B7- Ecology

• What are the two main parts of an ecosystem?

  Biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) parts
• What is the smallest part of an ecosystem?


  Individuals (organisms)
• How are populations defined in an ecosystem?


  Populations are made up of individual organisms of a single species
• What constitutes a community in an ecosystem?


  A community is made up of populations of different species
• What do animals and plants often compete for in an ecosystem?


  Resources such as water, food, sunlight, and land
• What are some interdependencies among species in ecosystems?


  • Seed dispersal
  • Pollination
  • Food
  • Shelter
• What characterizes a stable community in an ecosystem?


  A stable community has balanced species and environmental factors with constant population sizes
• What are the levels in a food chain?

  1. Producer
  2. Primary consumer
  3. Secondary consumer
  4. Tertiary consumer
  5. Apex predator
• What is the role of a predator in an ecosystem?


  A predator hunts and consumes prey
• How does carbon dioxide affect coral growth?


  Carbon dioxide in water affects coral growth negatively
• What are the causes of environmental changes?

  • Seasons
  • Humans (global warming)
  • Geological activity
  • Temperature changes
  • Rainfall patterns
• What is the formula for estimating population size using quadrats?


  Population = number counted x total survey area / area sampled
• Why is recycling materials essential in ecosystems?


  • Provides building blocks for future organisms
  • Maintains ecosystem balance
• What is the carbon cycle?


  1. Carbon is removed from the atmosphere by producers via photosynthesis.
  2. Animals obtain carbon by consuming plant matter.
  3. Carbon returns to the atmosphere through respiration.
  4. Decomposers return carbon during decay.
  5. Combustion of fossil fuels adds carbon to the atmosphere.
• What is the water cycle?


  1. Water evaporates from the Earth's surface.
  2. Water cools and condenses into rain or snow.
  3. Rain or snow becomes surface runoff or groundwater.
  4. Plants take up water through roots.
  5. Plants transpire, releasing water back into the atmosphere.
• What factors affect the decay process in biogas generators?


  Oxygen availability, temperature, and moisture
• What is produced by large-scale biogas generators?


  Methane and slurry used in fertilizers
• What are the steps in the decay practical experiment?


  1. Heat components in a water bath.
  2. Mix milk, sodium carbonate, and cresol red.
  3. Add lipase and start timing.
  4. Stop timing when the solution turns yellow.
  5. Repeat with different temperatures.
• What happens to the pH of milk as it decays?


  The pH reduces as milk decays
• What are the consequences of global warming on biodiversity?


  • Disruption of species
  • Ocean acidification
  • Ice melting
  • Extreme meteorological events
  • Disrupted migration patterns
  • Reduction in biodiversity
• How can biodiversity be maintained?


  • Farms with field margins and hedgerows
  • Recycling waste
  • Breeding programs
  • Government targets
  • Protection of rare and threatened habitats
• What are some greenhouse gases?


  Carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O)
• What is the greenhouse effect?


  Some heat energy is trapped by the atmosphere and reflected back
• What is the role of decomposers in an ecosystem?


  • Break down dead material
  • Produce enzymes for recycling organic matter
  • Digest waste products into small, soluble food molecules
• What is a pyramid of biomass?


  • Represents the relative amount of biomass at each trophic level
  • 10% of biomass is transferred to the next trophic level
• What are some reasons for inefficient transfer of biomass?


  Digestion, movement, body temperature regulation, and excretion
• What are the factors threatening food security?

  • New pests and pathogens
  • Cost of inputs
  • Extreme meteorological events
  • Conflicts
• How does overfishing affect food chains?


  Overfishing leads to affected food chains and financial struggles for fishermen
• What is the potential benefit of genetic modification in food production?


  Genetic modification can provide more nutritious food
• How can food production efficiency be improved?


  By shortening food chains and feeding animals high-protein foods
• What is a species?

  A group of similar organisms
• What is a habitat?

  The environment where a species lives
• What is a population?

  A group of individuals of the same species
• What is a community in ecology?

  Different populations interacting in a habitat
• What is an ecosystem?

  The interaction of a community with abiotic factors
• How do organisms adapt to their environment?

  They develop traits suited for survival
• What do organisms compete for?

  Resources like food and space
• What is interdependence in ecology?

  How organisms depend on each other
• What can affect populations in a community?

  The removal or addition of a species
• What is a stable community?

  One where biotic and abiotic factors are balanced