Ecosystems

Question 1

Define an ecosystem.

Answer 1

Where biotic and abiotic factors interact

Question 2

Define ecology

Answer 2

the study of ecosystems

Question 3

List abiotic components.

Answer 3

-physiographic factors
-edaphic factors
-light
-water
-atmospheric gases

Question 4

List biotic components

Answer 4

-autotrophic factor
-heterotrophic factor

Question 5

Describe physiographic factors.

Answer 5

the position of an area in relation to the sun

Question 6

What does a slope do?

Answer 6

determines the amount of water run off

Question 7

Components of North-facing slopes include:

Answer 7

-more direct sunlight
-are warmer and drier
-plants thrive in the sunlight

Question 8

Components of South-facing slopes include:

Answer 8

-cooler and wetter
-shade plants thrive

Question 9

What type of soil consists of tiny soil particles?

Answer 9

clay

Question 10

This soil type consists of slightly bigger particles:

Answer 10

loam

Question 11

Define sandy soil

Answer 11

coarser and consists of large particles

Question 12

What is humus formed from?

Answer 12

dead and decaying plants/animals

Question 13

True or false: Humus is usually dark.

Answer 13

true

Question 14

What does Humus do?

Answer 14

it increases the soil fertility and water holding capacity of the soil.

Question 15

What is leaching?

Answer 15

when water rapidly filters through large spaces between soil particles, taking in nutrients

Question 16

True or false: clay has a low water holding capacity.

Answer 16

false

Question 17

Which soil type is most suitable for plant growth?

Answer 17

loam

Question 18

Define air content of soil

Answer 18

spaces between soil particles that are filled with air

Question 19

Define porosity

Answer 19

the size of particles and how firmly the soil is compacted

Question 20

What is light?

Answer 20

radiant energy from the sun that is very important for photosynthesis

Question 21

What are shade-loving plants? Give two examples.

Answer 21

plants that are able to photosynthesize at low light intensities
e.g) ferns, moss

Question 23

What are sun-loving plants? Give two examples.

Answer 23

plants that photosynthesize best in high light intensities
e.g) maize, sugar cane

Question 24

Define day length

Answer 24

for how long the sun shines in a day

Question 25

What are short-day plants? Give an example.

Answer 25

plants that flower when the day is shorter than night. strawberries

Question 26

What are long-day plants?

Answer 26

plants that flower when the day is longer than night. maize

Question 27

What are plants that flower when they are mature, irrespective of day length?

Answer 27

day-neutral plants

Question 28

What are diurnal animals?

Answer 28

animals that are active during the day

Question 29

These types of animals are active at night:

Answer 29

nocturnal

Question 30

What type of plants lose leaves in autumn and sprout again in spring?

Answer 30

deciduous plants

Question 31

Define annual plants:

Answer 31

plants that spend winter as seeds and germinate in longer, warmer days with rain

Question 32

Give the term for when metabolic rate decreases and animals require little food:

Answer 32

hibernation

Question 33

Define migration:

Answer 33

when animals move to warmer places, where food is plenty

Question 34

True or false: evergreen plants never lose their leaves.

Answer 34

true

Question 35

When aerial parts die down during cold months they survive as a bulb:

Answer 35

geophytes

Question 36

What are annuals, in terms of temperature?

Answer 36

pants that die off completely during the cold months and survive as seeds

Question 37

Define endotherms

Answer 37

able to regulate their body temperature

Question 38

This term refers to organisms that cannot regulate their body temperature:

Answer 38

ectotherms

Question 39

Is water vital for survival?

Answer 39

yes

Question 40

This term refers to plants that need a lot of water to survive:

Answer 40

hydrophytes

Question 41

Define Mesophytes

Answer 41

plants that require a moderate amount of water for survival

Question 42

Define xerophytes

Answer 42

plants that are adapted for living in very dry conditions

Question 43

What percent of nitrogen is in the atmosphere?

Answer 43

78%

Question 44

What percentage of oxygen is in the atmosphere?

Answer 44

21%

Question 45

What percentage of CO2 is in the atmosphere?

Answer 45

0,04%

Question 46

What percentage of the atmosphere is made up of other gases?

Answer 46

0,96%

Question 47

Give a definition for autrophic:

Answer 47

produce their own food, are producers

Question 48

Give a definition for heterotrophs:

Answer 48

con not produce their own food, are consumers