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Biology > Ecology (chpt. 4, 5, 6) > Flashcards

Ecology (chpt. 4, 5, 6) Flashcards

1
Q

Ecology

A

The study of the interaction between organisms and their abiotic environment

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2
Q

Ecosystem

A

A community of organisms and their abiotic environments
E.g. grassland, tropical rainforest

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3
Q

Biosphere

A

The part of the earth inhabited by living organisms

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4
Q

Habitat

A

Where a plant or animal lives

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5
Q

Population

A

All the members of the same species living in the same area / habitat

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6
Q

Environmental factors affecting organisms (x4)

A
  • biotic factors
  • abiotic factors
  • climatic factors
  • edaphic factors
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7
Q

What are biotic factors?

A

Living factors such as food, competition, predation, pollination and human intervention

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8
Q

Competition

A

Fight for scarce resources

Food, space, mates

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9
Q

What are abiotic factors?

A

Non-living factors such as altitude, aspect, exposure, currents and temperature

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10
Q

What are climatic factors?

A

Refers to the effect of the weather over a long period such as light intensity, temperature, rainfall and wind

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11
Q

What are edaphic factors?

A

Relate to soil such as, ph, soil type, humus content and mineral content

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12
Q

What environmental factors affect aquatic environments?

A
  • light penetration
  • currents
  • salt content
  • oxygen concentration
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13
Q

Producer/autotroph

A

An organism that makes its own food

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14
Q

Consumer / heterotroph

A

An organion that takes in food from another organism

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15
Q

Herbivore

A

Eats plants only e.g rabbit

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16
Q

Carnivore

A

Eats other animals only e.g fox

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17
Q

Omnivore

A

Both plants and animals e.g. Hedgehog, Sparrow

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18
Q

Decomposer

A

Feedson dead organic matter e.g. Earthworm, bacteria

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19
Q

Saprophyte

A

Bacteria and fungi that feed on dead organic matter

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20
Q

Primary consumer

A

An animal which feeds on producers e.g herbivores, decomposers

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21
Q

Secondary consumer

A

An animal that feeds on primary consumers e.g. Carnivores, scavengers

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22
Q

Tertiary consumers

A

Feed on secondary consumers

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23
Q

Tropic level

A

Feeding stage in a food chain

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24
Q

Grazing food chain

A

A sequence of organisms in which one is eaten bu the next member in the chain
* starts with a producer

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25
Q

Basic food chain layout

A

Producer → primary consumer → secondary consumer → tertiary consumer

26
Q

Example of a food chain

A

Buttercup → caterpillar → blackbird → fox

Grass → rabbit → fox

27
Q

Food web

A

Consists of two or more interlinked food chains

28
Q

Pyramid of numbers

A

A diagram which shows the numbers of organisms at each stage in a food chain

29
Q

Limitations to the pyramid of numbers (x2)

A
  • Doesn’t take into account the size of the organism
  • can’t be drawn to scale
30
Q

Niche

A

The functional vole of an organism within the habitat

31
Q

Nutrient recycling

A

The way in which elements, e.g carbon and nitrogen, are exchanged between the living and non-living components of an ecosystem

32
Q

Why is the carbon cycle important?

A
  • Balance carbon dioxide levels
  • photosynthesis is the basis of food chains
33
Q

Role of plants in the carbon cycle

A

Remove carbon dioxide during photosynthesis and return small amounts during respiration

34
Q

Role of animals in the carbon cycle

A

Take in carbon dioxide by eating plants and release in respiration

35
Q

Role of microorganisms in the carbon cycle

A

Return carbon dioxide when decomposing dead plants and animals

36
Q

Draw carbon cycle

A
37
Q

Draw nitrogen cycle

A
38
Q

Role of fungi in the nitrogen cycle

A

Act as decomposers

39
Q

Role of plants in the nitrogen cycle

A

Absorb nitrates from soil to make proteins

40
Q

Role of animals in the nitrogen cycle

A

Consume plants and use it to form animal protein

(Egestion and waste products )

41
Q

Role of humans in the nitrogen cycle

A

Add nitrogen rich fertilisers to the soil and uses manure

42
Q

Why must nitrites be converted to nitrates

A

So it can be used by other organisms

43
Q

Pollution

A

The addition of harmful substances to the environment

44
Q

Pollutant

A

Harmful substances that cause pollution (undesirable changes)

45
Q

Types of pollution (x3).

A
  • Domestic pollution → household waste, plastic bags
  • agricultural pollution → use of sprays to control pests, overuse of fertilisers
  • industrial pollution → gases that may cause acid rain or damage rivers
46
Q

Global warming

A

Carbon dioxide forms an insulating layer which allows sur through but stops much of it escaping out to space

47
Q

Sources of greenhouse gases

A

Burning fossil fuels, deforestation

48
Q

Effects of global warming

A
  • Sea levels may rise
  • increased frequency of extreme weather
  • increased plant yield
49
Q

Example of a domestic pollutant (name, source, effect, control)

A

Pollutant: plastic bags
Source: shopping, packaging
Effect: non-biodegradable, litter
Control: bag tax, reuse, recycle

50
Q

Conservation

A

The wise management of our existing natural resources to ensure the survival of organisms and their habitats

51
Q

Benefits of conservation

A
  • prevents extinction
  • maintains balance of nature
  • organisms way be useful in future
  • enjoyable to see and visit
52
Q

Example of conservation

A

*fishing industry *→ fish quotas are set to ensure that enough fish are left to replenish the stocks

53
Q

Waste management

A

Involves preventing pollution and conserving the environment

54
Q

Waste management - agriculture

A

Slurry is spread on dryland to prevent runoff into rivers → improves water qualify

55
Q

Waste management - fisheries

A

Waste parts of fish are neutralised, pulped, dried and recycled as fertiliser or pig food

56
Q

 Waste management - forestry

A

Tops of trees and large branches are converted to sawdust, which is used to form processed wood

57
Q

Problems associated with waste disposal

A
  • Waste may contain disease-causing microorganisms
  • toxic chemicals that arereleased can enter drinking water supplies
  • waste in landfills canbe unsightly and produce unpleasant smells
  • fear that poisonous gases may be released during incineration
58
Q

Role of microorganisms in waste management

A
  • Compost bins - bacteria and fungi Reed on waste and break it down into compost
  • bacteria can be used to digest oil spills
59
Q

Steps in waste minimisation

A
  • Reduce
  • Reuse
  • Recycle
60
Q

Ecosystem

A

Organisms and their environment

61
Q

Why is the earth considered an ecosystem?

A

No part of the earth is completely isolated from the rest

Biology (34 decks)

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