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Biology Paper 2 Higher Combined > Ecology > Flashcards

Ecology Flashcards

(80 cards)

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1
Q

How is biodiversity being conserved?

A

•Endagered species breeding programmes
•Protecting rare habitats,coral reef
•Reducing CO2 emissions
•Planting trees

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2
Q

Why has deforestation occurred?

A

Provides land for cattle, rice fields for food, grow crops for biofuels

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3
Q

Why is peat a big problem?

A

Once its extracted and used for compost it decays releasing large amounts of CO2

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4
Q

Why don’t people use alternatives to peat?

A

More costly

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5
Q

Why is peat used as compost?

A

Cheap

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6
Q

Why is peat burned?

A

To produce energy + generate electricity (releases CO2)

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7
Q

How do peat bogs reduce biodiversity?

A

Destruction of them reduces pear bog habitat, reducing variety of organisms that live there

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8
Q

Whst do peat bogs contain?

A

Large amounts of dead plant material

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9
Q

Why is there a large amount of trapped CO2 in peat?

A

Conditions in peat mean decay is slow

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10
Q

How can pollution occur in water?

A

From sewage, fertilisers, toxic chemicals

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11
Q

How does pollution occur in the air?

A

From gases like sulfur dioxide which dissolve in moisture to produce acid rain

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12
Q

How does pollution occur on land?

A

From landfill, toxic chemicals like pesticides which can be washed off land into water

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13
Q

Factors that put biodiversity at risk?

A

-Availability of water
-Temperature
-Atmospheric gases

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14
Q

What has caused biodiversity to be at risk?

A

•Season changes
•Geographic activity (storms)
•Human interaction

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15
Q

Define biodiversity?

A

Variety of all the different species of organism on earth

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16
Q

What is the name given to the variety of all the different species of organism on earth?

A

Biodiversity

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17
Q

How does high biodiversity help ecosystems?

A

Helps them be stable because species depend on each other

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18
Q

Why are crisp bags filled with nitrogen not air?

A

Nitrogen preserves crisps as decomposers need oxygen

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19
Q

In predator-prey graphs what happens when there is a change in prey?

A

Changes in predator number happen just after

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20
Q

What is the name for top consumers?

A

Apex predators

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21
Q

What are apex predators?

A

Top consumers, carnivores with no predators

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22
Q

What are carnivores with no predators called?

A

Apex predators

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23
Q

What are each of thr feeding levels called?

A

A trophic level

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24
Q

What is a trophic level?

A

Name given to each of the feeding levels

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25
What are predators?
Eat others
26
What are prey?
Eaten by others
27
What are producers?
Make molecules, usually green plant, makes glucose by photosynthesis
28
Who are producers eaten by?
Primary consumers
29
What is the order of consumers/producers?
Producer (polly) Primary consumers (produced) Secondary consumers (seventy) Tertiary consumers (two) Apex predators (answers)
30
What is the water cycle?
How fresh water circulates between living organisms, rivers and sea
31
What is the carbon cycle?
How carbon is recycled in nature
32
What does the carbon cycle need?
Decomposers to return CO2 to atmosphere through respiration
33
What is compost produced used as?
Natural fertiliser
34
What gas is produced when waste is broken down aerobically?
Methane gas
35
What do biogas generators do?
Produce biogas from waste to use as fuel
36
What is biogas?
Created through digestion of organic matter, microorganisms break down waste material like manure
37
What do decomposers do?
○Break down dead waste by secreting enzymes which partly digest waste ○Take up the small soluble food molecules
38
What are decomposers?
•Organisms that break down dead material •Types of fungi and bacteria
39
What do decomposers need for their job?
Oxygen, moisture, suitable temp and ph to break down waste
40
What are the 3 types of adaptations?
☆Structural ☆Behavioural ☆Functional
41
What is an example of a structural adaptation?
Giraffes long necks
42
What is an example of a functional adaptation?
Camels store fat in humps
43
What is a behavioural adaptation?
Wolves hunt in packs
44
What are abiotic factors?
Non-living
45
What are biotic factors?
Living
46
Examples of biotic factors? (Living)
○Availability of food ○Predators ○Pathogens
47
Examples of abiotic factors? (Non-living)
○light intensity ○temp ○moisture levels ○soil ○ph ○CO2 levels (plants)
48
In terms of interdependence what would happen if you removed a species from a habitat?
49
What is a stable community?
All species+environmental factors balanced so population sizes stay constant
50
Example of a stable community?
Rainforest
51
Define interdependence?
Organisms rely on each other for things like food, shelter, pollination etc
52
Whst is the name given to organisms that rely on each other?
Interdependence
53
What are extremophiles?
Organisms that live in extreme environments
54
Examples of places extremophiles live?
○High temp ○High pressure ○High salt concentration ○Deep sea vents (enzymes very resistant to denaturing)
55
What do plants compete for?
☆Light ☆Water ☆Space ☆Mineral ions from soil
56
What do animals compete for?
☆Food ☆Mates ☆Territory
57
Whst does the name for felis catus for cats tell us hoe they are classified?
Genus=Felis Species=Felis catus
58
Causes of extinction?
-Changes to environment -New predators -New disease -New/more successful competitors -Humans/over-hunting -Catastrophic event
59
Why do scientist use evolutionary trees?
To show how they think organisms are related
60
How do scientists make evolutionary trees?
Use current classification data for fossil data + living organisms for extinct organisms
61
How do scientists know 2 organisms have become different species?
They can no longer breed
62
What was Alfred Russel Wallaces theory of speciation?
1)Pop physically isolated (ocean) 2)Genetic variation 3)Natural selection different in the species 4)Pop become so different they can't breed
63
What is speciation?
How species develop
64
Characteristics of speciation?
•Lowrst level of classification system •Members similar enough to breed +produce fertile offspring
65
Define ecosystem?
Non-living and living organisms living in a habitat
66
3 different levels of organisation in an ecosystem?
•Individual organisms •Populations •Communities
67
In an ecosystem what is a population?
Groups of same species
68
In an ecosystem what is a community?
Many populations living together
69
Advantages of selective breeding?
•produces organisms with 'right' characteristics •More efficent+cheap in farming
70
Disadvantages of selective breeding?
°Less variation °This reduces species ability to respond to environmental change °Harmful characteristics (pugs and breathing)
71
What is eutrophication?
Overusing fertilisers
72
4 steps of eutrophication?
1)Fertilisers run into water, rapid algae growth 2)Algae reproduces quickly, blocks sunlight so underwater plants die 3)algae dies 4)aerobic bacteria feed on dead matter,use oxygen up,larger organisms die as can't respire
73
Advantages of genetic engineering?
~Cure certain diseases (cystic fibrosis) ~Organisms with new features produced fast
74
Disadvantages of genetic engineering?
Transplanted genes can cause unexpected effects on human health
75
Consequences of deforestation?
~Fewer trees to absorbs CO2 so increased global warming ~Animals loose habitat ~Burning/combustion of wood from deforestation releases CO2
76
What is the Greenhousr effect?
1)🌞 UV rays reach earth absorbed 2)CO2 + methane trap heat 3)Small amount of heat into space 4)Heat re-radiated into atmosphere
77
Examples of the carbon cycle include?
•Animals respire CO2 •Animals eat other animals incorporating carbon in their body •CO2 removed by plants for photosynthesis
78
How is overfishing being reduced?
~Limit weight of fish taken yearly ~Mesh size of nets increase, smaller fish escape, reach adulthood, breed
79
Role of trees in the carbon cycle?
•Absorb CO2 for photosynthesis •Dead trees decompose, CO2 •Trees release CO2 during respiration (reverse of photosynthesis)
80
How can farmers reduce habitat destruction?
~Plant wildflower strips = support pollinators ~Use sustainable products = reduce fertilisers + pesticides ~Preserve ponds = protect aquatic ecosystems

Biology Paper 2 Higher Combined (3 decks)

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