Ecosystems

Question 1

Ecosystem

Answer 1

All living and non-living factors in an area

Question 2

Environment

Answer 2

All factors in a habitat which affect an organism

Question 3

Habitat

Answer 3

An area occupied by an organism

Question 4

Community

Answer 4

All living factors in an area

Question 5

Population

Answer 5

All members of one species in a habitat

Question 6

Niche

Answer 6

An organisms role in an ecosystem

Question 7

Food chain

Answer 7

The sequence of organisms in which each is food for the other

Question 8

Producer

Answer 8

First in the food chain ( plant )

Question 9

Trophic level

Answer 9

A feeding level in a food web

Question 10

Biomes

Answer 10

Major ecosystems with similar climates

Question 11

Energy Transfer in Ecosystems

Answer 11

• Energy enters an ecosystem by photosynthesis in a producer’s biomass.
• Energy is passed on when another organism eats the producer

Question 12

Why is not all of the energy passed on?

Answer 12

• Some of the plants do not retain all of the light energy
• It’s reflected, the wrong wavelength or passes through the leaf
• Some parts of plants and animals cannot be eaten or digested and are left in the waste

Question 13

Net Productivity

Answer 13

Amount of energy available for the next level

Question 14

Net productivity equation

Answer 14

GPP - Respiration

Question 15

Efficiency

Answer 15

Energy in next level / Energy in the previous level * 100

Question 16

Abiotic and Biotic factors

Answer 16

• Abiotic - Non-living factors

- Biotic - Living factors

Question 17

Abiotic factors affect the abundance

Answer 17

A population’s size will vary depending on the amount of light, water, space or temperature around them.
Abiotic factors need to benefit the organism so it can grow and reproduce successfully

Question 18

Biotic factors affect the abundance

Answer 18

• Competition: Competition within or outside a species can occur. When resources become limited eg: food, mates or space the population will compete to survive
• Predation: When a predator kills its prey the population is affected. As one population changes the other is affected too
• Disease: Diseases can affect the growth and size of populations

Question 19

Measuring Abiotic factors

Answer 19

Using Equipment like :

• Thermometer
• Light sensor
• PH paper or sensor
• Compass
• Clinometer

Question 20

What are the different sampling methods?

Answer 20

• Random sampling

- Quadrats and transects

Question 21

Random Sampling

Answer 21

• Reduces bias
• Throwing a quadrat randomly in an area
• Counting how many species are in each square

Question 22

Transects

Answer 22

Line transect - Use a tape measure in a line

Measure how many species touch the tape next to it

Question 23

Succession Defenition

Answer 23

This is the gradual change of an ecosystem over time

Question 24

Primary Succession

Answer 24

This occurs in newly formed rock or in the sand where no species live and barely any nutrient content

Question 25

Secondary Succession

Answer 25

This occurs on land where soil still remains eg: after a forest fire

Question 26

Pioneer species

Answer 26

First species to arrive and colonise an area.

• They tolerate harsh conditions
• Fast growing but are then out-competed
• Create humus, and add nutrient content to the soil
• Have low diversity

Question 27

Climax community

Answer 27

The final stage in succession, where constant biodiversity is reached and a complex community of organisms remains.

Question 28

Succession can be prevented by human activity

Answer 28

Human interaction can prevent succession. If humans constantly disturb the area or alter the land then succession can be slowed.