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Biology 2017 > Ecology > Flashcards

Ecology Flashcards

(61 cards)

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1
Q

What is binomial nomenclature and what do the first and second names indicate

A

Naming system where the first name indicates genus and the second indicates species

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2
Q

What does organisms having the same genus indicate

A

That they’re closely related

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3
Q

What are the 5 kingdoms of the 5 kingdom system of classification

A

Bacteria, Protists, Plants, Animals, Fungi

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4
Q

What are Protists

A

Organisms that don’t fit in any other cater gory eg Algae

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5
Q

4 barriers that prevent fertilisation between different species

A

Different mating call, different pheromones, inability of sperm to survive in reproductive tract, different seasons or times for reproduction

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6
Q

3 Barriers that prevent the development of fertile adults

A

Zygotes fail to develop, young fail to reach sexual maturity, offspring are infertile

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7
Q

3 problems with the species definition

A

1) inter specific hybrids are not always fertile
2) cannot consider fertile criteria when looking at fossils
3) some species use asexual reproduction

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8
Q

3 functions of autotrophs (producers)

A

Can make their own food (energy), usually are photosynthesisers, are net consumers of CO2 and produce O2

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9
Q

2 functions of heterotrophs (consumers)

A

Feed on ready made organic compounds as they cannot synthesis their own food and are net producers of CO2 and consumers of O2

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10
Q

What are herbivores and what are three adaptations for their diet

A

Organisms that feed directly on producers

  • Teeth / Jaw
  • have an appendix / caecum
  • mutualism with bacterial
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11
Q

What are carnivores and what are two adaptations for their diet

A

Organisms that feed on other heterotrophs

  • teeth / jaw
  • hunting instincts
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12
Q

What are omnivores

A

Heterotrophs that feed on autotrophs and heterotrophs

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13
Q

What are decomposers

A

an organism, especially a soil bacterium, fungus, or invertebrate, that decomposes organic material.

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14
Q

What’s a detritivore

A

Decomposer that ingests and physically breaks down non-living organic matter

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15
Q

What’s a saprotroph

A

an organism that lives on or in non-living organic matter, secreting digestive enzymes into it and absorbing the products of digestion

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16
Q

define trophic levels

A

The level at which an organism is found

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17
Q

What’s the 1st trophic level

A

Producers

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18
Q

What’s the 2nd trophic level

A

Primary consumers (herbivores)/ 1st order consumers

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19
Q

What’s the 3rd trophic level

A

Secondary consumers either omnivores or carnivores / 2nd order consumers

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20
Q

Example of a food chain

A

Producer: Plant, Primary Consumer: grasshopper, Secondary consumer: Rat, tertiary consumer: Snake, Quaternary consumer: Hawk

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21
Q

What are 4 survival factors

A

Resource availability, interactions between organisms, the climate and human activity

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22
Q

Adaptation by verophytes

A

Have small thick leaves to limit water source

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23
Q

Define population

A

a group of individuals of one species that inbreed together in a particular living space

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24
Q

Define a community

A

All of the living organisms found together living together in a particular area or habitat

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25
Define ecosystem
The sum of all the organisms living in a particular area along with the habitat and physical components of the environment that affects organisms
26
Three main areas of interactions between organisms
Competition, predation and symbiosis
27
What is competition
Where organisms are competing for the Sam resources such as light, space, oxygen and food Most intense between members of the same species or species that have similar requirements
28
What is predation
Where one organism feeds on or eats another live organism
29
3 examples of defences to prevent predation
Chemical defences - using chemicals to deter predators Colouration - change colour to appear toxic or camouflage Physical defences - eg thorns and spikes
30
Define symbiosis
When there is a distinct relationship between two organisms of two different species
31
Define mutualism
A relationship where both organisms from different species benefit eg bacteria in the stomach of a cow
32
Define commensalism
When only one species benefits but the other is unharmed eg barnacles attaching to razor fish
33
Define parasitism
Form of symbiosis where the prey is harmed or eaten by an organism that is smaller than them eg lice, ticks and fleas or fungi
34
Define species
A population or group of populations where the members have similar physical characteristics and the capacity to interbreed and produce fertile offspring
35
Nomenclature system
The first word is the genus and the second is the species name eg homo sapien
36
4 barriers that prevent fertilisation
Different mating calls and rituals, difference in Flower shape or genitalia, different seasons or times for reproduction, inability of sperm to survive in reproductive tract
37
3 barriers that prevent the development of fertile adults
Zygotes fail to develop, young fail to reach sexual maturity, offspring are infertile
38
4 factors that can determine the survival of a particular species
Interactions between organisms, availability of resources, climate, impact of human activities
39
Abiotic factors for producers
Light intensity, rainfall, soil, temperature, nutrient levels
40
Define productivity in a community
How effective a particular community is at converting the Suns Energy
41
Define biomass
The total weight of living matter in a community
42
What is required for a community to have a high productivity
Ample resources eg light, rain, nutrients etc
43
Why are decomposers essential in returning resources to a community
As matter is neither created or destroyed, it is important to recycle matter which can be done by decomposers like bacteria and fungi
44
Photosynthesis enables producers to ...
Convert light energy into chemical potential energy stored in the bonds of molecules
45
How much energy is carried from each trophic level to the next
Around 10%
46
Three things the loss of energy between trophic levels can be attributed to
Organisms not digesting and absorbing all the food materials they eat The process of respiration to supply energy for their own needs Energy lost in the form of heat
47
What is the stability of the temperature due to
The fact that the input and output of energy on earth are almost equal
48
What happens to most of the Suns energy
It radiates off our planet and goes back to space
49
What is succession
The gradual process by which the species composition of a community changes
50
How does succession occur
Modification of the habitat caused by the organisms that are living there
51
3 ways organisms may change their habitat
May provide food or shelter for others May change the soil structure May decompose dead material -> make nutrients available
52
What is the difference between primary and secondary succession
Primary succession is where organisms establish themselves in a new environment secondary succession happens somewhere the environment has been damaged
53
Example of primary succession
Sand dune or volcanic island
54
Example of secondary succession
Fire or logging of trees in a forest
55
What happens to species with a higher reproductive effort in succession
Tend to initially have the advantage
56
What tends to happen to species with a low reproductive effort but longer life span during succession
Initially are disadvantaged but then proliferate and overtake
57
3 places biodiversity can be seen in
1) the genetic make up of individuals in a population 2) between one species and another 3) between the various ecosystems
58
Many varieties of ecosystems are required to ...
Maintain balance in the atmosphere ~ regulate climate conditions
59
Define co-evolution
A process where the evolution of two species occurs together or in tandem so that the two depend on each other
60
Example of co-evolution
Nitrogen fixing bacteria in the root nodules of legumes
61
Define natural selection
A process whereby those individuals that are most suited to conditions are more likely to survive and pass on their genes to the next generation

Biology 2017 (5 decks)

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