bacteria living in deep sea vents.

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29
Q

Give three environments that extremophiles can live in.

A

1) high temperatures
2) high salt concentration
3) high pressure

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30
Q

Food chains always start with a _________

A

producer

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31
Q

Give 2 examples of producers

A

1) green plants
2) algae

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32
Q

How do producers use energy from the sun to produce their own food ?

A

They make glucose via photosynthesis.

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33
Q

Define biomass.

A

the mass of a living material.

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34
Q

When green plants produce glucose, some of it is used to make other biological _________ in the plants. These biological molecules are the plants ________

A

molecules, biomass

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35
Q

How is energy transferred in an ecosystem through living organisms ?

A

when organisms eat other organisms.

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36
Q

Define a producer

A

they make their own food using energy from the sun.

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36
Q

What are producers eaten by ?

A

primary consumers

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37
Q

What are primary consumers eaten by ?

A

secondary consumers

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38
Q

what are secondary consumers ?

A

tertiary consumers

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39
Q

Define what a consumer is.

A

organisms that eat other organisms.

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40
Q

Show the cycle/ flow of a food chain.

A

producer -> primary consumer -> secondary consumer -> tertiary consumer.

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41
Q

Define what a predator is.

A

consumers that hunt and kill other animals.

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42
Q

Define what prey is.

A

the animals that are eaten by predators.

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43
Q

Give three trends found with a stable community containing prey and predators.

A

1) The population of any species is usually limited by the amount of food available.
2) if the population of prey increases, then so will the population of predators.
3) as the population of predators increases, the number of prey will decrease.

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44
Q

why are predator prey cycles always out of phase with each other ?

A

This is because it take s awhile for one population to respond to changes in the other population.

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45
Q

Give one example of when a predator prey cycle is out of phase.

A

When the number of rabbits goes up, the number of foxes doesn’t increase immediately because it takes time for them to reproduce.

46
Q

Define the distribution of an organism.

A

where an organism is found.

47
Q

The distribution of an organism is affected by environmental __________

A

variation

48
Q

Give two ways of studying the distribution of an organism.

A

1) measure how common an organism is in two sample areas using quadrats and compare them.
2) study how the distribution changes across an area by placing quadrats along a transect.

( both give quantitative data )

49
Q

define the term quadrat.

A

a square frame enclosing a known area.

50
Q

Explain the practical comprising of the use of quadrats to study the distribution of small organisms.

A

1) place a 1m² quadrat on the ground at a random point within the first sample area by dividing the area into a grid and use a random number generator to pick coordinates.
2) count all the organisms within the quadrat.
3) repeat steps 1-2 as many times as you can.
4) work out the mean number of organisms per quadrat within the first sample area.
5) repeat steps 1-4 in a second sample area
6) finally compare the two means to show the deference in distribution across the two sample areas.

51
Q

define abundance.

A

the population size.

52
Q

Explain the practical comprising of the use of transects to study the distribution of organisms.

A

1) mark out a line in the area you want to study using tape measure.
2) then collect data along the line.
3) this can be done by counting all the organisms you’re interested in that touch the line.
4) or this can be done by using quadrats which are placed next to each other long the line or at intervals.

53
Q

You can calculate the ___________ cover if it is difficult to count all the individual organisms in the quadrat.

A

Percentage

54
Q

How would you calculate percentage cover ?

A

By estimating the percentage area of the quadrat covered by a particular type of organism - counting the number of squares covered and making this number into a percentage.

55
Q

What are the four steps of the water cycle on planet earth ?

A

1) energy from the sun makes water evaporate from the land and sea, as well as transpiration from plants turning into water vapour.

2) The warm water vapour is carried upwards. when it gets higher up it cools and condenses to form clouds.

3) water falls from the clouds as precipitation onto land, where it provides fresh water for plants and animals.

4) it then drains into the sea for the whole cycle to start again.

56
Q

describe the steps of the water cycle in four key words.

A

1) evaporation and transpiration
2) condensation
3) precipitation

57
Q

What are living things made of ?

A

materials they take from the world around them.

58
Q

How are materials that living things are made up of returned to the environment ?

A

they are returned as waste products or when the organism dies or decays.

59
Q

How do materials decay ?

A

when they are digested by microorganisms.

60
Q

The decay of materials happens faster in warm, moist and _______ conditions because __________________ are more active in these conditions.

A

aerobic ( oxygen rich ), microorganisms

61
Q

In a ________ community the materials that are taken out of the soil and used by plants are balanced by those that are put _____ in.

A

stable, back

62
Q

Describe the carbon cycle in 8 stages.

A

1) Carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere by green plants and algae during photosynthesis.

2) when the green plants and algae respire, some carbon is returned to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.

3) when the plants and algae are eaten by animals, some carbon becomes part of the fats and proteins in their bodies which then moves up the food chain.

4) when the animals respire, some carbon is returned to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.

5) when plants, algae and animals die other animals called detritus feeders and microorganisms feed on their remains. when these animals respire Carbon dioxide is returned to the atmosphere.

6) This decomposition of plants, algae and animals forms fossil fuels which undergo combustion releasing additional carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere.

63
Q

define biodiversity.

A

the variety of different species of organisms on earth, or within an ecosystem.

64
Q

Why is high biodiversity important ?

A

it makes sure that ecosystems are stable through interdepence.

65
Q

Give to reasons why the human population is rising very quickly.

A

modern medicine and farming methods.

66
Q

give two reasons why there is an increasing demand on the environment.

A

1) people are demanding a higher standard of living, this means more raw materials are being used. As well as more energy for the manufacturing processes.

2) the increasing population also puts immense pressure on the environment.

67
Q

What three areas of the environment/ earth does pollution impact ?

A

1) water
2) land
3) air

68
Q

Explain two ways in which water is polluted by human activity.

A

1) sewage and toxic chemicals from industry can pollute lakes, rivers and oceans.

2) the chemicals used on land such as fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides can be washed into the water.

69
Q

Explain three ways in which land is polluted by human activity.

A

1) usage of toxic chemicals for farming like pesticides and herbicides.

2) burying nuclear waste underground

3) dumping household waste in landfill sites

70
Q

Explain one ay in which air is polluted by human activity.

A

1) smoke and acidic gases released into the atmosphere can pollute the air.

e.g. sulfur dioxide can cause acid rain.

71
Q

How does the temperature of the earth increase ?

A

When gases in the atmosphere such as methane and carbon dioxide absorb the energy from the sun that would normally be radiated out into space, and re-radiate it in all directions including back towards the earth.

72
Q

Give two of the main greenhouse gases.

A

carbon dioxide and methane.

73
Q

The earth is gradually _________ up because of the ___________ levels of _________________ gases.

A

heating, increasing, greenhouse

74
Q

Give 4 consequences of global warming on the environment.

A

1) sea levels rising
2) changes in species distribution
3) changes in migration patterns
4) reduction in biodiversity

75
Q

How does global warming cause sea levels top rise ?

A

higher temperatures cause seawater to expand and ice caps to melt, causing the sea levels to rise.

76
Q

Why is sea levels rising as a result of global warming a problem ?

A

This is because it will lead to flooding meaning people and animals living in low-lying places will face many problems as well as the loss of habitats.

77
Q

How does global warming cause a change in species distribution ?

A

as temperatures increase the amount of rainfall changes in different areas as wild animals and plant species are dependant on it.

78
Q

Some species that need _______ temperatures may become more widely _______________ as the conditions they ______ in exist over a ______ area as a result of global warming.

A

warmer, distributed, thrive, wider

79
Q

Species that need ________ temperatures may become less widely _______________ as the conditions they ______ in exist over a ___________ area as a result of global warming.

A

cooler, distributed, thrive, smaller

80
Q

Why would there be a reduction in biodiversity as a result of global warming ?

A

if species are unable to survive a change in climate they become extinct.

81
Q

What is a bog ?

A

areas of land that are acidic and waterlogged.

82
Q

Plants that live in bogs don’t fully ______ when they die, because there’s not enough ________.

A

decay, oxygen

83
Q

What do partly-rotted plants that live in bog gradually form ?

A

peat

84
Q

Where is the carbon stored in partly rotted plants that live in bog ?

A

in the peat instead of being released into the atmosphere.

85
Q

Give 3 reasons why peat bogs are often drained.

A

1) to be used as farmland.
2) the peat is cut up and dried to use as fuel.
3) sold to gardeners as compost.

86
Q

what is peat ?

A

a brown deposit formed by the partial decomposition of vegetable matter in the wet acidic conditions of bogs.

87
Q

When peat is _________ it comes into contact with air and some micro- _______________ that start to _______________ it.

A

drained, organisms, decompose

88
Q

What gas is released when peat is burned as a fuel contributing to global warming ?

A

carbon dioxide

89
Q

What happens when the microorganisms that decompose peat respire during the draining process of the substance ?

A

they use oxygen and release carbon dioxide contributing to global warming.

90
Q

Give the main two problems of destroying peat bogs.

A

1) reduction of biodiversity
2) carbon dioxide is released

91
Q

Define deforestation.

A

the cutting down of forests.

92
Q

Give two reasons for deforestation.

A

1) to clear land for farming
2) to grow crops from which biofuels based on ethanol can be produced.

93
Q

Give three problems with deforestation.

A

1) less carbon dioxide taken in.
2) more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
3) les biodiversity.

94
Q

Explain how deforestation leads to less carbon dioxide being taken in.

A

This is because trees ‘lock up’ some of the carbon that they absorb during photosynthesis in their wood, removing it from the atmosphere. Removing the trees means less carbon dioxide is ‘locked up’/

95
Q

Give two reasons why more carbon dioxide is in the atmosphere as a result of deforestation.

A

1) carbon dioxide that was ‘locked-up’
is released from the trees when they are burnt.

2) micro-organisms feeding on bits of dead wood release carbon dioxide as a waste product of respiration.

96
Q

Explain why there is a less biodiversity as a result of deforestation.

A

this is because habitats like forests contain lots of different species of plants and animals so when they are destroyed there is a danger of many species becoming extinct.

97
Q

It is important biodiversity is maintained at a _____ enough level to make sure that _________________ are stable.

A

high, ecosystems

98
Q

Give four methods/ programmes that are used to maintain ecosystems and biodiversity.

A

1) breeding programmes
2) habitat protection
3) preventing global warming
4) reducing waste

99
Q

Why are breeding programmes used as a way to maintain ecosystems and biodiversity ?

A

in order to maintain biodiversity by helping to prevent endangered species from becoming extinct.

100
Q

Describe how a breeding programme is done.

A

where animals are bred in captivity to make sure the species survives if it dies out in the wild.

101
Q

Why is habitat protection used as a way to maintain ecosystems and biodiversity ?

A

This helps to protect and regenerate rare habitats like mangroves, heathland and coral reefs.

102
Q

Define what a field margin is.

A

areas of land around the edges of fields where wild flowers and grasses are left to grow.

103
Q

There are programmes within habitat protection that reintroduce hedgerows and field_______ around fields on farms where only a ______ type of crop is grown.

A

margins, single

104
Q

Why are their programmes within habitat protection that reintroduce hedgerows and field margins around fields and farms where only one single type of crop is grown ?

A

This is because these plants provide a habitat for a wider variety of organisms that could survive in a single crop habitat increasing biodiversity.

105
Q

Why are their programmes within habitat protection that reintroduce hedgerows and field margins around fields and farms where only one single type of crop is grown ?

A

This is because these plants provide a habitat for a wider variety of organisms that could survive in a single crop habitat increasing biodiversity.

106
Q

How is the prevention of global warming used as a programme to protect ecosystems and maintain biodiversity ?

A

through government regulation reducing the level of deforestation taking place and the amount of carbon dioxide being releases into the atmosphere by a business.

107
Q

Why is reducing waste a method/ programme used to protect ecosystems and maintain biodiversity ?

A

this is because less waste will get dumped in landfill sites reducing the amount of land taken over for landfill leaving ecosystems in place.

108
Q

Give 4 conflicting pressures affecting how biodiversity is maintained.

A

1) cost of programmes
2) effect on local economy
3) protecting food security
4) development of society

109
Q

Explain how the cost of programmes is a conflicting pressure of how biodiversity is maintained.

A

protecting biodiversity costs money, this means there can be conflict between protecting biodiversity and saving money which could be prioritised for other things.

110
Q

Explain how the effect on the local economy can be a conflicting pressure of how biodiversity is maintained.

A

protecting biodiversity may come at a cost to local people’s livelihoods. Some may be left unemployed if there work requires activity which negatively impacts ecosystems. This could affect the local economy if people move away to look for work elsewhere.

111
Q

Explain how the protection of food security can be a conflicting pressure of how biodiversity is maintained

A

In farming certain organisms can be seen as pests by farmers and are killed to protect crops and livestock so they are not ruined. However as a result the food chain and biodiversity can be affected.

112
Q

Explain how the development of society can be a conflicting pressure of how biodiversity is maintained.

A

sometimes land is in such high demand that previously untouched land with high biodiversity has to be used for development.

Biology (7 decks)

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