Ecology Flashcards
(80 cards)
1
Q
Define ecology
A
Study of the interactions of organisms and their environment
2
Q
Define biosphere
A
Part of the planet where all life exists
3
Q
Define ecosystem
A
A group of organisms that interact with their environment as a unit
4
Q
Define habitat
A
A place where plants and animals exist
5
Q
Define species
A
A group of organisms that can interbreed and produce offpsring
6
Q
Define population
A
Organisms of the same species living together
7
Q
Define community
A
Different populations in an area
8
Q
Define abiotic factor
A
A non living factor
9
Q
Define climatic factor
A
Factor relating to the weather over a long period of time
10
Q
Define edaphic factor
A
Factor relating to the soil
11
Q
Define biotic factor
A
A living factor
12
Q
Define niche
A
Functional role of an organism in an ecosystem
13
Q
Define pollution
A
Any harmful addition to the environment
14
Q
Define pollutant
A
Substances that cause pollution
15
Q
Give examples of abiotic factors and how they are measured
A
- Altitude (altimeter) - Height above sea level. Higher means colder, wetter
- Aspect (compass) - North facing is cooler
- Sunlight (light meter/luxmeter) - More light for plants
16
Q
Give examples of climatic factors and how they are measured
A
- Temperature (thermometer) - Animals and plants are adapted to living at a certain temperature
- Rainfall (rain gauge) - Water is essential for life
- Wind speed (anemometer) - Causes physical changes
- Wind direction (Wind vane) - Causes physical changes
17
Q
What type of climate does Ireland have?
A
Temperate oceanic climate
18
Q
Give examples of edaphic factors and how they are measured
A
- Soil temperature (thermometer) - Animals and plants are adapted to living in certain temperatures
- Oxygen concentration (oxygen meter) - Animals and plants are adapted to living in a certain 02
- Soil pH (pH meter) - Animals and plants are adapted to living in a certain pH
- Soil type (soil sieve) - Drainage of soil
19
Q
Name and explain some biotic factors
A
- Food - More food allows more organisms to survive
- Competition - Fighting for scarce resources
- Predation - Reduces the numbers of prey
- Parasitism - Weakens the host and reduces its numbers
20
Q
What are some special factors in aquatic environments
A
- Light
- Currents
- Wave action
- Salt concentration
- Oxygen concentration
21
Q
Draw out nitrogen cycle
A
N/A
22
Q
What is the primary source of energy for out planet
A
Sun
23
Q
What is a producer
A
An autotroph that carries out photsynthesis
24
Q
Define consumer
A
A heterotroph. An organism that takes in food from other organisms
25
Define autotroph
An organism that makes its own food
26
Define heterotroph
An organism that takes in food from another organism
27
What kind of organisms are primary consumers?
Herbivores, decomposers and detritus feeders
28
What kind of organisms are secondary consumers?
Carnivores
29
What kind of organisms are tertiary consumers
Omnivores
30
Draw an energy flow chart
Sun -> leaves -> slug -> thrush -> hawk
31
Define food chain
Sequence of organisms showing transfer of energy from one to another
32
Draw an example of a food chain
Cabbage -> caterpillar -> robin
33
Define trophic level
Feeding stage
34
Why are food chains so short?
Only 10% of energy is passed on, 90% goes towards moving, respiring, heating itself, releaseing heat etc.
35
Define food web
Two or more food chains interlinked
36
Draw a food web
N/A
37
What effect do chorofluorocarbons (CFCs) have?
They create a hole in the ozone layer which can cause increased cancers and damage crops
38
Where are chlorofluorocarbons found?
Fridges and aerosols
39
What are ways to control chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)?
Use hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), don't dump fridges, avoid aerosols
40
Draw a predator/prey relationship graph
N/A
41
Define conservation
Wise management of our existing natural resources/organisms
42
What are the benefits of conservation?
* Medicinal use
* Prevents organisms from going extinct
* Maintains a wide range of living things - biodiversity
* Recreational use
43
What environmental problems are associated with fisheries and what solutions are there to these problems?
Problems: Pollution, overfishing, using small nets to catch baby fish
Solutions: Analysing water samples, fishing quotas, using bigger mesh sizes in nets
44
Give an example of waste management in agriculture
Slurry is stored and spread on land
45
Give an example of waste management in fishing industries
Waste parts of fish used as fertilizer or pig feed
46
Give an example of waste management in forestry
Any parts not removed from forest decay and return nutrients to soil
47
What problems are there associated with waste disposal
* Causes disease
* Unsightly
* Attracts vermin
* Incinerators produce harmful gases
48
What role do microorganisms play in waste management/pollution control?
**Landfill sites**: Waste is covered with soil. Bacteria and fungi break down organic matter (biological treatment)
**Sewage**: Primary treatment - Settling and physically screening
Secondary treatment - Bacteria and fungi break down organic matter (biological treatment)
Tertiary treatment - Removes mineral nutrients
49
How to minimise waste?
Reduce
Reuse
Recycle
50
Draw the carbon cycle
N/A
51
Define pyramid of numbers
Represents the number of organisms at each trophic level
52
What happens to the number of organisms in a pyramid of numbers as you go up the chart ?
It decreases
53
What happens to the body size of organisms as you go up the chart?
It increases
54
What are some limitations of the pyramid of numbers?
It does not take into account the size of an organism
It cannot be drawn to scale
55
Draw a normal pyramid of numbers
N/A
56
Draw an inverted pyramid of numbers
N/A
57
Draw a parasitic pyramid of numbers
N/A
58
What are some factors that affect the control of a population?
* Competition
* Predation
* Parasitism
* Symbiosis
* Biological control
59
Define competition
Struggle between organisms for resources in short supply
60
Define intracompetition
Competition between members of the same species
60
Define intercompetition
Competition between members of different species
61
Define contest
Physical contest where one gets all the resources
62
Define scramble
All individuals competing get a share of the resources
63
Define predation
Catching, killing and eating an organism of a different species
64
Define predator
Catches, kills and eats an organism
65
Give an example of an adaptation of a predator
* Hawks have excellent eyesight
* Ladybirds have strong mouth parts
66
Define prey
Eaten by predator
67
Give an adaptation of prey
* Frogs are camouflaged
* Ladybirds contain formic acid which is unpalatable
68
What are the three different types of adaptations
Structural, behavioural and competitive
69
Define parasitism
Lives on a live host causing harm
70
Define exoparasite
Lives outside the host
71
Give an example of an exoparasite
Fleas on a dog
72
Define endoparasite
Lives inside the host
73
Give an example of an endoparasite
Liverfluke in cattle
74
Define symbiosis
Two or more organisms living in or on another organism and at least one benefits
75
Define mutualism
A form of symbiosis where both benefit
76
Give an example of mutualism
* Bacteria in intestines produce vitamin B and K and get food and shelter from us, nitrogen fixing bacteria gain food and shelter and clover gets nitrates
77
Define biological control
When one organism is used to control another
78
Give an example of biological control
Ladybirds are used to control aphids/greenfly
79
What factors cause population numbers to change?
* Predator-prey relationships: Due to availability of food, concealment, movement of predators
* Human population growth: Due to war, famine, disease and contraception
