Biology > A local ecosystem > Flashcards

A local ecosystem Flashcards

(48 cards)

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1
Q

what is abiotic and biotic, give examples:

A
  • biotic: living organisms
    plants, animals, fungi, algae
  • abiotic: non-living
    soil, rock, temperature, wind
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2
Q

methods to test:temperature

A

thermometer, soil and air temp

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3
Q

methods to test: aspect

A

clinometer, nesting, roots

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4
Q

methods to test: humidity

A

hygrometer, transpiration

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5
Q

methods to test:wind speed

A

anemometer, plant growth

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6
Q

methods to test: light availability

A

light (lux) meter: photosynthesis

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7
Q

methods to test: soil salinity

A

silver nitrate (drop onto soil sample, see if any white colour forms: meaning salt is present), water/mineral uptake

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8
Q

methods to test: soil pH

A

universal indicator (sprinkle barium sulphate then few drops of indicator, read the graph), growth restrictions

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9
Q

Compare/contrast- terrestrial and aquatic environment: buoyancy

A

terrestrial:
- little, from air

aquatic:

  • higher
  • no gravity/less dense
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10
Q

Compare/contrast- terrestrial and aquatic environment: temperature variation

A

terrestrial:

  • large variation,
  • based on sunlight (abiotic)

aquatic:

  • stable, doesn’t absorb heat as fast
  • poor heat conductor
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11
Q

Compare/contrast- terrestrial and aquatic environment: light penetration

A

terrestrial:

  • easy through the atmosphere
  • better, absorbs it better on some surfaces

aquatic:

  • 100m+ is black
  • poor, only surface is good
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12
Q

Compare/contrast- terrestrial and aquatic environment: strength of natural forces

A

terrestrial:
- have potential to be more damaging

aquatic:

  • more stable
  • tornado, volcano, tidal wave
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13
Q

distribution meaning

A

where a species can be found, a range

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14
Q

abundance meaning

A

how many individuals are there are at a specific time and area

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15
Q

sedentary meaning

A

doesn’t move, corals

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16
Q

community meaning

A

lots of different species

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17
Q

environment meaning

A

organisms surroundings, both abiotic and biotic

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18
Q

ecosystem meaning

A

an environment which has living organisms interacting as well as with abiotic features

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19
Q

how to measure quadrats and purpose

A

lay down random sampling squares, record findings

  • a sample of a community
  • overall view
  • series population density: counting individuals
  • percentage cover: where species occupy space
  • frequency occurrence of species
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20
Q

how to measure transect and purpose

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A

line of string/tape, record on the line

  • useful for the transition of species as environmental conditions change
  • investigate gradients eg. zonations
21
Q

what does quadrats and transects measure:

Study These Flashcards
A

quadrats:
ABUNDANCE

transect:
DISTRIBUTION

22
Q

general equation for aerobic cellular respiration

Study These Flashcards
A

glucose + oxygen –> carbon dioxide + water + ATP

23
Q

role of respiration in ecosystem

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A

changes glucose to create ATP, useable/chemical energy:

  • growth and repair
  • movement
  • keep organs working
  • chemical reactions
  • movement of substances in organisms
  • synthesis of compounds
24
Q

role of photosynthesis in ecosystem

Study These Flashcards
A
  • energy needed for all life processes

- changes light energy from the sun into glucose

25
detail of respiration cycle:
Stage 1: Glycosis - produces ATP in cell cytoplasm Stage 2: Krebs cycle - found in mitochondria, ATP - expels carbon dioxide Stage 3: Electron transport chain - produces most ATP - expels water -
26
population trends: stable/in balance
- where numbers remain constant in an area over a period of time - assume resources are sufficient to sustain a steady population
27
population trends: explosion
- number increase dramatically due to more plentiful resources available (eg. Crown of thorns) - natural environmental conditions - human impact: high nutrient run off, phytoplankton
28
population trends: decreasing
- disease, predation, competition, loss of habitat, human impact all contribute to decline/extinction eg. northern hairy wombat - endangered from loss of habitat from farming - competition with rabbits, sheep, cattle for food - loss of native grasses - inbreeding: susceptible to disease
29
predator-prey relationship:
where one species eats another, is dependent on density, control each others population: equilibrium
30
factors affecting predator/prey relationship
- size of the ecosystem - availability of food for prey - reproductive cycles - diseases - seasonal migrations - summary: all populations depend on births, deaths, emigration, immigrations
31
relationships:
- predator-prey - allelopathy: where organism secretes substance with an inhibitory effect on another organism, prevents growth of other plant (eg. casuarina glauca) - parasitism: external and internal parasite, benefits one, harms the host - symbiosis: - commensalism: where one species benefits, no harm to the other - mutualism: where both species benefit
32
decomposers:
recyclers: organisms which absorb nutrients from dead tissue or waste products of organisms- returning organic matter to the soil (eg. bacteria and fungi)
33
detritus/detritivores
detritus: dead plant and animal matter detritivores: worms, snails which break down detritus to form what is finally consumed by decomposers
34
trophic interactions:
transfer of energy between levels
35
food chains:
linear relationship of ONE transfer of energy - starting from producer, - arrow showing flow of energy to - NOT equal energy transfer each time
36
food web:
network of branching diagram show feeding relationships of all things in an ecosystem or particular area
37
biomass:
mass of organisms in an area, by units of energy, dry mass - can be in pyramid form - energy is lost in each step
38
adaption
special features adapted to a particular environment: - general (wings on bird, human fingers) - specific (humps on camel, burrowing frog skin)
39
structural adaptations:
- SHAPE and size of features | - (Tazi have large proboscis eyes, see better in dark)
40
physiological adaptations:
- FUNCTION of structural feature | - (network of blood vessels in paws of red kangaroo, risen and licked to cool down)
41
behavioural adaptations
- ACTION done by organism, reactions to stimuli | - (lizard lie in sun to warm up, find shelter to cool)
42
intraspecific, interspecific and competition
- intra: between one species - inter: between different species - comp: struggle between organisms for same resource
43
short term consequence on ecosystem for species competition
- usually one species is outcompeted, decrease in abundance of species
44
long term consequence on ecosystem for species competition
- less successful may become extinct | - each organism adapts to habit its own niche in the ecosystem
45
human impacts:
``` land clearing, habitat destruction erosion salination, desertification species loss and loss of biodiversity depletion of the world's ozone layer global climate change, greenhouse gas emissions ```
46
evaluate how human impacts can affect an environment
pros: maintenance, science, species protection, restoration cons: pollution, habitat destruction, invasive species
47
discuss how decomposers are vital to ecosystem health
- decomposers: recycle nutrients (making nutrients/minerals available) --> constant supply to other organisms - reduces the likelihood of diseases --> removal of faeces - remove dead organisms --> increase diversity - could cause disease if populations too high
48
explain how competition can affect a community
intra: - lead to increase/decrease to population - changing time spent mating - tercundity declines longtime inter: - greater effect on communities --> flow onto the food web
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