module 6 (6) Flashcards
(22 cards)
define ecology
study of relationships between organisms and their environment
how do we graph biomass
pyramid of numbers
pyramid of biomass
pyramid of energy
which type of plankton has more biomass than the other
phytoplankton has more than zooplankton
define ecological efficiency
efficiency with which biomass is transferred from one trophic level to the next
why do producers only covert 1-3% of light energy into biomass
not all energy is available (reflected or unused wavelength)
limiting factors for photosynthesis
proportion of energy is lost
define gross production
total solar energy plants covert to organic matter
define net production
energy available for next trophic level
how do you calculate net production
gross production - respiration loss
how to calculate ecological efficiency
biomass available after transfer / biomass available before transfer x 100
define agriculture
manipulating the environment to favour plant species to eat and rear animals to eat
define decomposition
compound broken down to its elements
what is a decomposer
organism that breaks down dead matter into inorganic molecules for plants
what are saprotrophs
organisms that obtain energy from dead matter
what are detritivores
feed of detritus
speed up decay process
increase surface area of organic matter for decomposers
define denitrification
what conditions does it occur in
bacteria use nitrates as source of energy and produces nitrogen
anaerobic
what are the seral stages of succession
barren land
pioneer community
intermediate community
climax community
define pioneer species
first colonisers
> lichen
what are the adaptations of pioneer species
ability to produce large quantity of seeds/spores carried by wind
seeds that germinate rapidly
photosynthesis ability
able to fix nitrogen from atmosphere
tolerant to extreme environment
what is an example of a secondary coloniser
moss
what is an example of a tertiary coloniser
fern
how to calculate the estimated number in population
number of individuals in sample / area of sample
how to calculate estimated population size
number of individuals in first sample x those in second sample
/ number of recaptured individuals
