Ecosystems, Populations + Sustainability Flashcards
(29 cards)
How does a plant protein go to humus
`
Excretion, Decomposition
what are 3 ways to maximise efficency of food chains from primary consumers to humans
-keep animals indoors warm
-restict movement of animals
- feed animals high energy food
what is formula for % efficency and how is it collected
(Primary consumer energy / Consumer energy) x100
Sample of primary consumer + Producer collected and biomass collected
Why is an ecosystem dynamic
Organisms vary over time/ during succession
Why may decompoisiton not occur
Decomposers are not active
pH too low for ezymes to work
What are 2 abiotic factors involved in determining whether species grow in space
Mineral content and ACIDITY
How does plant protein go to animal protein
ANimal digests plant and proteins hydrolyse into amino acids and move into blood cells
State steps of Nitrogen cycle from Nitrogen to Nitrates
Legume causes Nitrogen fixing bacteria to convert N2 gas into ammonium.
Ammonium goes to nitrites via nitrification via nitrosomes
Nitrites goes to nitrates via nitrobacter and plants use this to make A.A
NITROBACTER AND NITROSOMES ARE NITRIFYING BACTERIA
what is difference in trophic and tropical for net primary production
for TROPICAL: High temp causes more sunlight causes faster photosynthesis hence more formation of biomass
How can energy content be measured
Calorimeter
Burnt in oxygen
Temp. rise in water measured
Why is ther ehigh conversion of biomass at lower trophic level?
More food available
What is pioneer community and climax
Pioneer: -Arrives as seeds + spores
-Begins with bare rocks
-Has certain adaptation (N2 Fixation)
PLANTS -> SHORTER LIFE CYCLES
SEDS SPORES AT PRODUCED IN LARGE QUANTITIES
DISPERSED AT LONG DISTANCES
GERMINATES RAPIDLY
TOLERATED EXTREME ENVIORMENTS + ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION
Climax:-More species present than pioneer but DOMINATED BY A FEW TREE SPECIES
-Little change overtime
-Unable to tolerate extreme enviornments
-Slow growth
ANIMALS - More herbivores present
- Larger food chains
- Carnivore species present
What is decomposition and dentrification
Decomposition of break down of waste and denitrification is break down of nitrates into N2 gas
What is conservation and preservation
Conservation maintains biodiversity/ecosystems
Preservation leaves ecosystems undisturbed
What is nitrogen fixation and nitrification
N2 fixation is conversion of nitrogen to ammonia
Nitrification is conversion of ammonia to nitrite
How can human activity DECREASE biodiversity
Habitat disturbance
Land used for building roads/farming
Pollution increases
New pathogens introduced
What is 2 ecological interactions
Predator-prey relationships - shark feed on fish to stabalise fish pop.
INTERspecific competition - Red + Grey squirrels COMPETE for same food
What is ecology
Study of interactions between organisms and enviornement
what are 3 reasons for conserving biodiversity
Ethical reasons
Ecotourism
Aesthetic Value
What are 3 reasons why a pop. may not indefiently grow
Carrying capacity reached
Limtiing factor
Inter/Intra specific competition for named resource
Definition of ecosystem
Dynamic set of interactions between populations of organism and abiotic environement
State what 2 managment practices may be
Sleective felling and coppicing which preserves biodiversity and manages ecosystems
Whys is removal of peat bogs discourages
Loss of biodiversity
Ecosystem takes long time to replace
why do plants not grow well in soil with low o2 content
-increased denitrification
-nitrites converted to ammonia-
conditions favour denitrifying bacteria
