Science: Ecology Flashcards
(32 cards)
What is Ecology?
Ecology is the study of the relationships between plants, animals, and their environment.
What is an Ecosystem?
An ecosystem is a group of organisms that interact with their environment, e.g. grassland and woodland, it contains many habitats.
What is a Habitat?
A habitat is the place where an organism lives, e.g. rabbits live in a burrow and blackberry plants live in the hedgerow.
What is Predation?
Predation is the hunting, killing, and eating of another organism.
What is a Predator?
A predator is an organism that hunts, kills, and consumes another organism.
What is Prey?
Prey is an organism that is hunted and eaten by a predator.
What does Abiotic mean?
Abiotic refers to non-living.
What does Biotic mean?
Biotic refers to living.
What is Qualitative data?
Qualitative data describes what living things are present.
What is Quantitative data?
Quantitative data refers to the number of plants or animals in an ecosystem.
What is a Pooter?
A pooter is a device used to collect insects by sucking them in through a tube, e.g. used to collect spiders and ladybugs.
What is a Net?
A net is used to collect butterflies and grasshoppers by sweeping it near bushes and the tops of grasses.
What is a Pitfall Trap?
A pitfall trap is created by sticking a jar into the ground and covering it with a flat stone supported by smaller stones, used to collect beetles and other nocturnal insects.
What is a Quadrat?
A quadrat is a square made of wood.
What is Frequency in ecology?
Frequency is how many times a species comes up, calculated as Number present each throw/The amount of throws x 100.
What are Sources of error in ecological studies?
Sources of error include a sample size that is too small or human error.
What is Adaptation?
Adaptation is where an organism has characteristics that make it well suited to its environment, e.g. rabbits have long ears to hear predators and roses have thorns to prevent animals from eating them.
What is Competition?
Competition is the struggle between organisms for a resource that is in short supply.
What is Animal Competition?
Animal competition is usually for space, food, water, and partners.
What is Plant Competition?
Plant competition is usually for light, space, water, and minerals.
When does Competition occur?
Competition often occurs between members of the same type, but sometimes between members of different types.
What are the Advantages of Competition?
Advantages of competition include driving evolution and keeping animal and plant populations at sustainable levels.
What is Evolution?
Evolution is the change in the characteristics of a species over several generations.
What is Interdependence?
Interdependence refers to two organisms that rely on each other for survival.
