Ecosystems
What name is given to all the organisms living in an area together with the non-living environment?
Ecosystems
What green pigment absorbs light energy for photosynthesis?
Chlorophyll
what 3 elements are found in fertilisers?
Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium
What process causes a species to become better adapted to its environment over many generations?
Natural Selection
Give one abiotic factor that affects the distribution of organisms.
Light, Temperature, pH ETC...
What is the term for several food chains linked together?
food webs
What are the 2 stages of photosynthesis called?
Light Reactions and Carbon Fixation.
Give an example of a biological control
Ladybirds, Cane toads, etc...
What name is given to a random change in an organism's DNA?
A mutation
Give one biotic factor that affects the distribution of organisms.
Predation, disease, competition or food availability.
What name is given to animals that feed on other organisms for energy?
Consumers
What is the byproduct of photosynthesis?
Oxygen
What is Bioaccumulation?
Bioaccumulation is the gradual increase in concentration of a toxic substance within a food chain over time.
What term describes differences between individuals of the same species?
Variation
What piece of equipment is commonly used to estimate small plant abundance?
Quadrats
Define a Community
A community is all the populations of different species living together in the same habitat.
Write out the full photosynthesis Word Equation
Carbon dioxide + water (light energy and chlorophyll) → glucose + oxygen
Explain the proccess of an algal bloom.
An algal bloom occurs when excess nutrients, particularly nitrates from fertilisers, enter a body of water and cause rapid growth of algae. The algae form a dense layer on the surface, blocking light from reaching aquatic plants. The plants die, and decomposers break them down, using oxygen from the water. This reduces oxygen levels, causing aquatic organisms such as fish to die.
A mutation occurs in a rabbit's fur colour gene. Why might this mutation be beneficial?
It may improve camouflage, increasing survival and reproduction.
Define the term abundance
Define the term abundance
A food chain contains grass, rabbits, foxes and hawks. If the fox population decreases, explain one possible effect on the rabbit population and one possible effect on the grass population.
Rabbit numbers may increase due to less predation; grass numbers may decrease due to increased grazing.
A student investigates photosynthesis by measuring oxygen production. The graph levels off even though light intensity continues to increase. Explain why.
Another factor has become limiting, such as carbon dioxide concentration or temperature, preventing the rate from increasing further.
Explain why intensive farming can increase food production but may decrease biodiversity.
More food is produced through controlled conditions and chemical use, but habitats are reduced and fewer species survive.
Explain how mutations and natural selection work together to produce evolution.
Mutations create variation. Individuals with advantageous traits survive and reproduce more successfully, increasing the frequency of those alleles over time.
A species of bird is found only in areas where insects are plentiful. Which type of factor is influencing its distribution and why?
Biotic factor; food availability affects survival and reproduction.