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Science Y2 > IE > Flashcards

IE Flashcards

(53 cards)

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1
Q

What are abiotic factors

A

Non-living components of the environment which include physical factors

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2
Q

What the abiotic factors

A

pH
Salinity
Light intensity
Temperature
Water availability
Oxygen content

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3
Q

What is a species’ tolerance range

A

A range that they can exist in

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4
Q

What happens at the upper or lower limits of the tolerance range

A

Individuals experience stress, affecting health, rate of growth, reproduction

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5
Q

What is a species’ optimal range

A

Range withing which a species is best adapted to live in. It thrives with a high population

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6
Q

What is a biotic environment

A

Living components of an ecosystem

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7
Q

What is an ecosystem

A

Consists of different groups of communities of organisms interact with each other and the natural environment

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8
Q

What is predation

A

When an organism kills and eats another organism

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9
Q

What is parasitism

A

A relationship whereby an organism benefits at the expense of another organism (host)

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10
Q

What is mutualism

A

A relationship whereby both organisms benefit

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11
Q

What is commensalism

A

A relationship whereby one organism benefits while the other is neither harmed nor benefits

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12
Q

Why is energy considered non-cyclic

A

It is unidirectional and cannot be recycled. It does not go back to the organism that produced it

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13
Q

How many percent of the light energy from the sun reaching the earth’s atmosphere enters the ecosystems

A

1%

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14
Q

what is the word equation for photosynthesis

A

water + carbon dioxide -> oxygen + glucose

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15
Q

what is the word equation for respiration

A

oxygen + glucose -> water + carbon dioxide + energy

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16
Q

What do you call an organism that feeds on other organisms to survive

A

Heterotroph

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17
Q

What do you call an organism that make nutritional organic substances from inorganic elements

A

Autotroph

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18
Q

What are the ways energy can be lost to the environment

A

Respiration
Uneaten body parts
Undigested matter (faeces)
Excretory products

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19
Q

What is cellular respiration

A

Process in which glucose is broken down in the presence of oxygen, with the release with large amounts of energy. Carbon dioxide and water are released in the process

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20
Q

How is the trapped chemical energy in dead organisms, undigested matter and excretory products released

A

It is released when decomposers break down the organic materials to inorganic materials. Decomposers used some of the trapped chemical potential energy for their needs while the rest is lost as heat

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21
Q

What does a food chain show

A

Feeding relationship among a series of organisms through which energy is transferred in the form of food

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22
Q

What are the differences between a food chain and food web

Study These Flashcards
A

Food chain:
- Single linear pathway
- One organism occupies one trophic level
- Energy transferred from one level to another

Food web:
- Several interconnecting pathways
- One organism occupies multiple trophic levels
- Organisms can obtain energy from multiple different sources

23
Q

Similarities between a food chain and food web

Study These Flashcards
A

10% of energy transferred from one trophic level to another
Both start at a producer
Arrows show flow of energy

24
Q

Why must nutrients be recycled

Study These Flashcards
A

Nutrients are finite

25
How are nutrients returned to the natural environment
Decomposers, such as bacteria and fungi, break down dead organisms into simpler substances, returning the nutrients to the natural environment
26
State the importance of the carbon cycle
Ensures that there is a continuous supply of carbon dioxide for plants to carry out photosynthesis Allows energy to be transferred from one organism to another in the form of carbon compounds, thus sustaining the lives of non-photosynthesizing organisms in the food chain
27
What are the processes that remove carbon from the atmosphere
Photosynthesis Feeding Formation of fossil fuels
28
What are the processes that release carbon from the atmosphere
Decomposition Respiration Combustion
29
What is a carbon sink
A carbon sink stores carbon for an indefinite period. It stores more carbon than it releases. Thus, a carbon sink is also a carbon reservoir
30
How much carbon dioxide released by human activities is absorbed by oceans
one third
31
How does the ocean store carbon
Carbon dioxide dissolved in the ocean's water is absorbed and used by phytoplankton and algae for photosynthesis Some carbon compounds are buried in the seabed in the form of fossil fuels
32
How are the oceans affected as carbon sinks by climate change
Climate change increases the temperature of water, reducing the ability of oceans to dissolve carbon dioxide
33
What happens when trees die
Carbon stored in their tissue is slowly released via decomposition Their remains may be buried deep in the ground, forming coal after millions of years
34
What are some examples of natural carbon sources
Volcanoes, natural fires, respiration, decomposition
35
Impacts of deforestation
Soil erosion Climate change Desertification Flooding and landslides
36
Explain soil erosion
Trees removed -> soil no longer protected -> directly exposed to impact of rain No roots of trees -> nothing to hold soil down & absorb rainwater -> topsoil eroded/washed away
37
Explain flooding and landslides
Without roots to hold onto the soil and absorb excess water, soil gets washed off slopes onto the bases of mountains, resulting in landslides When soil near the river gets eroded, it gets washed into the river, blocking the flow of water and causing the water level to rapidly rise, resulting in flooding
38
Explain desertification
The destruction of land that leads to desert-like conditions With eroded topsoil, land becomes barren Results in habitat loss as land is unsuitable to live in and local extinction
39
What is climate change
Climate change is the change in state of climate overtime due to natural variability or human activity
40
What is the greenhouse effect
Natural process in which greenhouse gases absorb and re-emit heat radiated from the earth to space, trapping heat
41
What is the link between impacts of deforestation and climate change
Deforestation further aggravates the greenhouse effect as there are fewer trees in trees to remove carbon dioxide in atmosphere. Forests cleared by burning releases carbon stored in the trees' biomass in the form of carbon dioxide
42
What is deforestation
The clearing of forests to meet demands of increasing human populations
43
What are the impacts of climate change
1. Destruction of ecosystems and widespread extinction of plant and animal species -> Rapid nature of climate change likely to exceed ability of plants and animals to migrate or adapt, resulting in increased risk of extinctions 2. Rise in mosquito-borne diseases -> Dengue virus and its vector thrive in warmer climates. Due to climate change, distribution range of mosquitoes widen and some places which were traditionally dengue-free are at increasingly at risk of diseases
44
Explain eutrophication
1. Occurs when water bodies get more nutrients than usual 2. Causes rapid growth of algae 3. Blocks sunlight from reaching submerged plants 4. Plants die as cannot photosynthesise 5. Bacteria decompose plants 6. Bacteria multiply, reducing amount of oxygen 7. Suffocates other organisms
45
What is biomagnification
Process whereby there is a progressive increase in the concentration of a substance as it moves up the trophic levels
46
What causes biomagnification
Water pollution due to inorganic waste and insecticides
47
Definition of an invasive species
When a species is accidentally or deliberately introduced into a new environment beyond their native ranges and can survive, reproduce and spread and have a negative impact on local organisms
48
What are the three phases for a successful invasion
Introduction Establishment Spread
49
Concerns regarding invasive species
Introduction of diseases that are new to native species Competition with local species for resources Economic losses Acting as predators/parasites to native species Habitat loss
50
Traits of invasive species
Fast growing Rapid reproduction High dispersal ability Tolerant to a wide range of environmental conditions High number of offspring Lack of natural predators and diseases
51
Reasons for conservation
Prevent extinction Maintain rich biodiversity
52
Conservation of marine ecosystems
Enforcement of laws Clean-ups of beaches
53
Conservation via environmental biotechnology
Use biodegradable materials instead of plastic Use alternative fuels instead of biofuels

Science Y2 (13 decks)

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