biology - ecology topic 7 cognito

7.7, carbon cycle

defiene

habitat

population

community

ecosystem

competition

habitat = is the place where an organism lives. 

population = all of the organisms of a particular species that live in the same habitat

community = All the populations of different species that live together in a habitat

ecosystem = the interaction of a community of living organisms (biotic) with the non-living (abiotic) parts of their environment

competition = an interaction between organisms or species in which they both try to use the same limited resources

resources that animals compete for. (3)

-water

-food

-mates

-territory

resources that plants compete for. (4)

Mineral ions

Water

Light

Space

define Interdependence 

All organisms in an ecosystem depend upon one another, with countless complex relationships between them all. 

define structural adaptations + example

define behavioural adaptations + example

define functional adaptations/physiological adaptations + example

The physical features of the organism e.g The shape, colour of an organism,

The way an organism acts e.gThe response of an organism when it sees a predator 

The processes that take place within an organism e.g How an organism metabolises chemicals or production of venom

what does sampling mean and why is it often used in sampling

Sampling means only counting a subset of the organisms in a habitat

This is done because it would be impossible, or very time consuming, to count all the organisms 

whats the name of small metal frames, often 1m x 1m, that ecologists use to sample the organisms in a habitat?

Quadrat

what does A line through a habitat along which organisms are sampled dexribe

transect

explain the water cycle

• 
  Water from lakes, rivers, oceans, and the soil, into water , and rises into the atmosphere.

• Water can also evaporate from plants in a process called .

• As the water vapour accumulates it can condense to form .

• Later, the water will fall as rain, which we call .

• The water will then seep into the soil, flow into rivers or lakes, and be taken up by plants. 

• The whole cycle then repeats over and over. 

carbon cycle

• carbon in air is photosynthesiazed into the plants and convert it into biological molecules e.g glucose. The plants can also be burned, releasung carbon dioxide

• then passed back out into the atmosphere via respiration

  or

• into animals by eating the plants. These animals then respire the oxygen back out.

• when these animals/plants die the carbon is either decayed into the atmosphere by microbial respiration by microorganisms living in the (warm,moist aerobic conditions of the) soil

  or

• is decaysed by anaerobic conditions they will slowly be converted into fossil fuels and can be burned by humans to produce carbon dioxide again

defne decay

The breakdown of organic matter by the action of decomposers

define detritivores

Small animals like worms and woodlice that help to break down organic matter into smaller pieces

What effect would lowering the temperature have on the rate of decay of an apple?

decrease

what is biogas

What is the main gas in biogas?

Biogas is a gaseous renewable energy source produced from raw materials such as agricultural waste, manure

methane

Do biogas generators carry out aerobic or anaerobic decay?

Anaerobic 

Once the gas has been removed from a biogas generator, a sludgy material is left over. 

What is this sludgy material used for and why?

It is used as a fertiliser 

Because it has high levels of useful minerals/nutrients

why maintaining high biodiversity is important.

It increases the stability of the ecosystem, so that changes are less likely to have adverse affects

Many species provide specific services, such as pollination

Many of our medicinal drugs come from wild species

Which two of the following substances contribute most to water pollution?

Fertiliser from agriculture 

Sewage from cities 

Which two of the following substances contribute most to air pollution?

Acidic gases from burning fossil fuels 

Smoke from combustion 

Which two of the following substances contribute most to land pollution?

Landfill

Nuclear waste 

how can we can improve biodiversity (2)

• breeding progra,ms

• make the habitat a protected area

• government encourage businesses (including farmers) to reduce damage to biodiversity by set laws prohibiting or requiring certain things, Pay businesses for carrying out certain practices (like planting hedgerows), Setting quotas or limits on harmful practices (such as quotes for deforestation)

How do field margins and hedgerows in agriculture help increase biodiversity? 

They provide extra habitats and food sources so that a wider range of species can survive. 

define atmosphere

a layer of gases surrounding the Earth that is held in place by gravity.

examples of GGG (3)

Methane

Water vapour

Carbon dioxide

greenhouse effect (5)

1. Solar from the sun passes through the atmosphere and hits the earth.

2. Some of this energy is straight back towards space, while some is by the earth and then reemitted towards space.

3. Some of the reemitted energy makes it all the way to space, but much is absorbed by small molecules called gases. 

4. These molecules then reemit the energy and the whole process of absorption and emission can happen over and over again. 

5. This trapped energy keeps the atmosphere and more stable than it would otherwise be. 

what human activities contribute to peat bog destruction?

Cutting out the peat to burn as a fuel

Draining the peat to use the land for agriculture

how do peat bogs lead to global warming

The draining of water allows air (and oxygen) to return to the soil

This allows microorganism to carry out aerobic respiration and decay the organic matter 

This releases CO₂ which acts as a greenhouse gas, and contributes to global warming

3 reasons for deforestation

To clear land for agriculture

Logging for wood

Mining 

How do sustainable fisheries contribute to the maintenance of fish stocks?

By implementing fishing quotas for responsible harvesting

What are the 2 key features of food security?

Access enough safe and nutritious food to meet their requirements for a healthy life

Sustainable for the planet into the future

factors that could negatively affect food security

Rising populations

Changing diets

Pests and pathogens

Environmental change (higher temperatures, droughts, floods, changing rainfall etc)

More expensive agricultural inputs (like fuels, pesticides, fertilisers etc)

Conflicts/wars

Over the past 200 years, why has the food that we eat become more intensive to produce?

Our diets have changed to include food that require more land and resources to produce. 

For example we consume more meat and fewer grains. 

traits that can be improved by genetic modification.

Increased yield 

Increased drought resistance  

Herbicide tolerance 

Virus resistance

Production of specific proteins 

Pesticide resistance

Increased nutrients 

Flood resistance