Ecology Mid Topic Flashcards
(26 cards)
How to work out population from quadrats?
population = number counted x (total survey area / area sampled)
Photosynthesis chemical equation
6CO2 + 6H20 → C6H1206 + 602
Independent and dependent variable of fresh milk experiment
Independent variable is the temperature.
The dependent variable is the time taken for the solution to turn yellow.
What do decomposers do?
Decomposers break down organic matter by secreting enzymes, which partly digest the organic matter, producing small and soluble food molecules. These molecules then diffuse into the decomposer.
Abiotic factors
Non- living factors/ conditions which can influence where plants or animals live.
Example- Temperature, Light intensity, pH of environment, Moisture of soil
Biotic factors
Interactions associated with living organisms in their ecosystem.
Examples: Competition of resources, Predation, Parasitism, Competition
Factors affecting plants and animals
Temperature
Light intensity
Availability of water
Availability of oxygen and carbon dioxide
Availability of nutrients
What are parasites?
Organisms that live on or in a host organism. The parasites benefit from this but host suffers.
What is mutualism?
Where both species benefit from interacting with each other.
Predator and prey relationship
1) The prey population increases because they reproduce
2)More food for predators means they are likely to survive and reproduce
3)They prey population falls as more are eaten
4)There is less food for predators so number decreases
5)Less prey are killed and eaten so the population increases again
What is extra-cellular digestion?
Decomposers break down dead plant and animal matter. They secrete enzymes into food to digest it. The digested food molecules diffuse into the microorganism.
Two types of competition and their definition
Interspecific competition- competition between species (for example grey and red squirrels)
Intraspecific competition- competition between members of the same species
What are adaptations?
features or characteristics that allow an organism to survive and reproduce successfully.
Different ways for seed dispersal
Wind
Water
In/on animals
Propulsion (explosion)
Why are food chains so short?
Energy flow through ecosystems is relatively inefficient. At best plants only convert 1% of light energy absorbed into chemical energy in photosynthesis. This means very little is converted into the biomass of the plant.
What is interdependence?
All species rely on each other to survive. All animals depend on plants for oxygen and food and plants depend on animals for carbon dioxide, pollination and seed dispersal.
What do food chains show?
Food chains show the feeding relationships from a particular habitat. The PRODUCER is always at the bottom, or the
start, of the food chain because they produce glucose during photosynthesis.
What is a food web and the difference from a food chain?
A collection of food chains that have some common organisms. Food webs also show the feeding relationships within a habitat, just with more organisms.
What is an ecosystem?
Community of organisms in their environment
What is biodiversity?
The range of different plant and animal species living in an ecosystem.
Lipids definition
A group of naturally occurring molecules (that include fats). The main biological functions of lipids include storing energy, and acting as structural components of cell membranes
What causes pH to decrease?
Fatty acids
How do you measure pH?
Universal indicator
What is the decay process?
An essential process that digests food or waste and recycles materials. Microorganisms cause decay by releasing enzymes that break down compounds to be absorbed by their cells.
