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Ecology Flashcards

(58 cards)

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1
Q

define habitat

A

environment in which an organism lives

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2
Q

define population

A

the total number of organisms of the same species libing in the same geogrpahival area

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3
Q

define community

A

the populations of all of the different species which live in the same habitat

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4
Q

define ecosystem

A

both the biotic and abiotic parts of an environment and how they interact

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5
Q

food chain

A

producer->primary consumer->secondary consumers->tertiary consumers

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6
Q

what can organisms compete for

A

plants-light and space
water and mineral ions

animals-mating partners, food, water, territory

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7
Q

interdependence

A

all of the different species within a community depend on eachother

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8
Q

define apex predators

A

carnivores with no predators

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9
Q

name 4 biotic factors

A

-food availability
-arrival of a new predator
-competition between species
-new pathogens

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10
Q

name 7 abiotic factors

A

-light intensity
-temperature
-water
-pH and mineral content of soil
-wind intensity and direction
-carbon dioxide and oxygen

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11
Q

define trophic levels of an organism

A

the number of steps it is from start of its food chain

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12
Q

define structural adaptations

A

adaptations of body shape or structure

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13
Q

what do pyramids of biomass represent

A

the relative amount of biomass ar each trophic levels of a food chain

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14
Q

define biomass

A

the amount of living organisms recently dead biological matter in an area. Biomass is transferred rrom each trophic levels of to the level above it in the food chain

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15
Q

define functional adaptations

A

adaptations to the body function of an organism

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16
Q

define behavioural adaptations

A

adaptions to animal’s behaviour or lifestyle

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17
Q

give 4 reasons for loss of biomass

A
  1. use in life process, such as respiration
  2. not all of the matter eaten is digested some is egested as waste products

3.some absorbed material is lost as waste

  1. energy is used in movement and to keep animals warm
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18
Q

where do extremophiles live

A

in extreme temps or pH

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19
Q

define biodiversity

A

the variety of all the different species of organism on earth, or within a specific ecosystem

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20
Q

list 5 ways scientists are trying to maintain biodiversity

A
  1. breeding programmes in zoos for endangered species
  2. protection and regeneration of rare habitats
  3. reintroduce of hedgerows in agricultural areas where single crop wpecies are grown as hedges provide habitat for many organisms
  4. government policies to reduce deforestation and carbon dioxude emissions
  5. recycling resources rather than dumping waste in landfill
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21
Q

define peat bogs

A

areas of partially decayed vegetation

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22
Q

what is the only way carbon can enter the carbon cycle

A

photosynthesis

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23
Q

what 2 key processes are involved in carbon cycle

A

photsynthesis
respiration

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24
Q

carbon cycle go:

Study These Flashcards
A

carbon dioxide in atmosphere
-taken in by plants and algae (photosynthesise)
-used to make carbohydrates, fats and proteins which make up plant and algae cells
-these respire
-these can also be eaten by animals which are eaten by other animals
-these animals also respire
-animals release waste products such as faeces
-eventually all animals and plants die
-waste products and dead remains are broken down by decomposing microorganisms
-decomposers respire to return co2 to atmosphere

25
give examples of decomposing microorganisms
bacteria, fungi
26
water cycle
water is found in oceans -energy from sun causes water to evaporate to form water vapour in air (evaporation) -whe;it cools, it condenses to form clouds -precipitation -all forms of precipitation contain fresh water -when water hits ground, some evaporates back into atmosphere -some passes through rocks to form aquifers -a lot forms rivers or streams -this eventually drains back to streams
27
what does some water pass through rocks to form
aquifers
28
how are living organisms involved in water cycle
-plants take sup water -water moves up xylem and evaporates out stomata (transpiration) -animals take in water through drinking -it leaves their body through urine, breathing(exhalation) and faeces
29
what do decomposers do
break down dead plant and animal matter by secreting enzymes into environment. the small soluble food molecules produced then diffuse into the decomposer
30
what 2 things to decomposers return to environment
-carbon to atmosphere -mineral ions to soil
31
what are optimum conditions for decomposition to take place
warm temperatures high oxygen and moisture levels neutral pH
32
what can compost be used for and why
natural fertilisers to grow plants and crops because it is very rich in minerals that plants need to grow
33
what do decomposers do in lack of oxygen
they decompose anaerobically this produces methane gas
34
what do biogas generators do
use anaerobic decay to produce methane for use as a fuel
35
what do environmental changes affect -what 3 things can these be
the distribution of species in ecosystems -seasonal -geographic -caused by humans
36
give 3 environmental changes and their impacts
1. temp -varies greatly between locations and seasons and warming temps have contributed to species migrating away from equator 2. availability of water -during droughts animals have to move away from their usual havitats to areas with more water, and cannot survive if this is not possible 3. composition of atmospheric gases -human acitivities release greenhouse gaseshouse gases and pollutwnts which cause harmful effects like climate change and acid rain
37
why is waste increasing
as human population grows rqpidly, and increase in standard of liging means using more resource sand using more waste
38
where can pollution occur
1. in water, from sewage, fertiliser run off, or toxic chemicals 2. in air from smoke and acidic gases 3. on land fron landfill and toxic chemicals
39
what do humans use land for
building, quarrying, farming, dumping waste
40
what do the conditions in peat bogs mean
that conditions are very slow -contain large amounts of carbon
41
what does the destruction of peat bogs lead to
decrease in biodiversity burning of peat leads to co2 released in to atmosphere contributing to global warming
42
why is there large scale deforestation
to provide land for cattle, rice fields, grow crops for biofuels
43
what 3 things has large scale deforestation resulted in
1. large amounts of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere due to burning od trees 2. extinctions and reductions in biodiversity as habitats are destroyed 3. climate change as trees absorb carbon dioxide and release water vapour
44
list 6 biological factors threatening human food security
-rapid population growth+ increasing birth rate -changing diets in developed countries, requiring scarce food resources to be transferred globally -new pests and oathogens impacting farming vast amounts of crops -environmental changes such as drought, affecting food prodution - increasing cost of agricultural inputs like fertilisers -conflicts in some parts of the world, which affect the availability of water or food
45
describe how decomposers work
-secrete enzymes into soil -enzymes digest dead materials -small soluble food molecules diffuse back into decomposer
46
what is intensive farming
nakes food production more efficient by restricting energy transfer from food animals to their environment
47
how can we restrict food animals transfer of energy to environment (2 ways)
1. limiting their movement 2. controlling the temp of their surroundings
48
what 3 things do farmers do to maximise yield from animals in intensive farming techniques
-feed animals high protein foods to increase growth -give animals antibiotics to prevent or treat disease -regularly use fertilisers, herbicides ane pesticides on crops
49
what ar methods of having sustainable fisheries
1. reduce net sizes (bigger holes to allow younger fish to escape) 2. fishing quotas are controlled (how many fish can be caught)
50
what does modern biotechnology allow
increased food production to feed and maintain the rapidly increasing human populations
51
3 biotechnology
1. large quantities of microorganisms can be cultured for food 2. geneticalky modified crops can have increased yields, resistance to changes in environments or improved nutritional values 3. bacteria can be genetically modified to produce human insulin
52
give example of microorganisms cultured for food
mycoprotein-protein rich vegetarian foods to increase barvested and purified after growing in the fungus fusarium on glucose syrup in aerobic conditions
53
name 1 genetically modified food
golden rice
54
what must u do to bacteria after gm ing them
harvest, purify, used to treat diabetes
55
define global warming
the gradual increase in the average temperature of the earth
56
what 4 things has global warming resulted in
1. large scale habitat fhange and reduction, causign decreases in biodiversity 2. extreme weather conditions and sea level changes 3. migration of species to sifferent parts of the world, affecting ecosystems 4. threats to the security and availability of food
57
advantages of intensive farming
-high yield and quick growth of crops -efficient use of food, with less waste product -fan meet demand for food from a rapidly increasing population
58
disadvantages of intensive farming
-increased risk of antibiotic resistant bacteria strains -pesticides and herbicides may kill beneficial organisms and reduce biodiversity -ethical issues about animal welfare and quality of life -large carbon dioxude and methane emissions

Biology (17 decks)

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