What is a habitat
Where an organism lives
What is a population
Total number of one type of organism in an ecosystem
What is a community
All the living things in an ecosystem
What is an ecosystem
Interaction between living and non-living parts of ecosystem(habitats and communities)
What is biodiversity
The range of species which exists within am ecosystem
What is a species
A group of organisms that are so similar to one another genetically that they are able to interbreed and produce fertile offspring
What is an abiotic factor
Abiotic factors are non living or physical factors that affect organisms e.g. light intensity, pH, temperature
What is a biotic factor
Biotic factors are related to living things e.g. competition for food space or light etc.
What is predation
Predation is the eating of one organism by another
What is a niche
A niche is a role that an organism plays within a community . It relates to the resources it requires in its ecosystem,such as light and nutrient availability
What is a producer
Green plants able to make their own food by photosynthesis
What is a consumer
An animal which get their energy by feeding on plants or animals
What is a herbivore
Animal which only feeds on plants
What is carnivore
Animal that only eats meat
What is an omnivore
Animal which feeds on both plants and animals
What is a prey
The animal eaten by the predator
What is decomposer
Bacteria and fungi, which breakdown organic matter
What is a food chain
A relationship where one organism feeds on the previous one in a series and in turn provides food for the next one
What is a food web
Several inter-connecting food chains
When does competition in an ecosystem occur
When resources are in short supply
What is interspecific competition
It occurs amongst most individuals of different species for one or a few of the resources they require
What is intraspecific competition
It occurs amongst individuals of the same species and is for all resources they require, it is more intense that interspecific competition
What is an adaption
When organisms, which occupy different niches, have special features that allow them to survive in their habitats
Name 2 examples of sampling techniques
Pitfall trap and quadrat
What is a pitfall trap used for
A pitfall trap is used to sample organism that move around in the leaf litter
What is a quadrat used for
A quadrat is used to sample plants and animals that do not move around much
What is used to measure light intensity
A light meter
What is used to measure soil moisture
A moisture meter
What is an indicator species
Indicator species are species that by their presence or absence indicate the environmental quality/level of pollution
Name 2 biological keys
A paired statement key and a branched key
What is the name of the pores in leaves
Stomata
What are the 2 stages of photosynthesis
Light reactions and carbon fixation
Where is the sight of photosynthesis
The chloroplast
Explain stage 1 of photosynthesis (light dependent stage)
Light energy from the sun is absorbed by chlorophyll in chloroplast and used to: convert light energy into chemical energy, generate ATP, split water (Called photosythilis)
Why is water split in photosynthesis
To release oxygen gas that diffuses from the cell as a by-product, also to release hydrogen
Explain stage 2 of photosynthesis (carbon fixation )
Carbon fixation is a series of enzyme controlled reactions, which use hydrogen and ATP, produced by the light reactions with carbon dioxide to produce a sugar, called glucose
What is the word equation did photosynthesis
Light energy
Carbon dioxide + water ————> glucose + oxygen Chlorophyll
What are limiting factors
These are factors which if in short supply restrict the rate of photosynthesis and plant growth
Name 3 limiting factors
Light intensity, carbon dioxide concentration, temperature
Arrows in a food chain show what?
The direction of energy flow
Name 3 producers
Daisies, grass, dandelions
What does a food chain always start with
A plant
What is a primary consumer
First consumer in a food chain
What is a secondary consumer
The second Consumer in a food chain
What is a tertiary consumer
The third consumer in a food chain
What is the majority of energy lost as in energy transfer
Heat
Only a very small quantity Of what is used for growth in energy transfer
Energy
What is a pyramid of numbers
A diagram that represents the number of organisms at each stage in a food chain
What is a pyramid of energy
A diagram that shows the available energy stored in the biomass of organisms at each stage of a food chain
Name 3 developments in agriculture
Increased use of pesticide to kill predators, which attack crops. Increased use of herbacide to kill weeds, which compete with crops for resource. Developing genetically modified crops
What is a control experiment
Can be compared to the experiment to prove that the one variable being changed has caused the result
What happens to nitrated dissolved in soil water
They are absorbed into plants
Describe the algal bloom process
Fertilisers dissolve in rainwater and leech from the soul into the freshwater, adding unwanted nitrate, the extra nitrate increases populations which creates algal bloom, algae blooms reduce light levels killing aquatic plants, dead plants become food for bacteria , the bacteria use up large quantities of oxygen for other organisms . As a result many animals die (biodiversity decreases)
What is herbicide used to kill
Weeds
Name 3 bad effects of pesticides
Kills other species, as the toxic molecules pass along the food chain the concentration increases, pesticides toxicity increases and can reach lethal levels
What is biological control
Uses pests’ natural enemies against them
What is a mutation
A mutation is a random change to the DNA that occurs rarely
What is a mutagenic agent
Something that increases the rate of mutation
What is a isolating barrier
An isolation barrier splits a population, it can be geographical, ecological or reproductive
What is speciation
The formation of a new species
How do you improve results when using a light meter
Don’t cast a shadow
How to improve results when using a moisture meter
Always dry the probe