Ecology

Question 1

Define an ecosystem

Answer 1

Interaction between a community of living organisms and their environment

Question 2

Define a community

Answer 2

Two or more populations od the same organisms

Question 3

An ecosystem is also two or more p______ of o______ In their environment

Answer 3

Populations
Organisms

Question 4

What is a population

Answer 4

All the organisms of the same oflr closely related species in an area

Question 5

State the order of consumers in an ecosystem

Answer 5

Producers
Primary consumer
Secondary consumer
Tertiary consumer

Question 6

What is interdependence

Answer 6

Refers to the fact that all organisms that live in an ecosystem depend upon eachother

Question 7

What do photosynthesising plants compete for in an ecosystem

Answer 7

Light
Space
Water
Minerals from the soil

Question 8

What might animals in an ecosystem compete for

Answer 8

Food
Shelter
Mates
Territory

Question 9

What makes a stable community

Answer 9

A community in which the size of the populations of all species remain relatively constant over time. They are in a healthy balance

Question 10

What is an abiotic factor

Answer 10

Factors that are non living
Eg. Climate, water, temperature

Question 12

Name the 8 abiotic factors

Answer 12

Light intensity
Temperature
Moisture levels
Soil ph content
Soil mineral content
Wind intensity and direction
Co2 levels (plants)
O2 levels (animals)

Question 13

Name the 4 biotic factors

Answer 13

Availability of food
New predators
New pathogens
Out-competition

Question 14

Name 4 types of competition in plants

Answer 14

Light
Water from soil
Minerals from the soil
Space

Question 15

Name the 3 types of competition in animals

Answer 15

Food
Mates
Territory

Question 16

What are structural adaptations in plants

Answer 16

Physical features which allow them to compete

Question 17

What are behavioural adaptations in plants

Answer 17

Behaviours that give plants an advantage eg growing quickly towards the light

Question 18

Define physiological adaptations in plants

Answer 18

Processes which allow them to compete eg the formation of poison

Question 19

Name some structural adaptations of animals

Answer 19

Claws
Good vision
Good hearing

Question 20

Name some behavioural adaptations

Answer 20

Mating rituals
Working in packs
Using tools to capture prey

Question 21

Name physiological adaptations in animals

Answer 21

Making venom

Question 22

An e_________ is an organism that lives in an extreme e_______. They have highly specialised a______

Answer 22

Extremophile
Environment
Adaptations

Question 23

What are decomposers

Answer 23

Bacteria and fungi which break down dead organisms by releasing enzymes, and then consume the substances

Question 25

How do plants help to decompose organisms

Answer 25

Plants absorb the broken down nutrients through their roots

Question 26

Why would you use random over systematic sampling

Answer 26

If you're not looking for a pattern,but rather average conditions To avoid bias

Question 27

Name the 4 stages of the carbon cycle

Answer 27

1- enters the atmosphere as co2 from respiration and combustion 2-absorbed by producers 3- feeding and decaying 4- decomposed back to atmosphere or stored as fossil fuels

Question 28

Name the key processes of the water cycle

Answer 28

Evaporation Condensation Transport Precipitation Surface runoff Infiltration Transpiration

Question 29

The rate of decay =

Answer 29

The speed at which dead matter is broken down

Question 30

How do gardeners and farmers improve the quality of their soil

Answer 30

Add compost and manure. This helps recycle minerals

Question 31

One key element which is recycled is n______. Needed by plants to make p_____. Can only absorb as nitrogen i____ which are produced by decomposers into the s___

Answer 31

Nitrogen Proteins Ions Soil

Question 32

Anaerobic decay occurs when bacteria and fungu break down dead matter without oxygen. Anaerobic decay can....

Answer 32

Kill plants Because the products are methane and carbon dioxide

Question 34

Why is anaerobic decay bad

Answer 34

The products are methane and carbon dioxide which contribute to global warming

Question 35

Anaerobic decay is used to produce...

Answer 35

Fuel Biogas is methane and carbon dioxide together and us a source of renewable energy

Question 36

Describe decay in milk

Answer 36

As milk decays its pH reduces. This is because bacteria present in milk carry out a chemical process to provide them with energy. This process produces lactic acid which reduces the pH of the milk

Question 37

What is the aim of the practical which is about milk and decay

Answer 37

To investigate the effect of temperature on the rate of decay of fresh milk by measuring pH change

Question 38

How do you calculate the rate of change

Answer 38

RoC = change in value/change in time

Question 39

B_______ is specifically the number of different s_____. An area with large p_______ of few species is not biodiverse

Answer 39

Biodiversity Species Populations

Question 40

Why are more biodiverse ecosystems more stable?

Answer 40

Because they can easily adjust to changes, especially when it comes to food chains because they don't depend on just one organisms

Question 41

Name the contributions that decrease biodiversity

Answer 41

Population Waste management Deforestation Peat bog destruction Greenhouse effect

Question 42

What is a peat bog

Answer 42

Poorly drained areas made up of partially decomposed organic matter due to water logging

Question 43

What do peat bogs store

Answer 43

Carbon, carbon sinks

Question 44

How can we increase biodiversity

Answer 44

Conservation is the preservation of ecosystems and the organisms that live in them

Question 45

List ways people can help increase biodiversity

Answer 45

Breeding programs Protection and development of endangered species Replanting hedgerows(more biodiverse) Reduce deforestation Reduce greenhouse gases released Recycling

Question 46

Impacts of environmental change

Answer 46

Temperature Availability of water Atmospheric gases

Question 47

What are the stages in a food chain or Web called

Answer 47

Trophic levels (the position of an organism in a food chain food web or pyramid)

Question 48

What do the arrows in a food web/chain show

Answer 48

The transfer of biomass from one trophic level to another

Question 49

What is biomass

Answer 49

Living or recently dead tissue. The dry mass of an organism. The mass of your body is biomass because you are alive