Ecology (paper 2)

Define biodiversity

Define biodiversity

The variety of all the different species (of organisms) on Earth

Give two uses of peat taken from peat bogs

• Compost/fertiliser

• Fuel

Why is the use of peat harmful to the environment?

Decaying/burning peat releases carbon dioxide which can lead to global warming

How is the use of antibiotics in farming a threat to human life?

• antibiotic passed into the environment in animal faeces

• Bacteria in water (some are human pathogens)

• Land might become bacteria resistant (effect on crops)

Why does deforestation take place?

• that land used to raise cattle

• cut down for wood for building

• forests cleared for farming

• Fuel (wood/paper)

What are the effects of deforestation?

• less trees to take in carbon dioxide for photosynthesis

• burning waste wood releases carbon dioxide

• Release of carbon dioxide leads to global warming

• habitat loss

Name two ways to increase biodiversity in the UK

• reduce pollution

• Plant trees

• Reduce use of pesticide

• Plant variety of crops

Define community

The populations of different species living in habitat

Define abiotic factors

Non-living factors of the environment

Define biotic factors

Living factors of the environment

What is an ecosystem?

The interaction of a community of living organisms with the non-living parts of their environment

Why do organisms compete?

• for survival

• To reproduce

What do plant compete for?

• Water

• Space

• Light

• Mineral ions from the soil

What do animals compete for?

• territory

• Food

• Water

• Mates

• Shelter

Examples of abiotic factors

• temperature

• Light intensity

• Moisture level

• Carbon dioxide level (plants)

• Wind intensity

• Oxygen level

• Soil ph and mineral content

What can abiotic factors effect?

Population sizes

Examples of biotic factors

• new predators

• Competition

• New pathogens

• Availability of food

Define adaptation

Features or characteristics that allow organisms to live in different environments

Examples of structural adaptations?

1. Shape

2. Colour for camouflage

Example of behavioural adaptations

Migration to warmer climate during winter season

Define functional adaptations

Things that go on inside an organisms body

Example of functional adaptations

• Hibernation to preserve energy (metabolism)

• reproduction

Why do microorganisms have a huge variety of adaptations?

So they can live in a wide range of environments

What does an extremophile mean?

Adapted to live in very extreme environments

What is the source for all energy in a food chain?

The sun’s radiation

Define biomass

The mass of living material

What’s the order of a food chain?

1. Producers

2. Primary consumers

3. Secondary consumers

4. Tertiary consumers

5. apex predators

Define global warming

The increase of the average global temperature

How is carbon transferred from the atmosphere?

• plants absorb co2 via photosynthesis

• Co2 is absorbed by oceans

How is carbon transferred to the atmosphere?

• combustion of fossil fuels

• Respiration by animals and plants

• Decaying organisms

Define what a decomposer is?

Organisms which feed on dead and decaying organisms (microbes and fungi)

What is the job of a decomposer?

They break down the biomass and release nutrients into the soil

Describe the process of the nutrient cycle

1. Water and mineral ions absorbed into plants through roots via active transport

2. Co2 into plants via photosynthesis

3. Use all of the above to build biological molecules and use these molecules to build their bodies and keep themselves alive

4. Animals absorb biological molecules to build their own bodies

5. Death

6. Excretion

7. Decomposer break down dead bodies and waste materials

Order of the water cycle

1. Evaporation

2. Condensation

3. Precipitation

4. Transpiration and respiration

Define condensation in the water cycle

As moist air rises it cools, water vapour condenses back to liquid water droplets producing clouds

Define precipitation

As water droplets in clouds get heavier they fall as rain, snow or hail

Define transpiration and respiration in the water cycle

The loss of water vapour from plants and animals directly from the atmosphere

Define evaporation in the water cycle

The sun heats the earth’s surface and water is turned from liquid into water vapour forming warm moist air

define a population

groups of organisms that make us species

what’s an individual?

the smallest part of an ecosystem

species may depend on other species for what type of things?

1. seed dispersal

2. pollination

3. shelter

4. food

when are communities stable?

• environmental factors are balanced

• population sizes stay constant

• species are balanced

what do food chains show?

the feeding relationships within a community