yr.11 sem 1 Exam Flashcards
(122 cards)
1
Q
Abiotic factor
A
Non-living factors within an ecosystem, such as physical landscape or weather
2
Q
Biodiversity
A
The full range of different living things in a region
3
Q
Continuous variable
A
a variable that is able to take any value within a range: length, time and temperature are examples of continuous variables
4
Q
Extrapolation
A
extension beyond the measured range of data to predict or construct new data that has not been measured
5
Q
Measurement error
A
the difference between the measurement result and a currently accepted or standard value of a quantity
6
Q
Primary data
A
data that you have measured or collected yourself
7
Q
Quadrant
A
A square, rectangle or circle frame of convenient size, used to mark out an area in which organisms are to be sampled
8
Q
Qualitative
A
non-numerical
9
Q
Quantitive
A
numerical
10
Q
Reliability
A
the degree to which an assessment instrument or protocol is able t consistently and repeatedly measure an attribute and achieve similar results for the same population
11
Q
Secondary data
A
data or information that have been collected by someone else
12
Q
Transect
A
method used in a population sampling where a line is drawn through a community to determine the distribution of species; can be used with quadrants and is useful for stationary organisms
13
Q
Validity
A
something that can change or be changed, as distinct from a constant, which does not change
14
Q
asymmetrical
A
Having no definite symmetry
15
Q
Bilaterally symmetrical
A
having left and right halves of the body that are mirror images
16
Q
Binomial system
A
system of naming organisms using two parts; a generic name and a specific name
17
Q
biodiversity hotspot
A
An area with numerous endemic species and a large number of endangered and threatened species; must contain 1500 species of endemic vascular plants and have lost at least 70% of its primary native vegetation
18
Q
biodiversity species concept
A
A definition of species based on wether members can interbreed to produce fertile offspring
19
Q
biosphere
A
Any area on earth that living things inhabit
20
Q
biotic factor
A
A living factor within an ecosystem, such as an animal or a plant
21
Q
cladistics
A
A method of classifying organisms based on the characteristics they share
22
Q
cladogram
A
A diagram constructed using cladistics that show the evolutionary relationships between organsisms
23
Q
dichotomous
A
Describes a classification system where each branch has two options
24
Q
ecosystem
A
A self-sustaining unit made up of a community of organisms in an area, the physical environment in which they live, and the interactions between them
25
ectothermic
Unable to control metabolic rate and therefore unable to regulate body temperature using internal metabolic processes
26
endemic
Describes a species that is native to a particular geographic region
27
endothermic
Able to generate heat via metabolic activity and therefore able to regulate internal body temperature using internal metabolic processes
28
eukaryote
A complex type of cell with a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles; a member of Domain Eukarya
29
gene pool
The sum of all the genes, including all of their different forms, in a given population of one species
30
hybrid
The non-viable, infertile offspring that can result from the mating of two individuals from different species
31
Monophyletic
Describes organisms that are grouped together as a clade
32
Morphological species concept
A definition of a species based on physical characteristics
33
organisms
Living things that can respire to produce energy
34
paraphyletic
Describes a group that does not contain all of the organisms descended from the most recent common ancestor
35
photosynthesis
A chemical reaction using energy from the sun to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen
36
phylogenetic species concept
A definition of species that states a species comprises the smallest group of individuals sharing a common ancestor
37
population
A group of individuals belonging to the same species living in a particular area at the same time
38
prokaryote
A simple type of cell that lacks a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles
39
radially symmetrical
Having a circular body plan with structures that radiate out
40
Species
a group of morphologically similar organisms that share a gene pool; members of a species can interbreed in natural conditions to produce fertile and viable offspring
41
Vascular tissue
(In plants) the tissue devoted to the bulk transport of water, nutrients, sugars and other substances; xylem and phloem
42
Vertebrates
animals that have a backbone
43
Association
a relationship or interaction between two or more species
44
Biome
large-scale category of ecosystem across a large geographical area
45
Coevolve
simultaneously evolve adaptive features in two different species that place selective pressures on each other
46
Collaboration
the beneficial working together of members of the same species
47
Commensalism
a one-sided interaction between species, from which one organism benefits species, and the other does not benefit, nor is harmed
48
Community
a group of populations of different species in an ecosystem living in close enough proximity to interact
49
Dominant species
the most common or abundant species in a particular ecosystem
50
Ectoparasites
parasites on the outside surface of the organism
51
endemic
Describes a species that is native to a particular geographic region
52
endoparasites
Parasites on internal environment of organism
53
Environment
the abiotic and biotic factors of an area
54
Epiphyte
a type of climbing plant, such as lianas, which uses trees as support as they reach for light
55
Estuary
where fresh water meets salt water
56
Habitat
an area or environment within an ecosystem where an individual of a species lives, feeds and reproduces
57
Interspecific
describes interaction or relationships between members of different species
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Infraspecific
describes interactions or relationships between members of the same species
59
Limiting factor
an element of the environment that restricts the survival of an organism to a region
60
Mutualism
a symbiotic relationship which benefits both species in the relationship
61
Parasitism
parasite derives its nutrients from the host, which is harmed or killed
62
Photic zone
a region of water that light can penetrate, allowing photosynthesis to occur
63
Population
group of the same species living in a particular area at the same time
64
Predation
an interaction between species in which one species, the predator, kills and eats the other, the prey
65
Seed disperser
an organism that feeds on fruits and seeds for nutrition and, by defecating, deposits seeds in new locations where they can germinate and grow
66
Seed predator
organism that feeds on seeds
67
Substrate
a supporting surface on which an organism grows
68
Symbiosis
relationship between individuals of two or more species that is beneficial to at least on species
69
Terrestrial environment
a land environment, such as tundra, desert or rainforest
70
Topography
the composition of the natural and artificial feature of an area
71
Anaerobic
an organism capable of making its own food from inorganic substances using light energy (through photosynthesis) or chemical energy (through chemosynthesis); includes green plants, algae and certain bacteria
72
Biogeochemical cycle
the cycling of matter through the living components (organisms) and non-living components (such as soils, rocks, water and the atmosphere) of an ecosystem
73
Biomass
the total mass of biological matter (living or dead) in a given area, at a given time, that can be used as an energy source
74
Carbon cycle
the biogeochemical cycle in which carbon moves through living and non-living reservoirs in ecosystems in out biosphere; carbon cycles quickly through organisms and the atmosphere via cellular respiration and photosynthesis
75
Carbon sink
a biogeochemical reservoir, such as plants or the oceans, that stores carbon because it absorbs more carbon than it releases
76
Competitive exclusion principle
the theory that no two species can occupy the same ecological niche for an extended period of time
77
decomposers
Organisms that break down complex organic matter into simple inorganic molecules (nutrients); fungi and bacteria are common decomposers
78
detritivore
An organism that feeds on small pieces of dead plant or animal matter
79
detritus
Organic wastes, including faeces and dead tissues
80
ecological niche
The role an organism has in its ecosystem and the conditions it requires to persist, including food sources, feeding activities, spatial habitat, reproduction and relationships
81
fundamental niche
The potential role an organism could fulfil if there were no competitors, predators or parasites
82
geochemical
Describes the chemical interactions that take place in crustal and subcrustal reservoirs, such as the deep Earth and lithosphere (crust)
83
Gross Primary Productivity (GPP)
The total organic matter in an ecosystem (or specified area) produced by photosynthesis
84
herbivore
Primary consumer that feeds on plant organisms
85
heterotroph
An organism that cannot synthesise its own organic compounds from simple inorganic materials
86
keystone species
A species of relatively low abundance that has a disproportionately large influence over lower trophic levels, determining the coexistence of these species in an area
87
net primary productivity (NPP)
The amount of organic matter actually available to herbivores; the GPP less the energy required by the producers themselves
88
nitrogen fixation
The process by which free nitrogen is ‘fixed’ or combined to form ammonium or nitrate ions before living things can make use of it for growth
89
omnivore
An organism that feeds on a range of foods, including plant and animal matter
90
primary consumer
A consumer that feeds directly on producers
91
producer
An organism that is able to make complex organic molecules, its own food, from simpler inorganic materials
92
realised niche
The actual ecological niche a species inhabits
93
secondary consumer
A consumer that feeds on primary consumers
94
top consumer
The last link in the food chain
95
trophic efficiency
The percentage of energy at one trophic level that ends up in the next trophic level
96
Capture-mark-recapture
An ecological surveying technique used to measure animal populations, in which individual animals are captured, marked and released
97
carrying capacity
Maximum population size of a species that can be supported in a given environment
98
density
The number of individuals in a given area
99
distribution
The place in an ecosystem where individuals of species are found
100
k-selection
Type of population growth in which initial growth may be slow, but over the long term a sustainable population is maintained
101
population composition
The measurable characteristics of a population, such as age, sex ratios and fertility rate
102
population density
The number of individuals of the same species living in the same habitat at a particular timer per unit area
103
population dynamics
The way in which populations of a species change in size and structure over time
104
r-selection
A type of population growth, in which opportunistic species quickly colonise an unstable ecosystem, leading to a pattern of rapid population increase and decrease, and their eventual replacement by competitors
105
autotroph
A producer; an organism that can photosynthesise to make its own food using light energy from the sun
106
climax community
The stable community present at the final stage in a succession; it is stable as long as environmental factors remain unchanged
107
fire regime
The season, intensity and frequency of fire in a given area over a period of time
108
gondwana
The southern supercontinent that drifted apart from Pangea
109
Nudation
The development of bare sites with no organisms inhabiting the affected areas
110
prescribed burning
The process of planning and applying fire to a predetermined area, under specific environmental conditions, to lower fuel loads and reduce the severity and size of bushfires
111
primary succession
When succession begins in a virtually lifeless area where soil has not yet formed
112
secondary succession
A process of change in an ecosystem when a previously established community is taken over by a new group of organisms
113
succession
A process of change in community composition and structure, usually towards the establishment of a stable ecosystem
114
anoxic
Completely devoid of oxygen
115
biological control
A method of pest control in which another species is introduced that can control the population of the pest species
116
biomagnification
The sequence of processes in an ecosystem by which higher concentrations of a particular non-biodegradable chemical accumulate in the tissues of an organisms higher up the trophic levels
117
eutrophication
The process that occurs when excess nutrients, particularly nitrogen and phosphorous, enter a body of water and become highly concentrated, leading to excess growth of organisms such as algae
118
fragmentation
The separation of some parts of the habitat of an ecosystem into isolated sections
119
hypoxic
Low in oxygen
120
invasive species
Introduced species that are able to establish populations in new areas
121
salination
Process of increasing salt concentration in soil
122
translocation
The transport and release of animals in another location
