Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

biology > ecology - B7 > Flashcards

ecology - B7 Flashcards

(62 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

what is a poulation

A

the amount of organisms of a particular species living in a habitat

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

what is a habitat

A

the place where an organism lives

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

what is a community

A

when different populations live in the same habitat

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

what is an ecosystem

A

when a community living organisms interact with the now-living organisms in their environment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

what is competition

A

where organisms of the same or different species compete for limited resources

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

what do animals compete for

A

water
food
territory/space
mates

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

what do plants compete for

A

water
light
minerals
space

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

what is interdependence

A

when different species in an ecosystem depend on each other

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

what are examples of biotic factors

A

predation
disease
availability of food
availability of habitats

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

what are examples of abiotic factors

A

temperature
wind intensity
pH
levels of minerals
carbon dioxide levels
moisture levels

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

what are the three types of adaptations

A

structural
functional
behaviourial

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

what is a structural adaptation and give examples

A

it is how an organism is physically
includes:
shape
colour

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

what are behavioural adaptations and give examples

A

is how an organisms behaves and the actions it does
includes:
spitting if feeling threatened
choosing to eat certain types of food

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

what are functional adaptations and give examples

A

it is the processes that happens inside an organism
includes:
the way it metabolises
producing venom

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

what is an extremophile

A

a microorganism like bacteria or archaea that is adapted to live in extreme conditions such as high temperatures

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

what is a producer

A

an animal that makes its own food, usually from photosynthesis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

what is a primary consumer and a secondary consumer

A

primary consumer - eats the producer, usually herbivores
secondary consumers - east the primary consumer, carnivores or omnivores

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

what are prey

A

an animal that is hunted and killed for food

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

what is a predator

A

an animal that hunts and kills other animals for its own food

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

what does a quadrat measure

A

abundance

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

what does a transect measure

A

changes in distribution

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

what is sampling and why is it done

A

sampling is only counting a subset of organisms in a habitat as counting the whole thing is very difficult and time consuming

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

what is the water cycle

A

-water evaporated from bodies of water and from plants in transpiration
-in condenses to form clouds
-it then falls from the clouds as precipitation which is fresh water
-is can fall back int the oceans, fall through rocks to form aquifers of be taken up by plants via the roots

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

what is the carbon cycle

A

-plants take carbon dioxide form the air and it is then locked in glucose
-animals eat plants
-both animals and plants respire which releases carbon
-when animals and plants die, decomposers (bacteria and fungi) breaks them down in aerobic conditions and do microbial respiration which releases carbon
-the decomposers also release ions and minerals into the soil
-or they can decompose anaerobically and form fossil fuels
-which we burn which releases carbon into the air

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
what is decomposition
breaking down organic matter into simpler organic matter or inorganic matter
26
which two things decompose
detritus feeders - worms and woodlice decomposers - fungi and bacteria
27
how does oxygen help with decomposition
more oxygen = more aerobic respiration for decomposers -= more energy - = faster decomposition
28
how does temperature help with decomposition
- higher temperature = enzymes work faster - = increased rate of decomposition
29
how does water help with decomposition
- decomposers need water to decompose -because many reactions involve water
30
what happens if the soil become water logged
the air holes fill with water - = less oxygen - = less aerobic respiration - = less energy - = decreased rate of decomposition
31
what is compost
- when dead plant matter is decomposed and the soil is used for fertiliser as it contains carbon dioxide, nitrogen and magnesium
32
what is biogas
when dead animal or plant matter is kept underground to decompose anaerobically -and the gases produced , like methane, are used as fuel
33
what is left over in biogas generators
slugde- can be used as a fertiliser
34
what is biodiversity
the variation of species of organsims living in the earth or in an ecosystem
35
why is biodiveristy important
maintains a stable ecosystem use different species of from pollination get medicinal drugs from the wild
36
how is overpopulation damaging biodiveristy
- overpopulation = more resources (fossil fuels) = we run our or we damage land to harvest them ( deforestation for grazing cattle food and biofuel) we produce more waste
37
how does waste damage the air
waste from industrial processes and fossil fuel = sulphur dioxide which harms and brings acid rain
38
how does waste damage the water
sewage and fertilisers filter into bodies of water which harm animals
39
how does waste damage the land
toxic chemicals from landfills and nuclear storage can filter into ecosystems
40
how can we maintain biodiversity
- breeding programmes for endangered animals - protected areas that species recover
41
how can we reduce the impacts of what we do
- field margins and hedge grows - pay farmers for these - set new laws and quotas -recycle - less land fill
42
why is it hard to maintain biodiversity
- expensive - its necessary to use things like fertilisers and pesticides for crops and to dig mines for homes or to cut down trees for wood or space = maintaining our high standard of living
43
what is the greenhouse affect
-radiation from sun -absorbed by earth and reemitted - the heat interacts with greenhouse gases and they absorb it then reemit it -then the whole process of absorption and reemitting is repeated
44
what causes global warming
-more greenhouse gases in atmosphere - = heat stays trapped in atmosphere more - = earth is warmer
45
what is climate change
- the change of climate like long term weather due to global warming
46
what are some examples of climate change
- more hurricane - more extinction of species or more migration
47
why is there deforestation
-land for agriculture -wood -mining -biofuels
48
why is deforestation bad
- less photosynthesis = less carbon dioxide taken from atmosphere - involves burning which releases carbon dioxide - destroys habitats which means less biodiversity
49
what is a peat bog
-when the soil it too waterlogged and acidic -so the microorganisms cannot decompose -so plants partially decay and the carbon dioxide remains locked inside
50
what are the ways in which we destroy peat bogs
- by draining the water to use for land - by burning the peat as fuel
51
why is destroying peat bogs bad
-it means there is air so the microorganisms can decompose - so the locked carbon is broken down and released - and the microorganisms are now respiring aerobically -which releases carbon dioxide which contributes to global warming
52
what is biomass of organisms
the mass of the organism
53
why is biomass lost between trophic levels
- not all parts of the animal are eaten like teeth or bones -not all is absorbed as not all can be digested so its egested to form faeces - most nutrients are used for energy from respiration for movement -biomass can be converted unto waste products from metabolism
54
what are fish farms
large tanks of controlled environments to grow fish for human consumption , allowing wild fish species to recover
55
what are examples of sustainable fisheries
- having larger nets so the smaller fish can escape, live and reproduce - having fishing quotas to reduce the amount of fish caught to maintain a balanced ecosystem
56
what is food security
when everyone has enough access to safe and nutritious food and we are able to sustain the planet for the future
57
what can negatively affects food security
- growing population = more people to food - environmental changes = can decrease yield of crops - diseases for plants - decrease yield = less food - changing diets = more food has to be transported around the world and we eat more meat -wars - can disrupt farming = less food = food more expensive -cost of agricultural input - things like fertilisers and pesticides are expensive
58
why do we genetically modify crops
- to increase yield -to give us helpful proteins and nutrients -to increase resistance to pests -to increase resistance to floods and droughts
59
what is mycoprotein
- made from fungi, a protein rich food suitable for vegetarians - made in a fermenter with glucose syrup -in aerobic conditions , the fungi converts the glucose to mycoprotein - alot can be made in a small place
60
what is intensive farming
- when animals like chicken are kept in the warm indoors in crowded environments -this so less biomass is wasted as energy for movement and keeping warm
61
what are the advantages of intensive farming
- more efficient as less biomass is wated -the chickens have a controlled diet which is filled with nutrients so less food waste - in the indoors , eggs are easier to harvest
62
what are the disadvantages of intensive farming
- disease can spread easier, chickens are given antibiotics which increases the risk of antibiotic bacteria developing - in crowded place so more likely to get stressed and fight -unethical

biology (7 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions