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Questions and Answers
What defines a population in ecological terms?
What defines a population in ecological terms?
Which term describes the total number of different species in a specific area?
Which term describes the total number of different species in a specific area?
What is the purpose of identifying abiotic factors in an ecosystem?
What is the purpose of identifying abiotic factors in an ecosystem?
Which of the following best describes a community in ecological terms?
Which of the following best describes a community in ecological terms?
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What does an ecosystem encompass?
What does an ecosystem encompass?
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Which of the following terms specifically relates to climatic factors in a habitat?
Which of the following terms specifically relates to climatic factors in a habitat?
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What is primarily included in biotic factors of an environment?
What is primarily included in biotic factors of an environment?
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Which term refers to the specific area where an organism resides?
Which term refers to the specific area where an organism resides?
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What is the term for the process by which bacteria and fungi break down organic material using enzymes?
What is the term for the process by which bacteria and fungi break down organic material using enzymes?
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What is the primary role of decomposers in an ecosystem?
What is the primary role of decomposers in an ecosystem?
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Which condition is NOT necessary for effective decay and decomposition?
Which condition is NOT necessary for effective decay and decomposition?
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What is one method to measure soil pH?
What is one method to measure soil pH?
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How do plants adapt to compete for light in shaded areas?
How do plants adapt to compete for light in shaded areas?
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During which process do plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere?
During which process do plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere?
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Which of the following is NOT a resource that plants compete for?
Which of the following is NOT a resource that plants compete for?
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What term is used to describe the organic component of soil formed during the decomposition of plant and animal matter?
What term is used to describe the organic component of soil formed during the decomposition of plant and animal matter?
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Which of the following processes releases carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere?
Which of the following processes releases carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere?
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What role do plants play in the energy transfer process?
What role do plants play in the energy transfer process?
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How do animals obtain carbon from plants?
How do animals obtain carbon from plants?
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What type of consumer is primarily associated with eating plants?
What type of consumer is primarily associated with eating plants?
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Which of the following processes is NOT a part of the carbon cycle?
Which of the following processes is NOT a part of the carbon cycle?
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Which factor can greatly influence the distribution of organisms?
Which factor can greatly influence the distribution of organisms?
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What happens to energy as it moves up the food chain?
What happens to energy as it moves up the food chain?
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What type of competition occurs when organisms rely on limited resources?
What type of competition occurs when organisms rely on limited resources?
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What is a primary reason for the poor plant growth in waterlogged soils?
What is a primary reason for the poor plant growth in waterlogged soils?
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Which mineral is essential for the production of chlorophyll in plants?
Which mineral is essential for the production of chlorophyll in plants?
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What causes eutrophication in water bodies?
What causes eutrophication in water bodies?
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Which type of fertiliser can be categorized as natural?
Which type of fertiliser can be categorized as natural?
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What is the consequence of diminished oxygen levels in water due to decomposed plant matter?
What is the consequence of diminished oxygen levels in water due to decomposed plant matter?
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Which process involves the overgrowth of aquatic plants blocking sunlight due to nutrient pollution?
Which process involves the overgrowth of aquatic plants blocking sunlight due to nutrient pollution?
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What is a common effect of agricultural pollution on nearby water bodies?
What is a common effect of agricultural pollution on nearby water bodies?
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What is required for active uptake in plants to occur effectively?
What is required for active uptake in plants to occur effectively?
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What best explains why numbers of organisms decrease as one moves up the food chain?
What best explains why numbers of organisms decrease as one moves up the food chain?
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What is a limitation of using pyramids of number to represent ecosystems?
What is a limitation of using pyramids of number to represent ecosystems?
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Why is biomass considered a more accurate representation than numbers in trophic pyramids?
Why is biomass considered a more accurate representation than numbers in trophic pyramids?
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What role do decomposers play in nutrient cycling?
What role do decomposers play in nutrient cycling?
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What distinguishes nutrient flow from energy flow in an ecosystem?
What distinguishes nutrient flow from energy flow in an ecosystem?
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What is a common misconception about pyramid structures in ecology?
What is a common misconception about pyramid structures in ecology?
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Which statement best represents the concept of decay in ecosystems?
Which statement best represents the concept of decay in ecosystems?
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In the example of the oak tree and various consumers, which organism represents the highest biomass?
In the example of the oak tree and various consumers, which organism represents the highest biomass?
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What is the main purpose of a belt transect in ecological studies?
What is the main purpose of a belt transect in ecological studies?
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Why are barnacles found in large numbers on the upper shore, while seaweeds are found on the lower shore?
Why are barnacles found in large numbers on the upper shore, while seaweeds are found on the lower shore?
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Which abiotic factor is NOT directly mentioned as influencing species survival in the provided content?
Which abiotic factor is NOT directly mentioned as influencing species survival in the provided content?
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How can the water content of soils be estimated according to the content?
How can the water content of soils be estimated according to the content?
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What instrument is used to measure wind speed in ecological investigations?
What instrument is used to measure wind speed in ecological investigations?
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Which type of soil would typically support a limited number of plant species due to its characteristics?
Which type of soil would typically support a limited number of plant species due to its characteristics?
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Which factor can affect the type of plants that grow in particular soils?
Which factor can affect the type of plants that grow in particular soils?
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What is a common method for assessing soil characteristics in ecological studies?
What is a common method for assessing soil characteristics in ecological studies?
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Study Notes
Ecological Relationships
- This document covers CCEA GCSE Biology Topic 7.
- It's a Moodlebook focusing on ecological relationships.
- The document includes biological terms, field work, and sampling techniques.
- It covers abiotic factors, competition, energy transfer, food chains/webs, pyramids of numbers/biomass, decomposers, the carbon cycle, the nitrogen cycle, root hair cells, fertilizers, water pollution, and human activity's impact on biodiversity.
- The document details how to sample organisms in an area using quadrats and belt transects.
- It includes a table of contents for easy navigation.
- Methods for measuring various abiotic factors (wind speed, water content, pH, light intensity, temperature) are described.
- It explains the processes of competition among organisms and the importance of available resources.
- The flow of energy through an ecosystem, including producers, consumers (herbivores, carnivores, omnivores), and trophic levels, are detailed.
- Food chains and food webs are explained as visually representing energy flow and consumption.
- The document defines decomposers and their role in the nutrient cycle.
- The carbon cycle, including human impacts like combustion and deforestation, is covered.
- The nitrogen cycle and its bacteria (nitrogen-fixing, nitrifying, denitrifying).
- Root hair cells' function in nutrient uptake and factors that may impact this (e.g., oxygen availability).
Biological Terms
- Population: The number of organisms of the same species in an area.
- Habit: An organism's living space.
- Community: All the living organisms in a given habitat.
- Biodiversity: The number of different species in a habitat.
- Environment: The surroundings, including living and non-living components.
- Biotic: Relating to living organisms.
- Abiotic: Relating to non-living components (like climate).
- Ecosystem: The interaction of living and non-living parts of an area.
Field Work and Sampling
- Sampling is vital due to the large areas that often need to be studied.
- Sampling methods are often systematic to ensure reliability of data.
- Using a larger number of individual samples (and calculating an average) is useful for more reliable data.
- Random sampling avoids bias in data collection.
- Quadrats are small frames for sampling a specific area's ground cover, estimating percentage cover.
- Belt transects are used to study gradual changes between habitats.
Other Topics
- Transfer of Energy: Plants use photosynthesis to convert light energy into chemical energy. Consumers get energy by eating other organisms, and energy is gradually lost as it moves along a food chain.
- Competition: Organisms compete for essential resources like water, light, space, minerals, food, territory, and mates.
- Pyramids of Numbers/Biomass: Visual representations of the number or mass of organisms at each level of a food chain.
- The Carbon Cycle: Carbon moves through the environment (atmosphere, plants, animals, soil, and fossil fuels) via processes like photosynthesis, respiration, decay, combustion, and fossilisation.
- The Nitrogen Cycle: Nitrogen’s movement (gas form in the atmosphere, absorbed by plants, part of plant and animal proteins). Bacteria play vital roles in converting different nitrogen containing substances.
- Fertilizers: Added to fields to replace minerals used by the growth of plants.
- Water Pollution: Eutrophication(fertiliser runoff, excess nutrients) can lead to harmful algal blooms and oxygen depletion in waterways.
- Human Activity and Biodiversity: Human activities like deforestation and pollution decrease biodiversity. Efforts are made to protect habitats, like sustainable woodland practices.
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Description
This quiz covers CCEA GCSE Biology Topic 7 on ecological relationships. It explores key concepts including abiotic factors, competition, energy transfer, and biodiversity impacts. The quiz also includes sampling techniques such as quadrats and belt transects for studying ecosystems.
