34.3 Physical and Chemical Factors That Influence Life in the Biosphere Flashcards
How many physical and chemical factors are there that influence life in the Biosphere?
6
What are the 6 physical and chemical factors that influence life in the Biosphere?
1) Energy Sources
2) Temperature
3) Water
4) Inorganic Nutrients
5) Other Aquatic Factors
6) Other Terrestrial Factors
What is the most common energy source?
Solar Energy
Where does solar energy come from?
The sun
Autotrophs
organisms that create their own food
Auto means
self
Troph means
feeding
Autotrophs are also known as
producers
What do autotrophs create
glucose
Are more organisms autotrophs or chemoautotrophs
autotrophs (99%)
Photo-Autotrophs
organisms that make their own food with photosynthesis
What are some examples of photo-autotrophs
plants, some bacteria, and protists
Chemoautotrophs
organisms that create their own food by converting abiotic factors into biotic factors
What do Chemoautotrophs create
glucose
Temperature
measure of the vibrations of molecules (average kinetic energy of molecules)
Endotherm
organisms that are able to maintain internal temperature on their own
Ectotherm
organisms that are only able to maintain internal temperature with environmental factors
Ectotherms are ______ - blooded
cold
Endo means
internal
Ecto means
external
What are some examples of endotherms
mammals and birds ONLY
Why are mammals and birds endothermic
because they both have a 4-chambered heart
Why does a 4-chambered heart allow organisms to be endothermic
bc the 4 chambered heart clearly separates oxygenated and de-oxygenated blood
Why is it important to maintain body temperature
because if your body temperature increases/decreases past the range of healthy body temperature, enzymes will denature and the body will stop performing the necessary chemical processes for life
How many types of water are there
2
What are the 2 types of water
1) Marine Water
2) Freshwater
Organisms in Marine Water have to worry about
being hypotonic because water is hypertonic because it is salt water
Organisms in freshwater
need to have isotonic blood because water is hypotonic
Isotonic
When equilibrium is reached with the amount of solute and water molecules “same strength”
Hypertonic
“above strength” higher concentration of solute; therefore, less water
Hypotonic
“below strength” lower concentration of the solute; therefore, more water
How many inorganic limiting nutrients are there
2
What are the inorganic limiting nutrients
1) Phosphorus
2) Nitrogen
What do plants need Phosphorus for
plants need for ATP and DNA
What do plants need Nitrogen for
plants need for DNA and proteins
Where do most plants get nitrogen and phosphorus from
soil
Why are nitrogen and phosphorus known as limiting nutrients
because the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus in an environment determines how many organisms can grow there
What are some other aquatic factors?
Salinity, Currents, Tides
Salinity
how salty water is
Current
water that moves from left to right
Tides
water that moves up and down (rise and fall )
therm meaning
body temperature mechanisms
What are some other terrestrial factors?
wind
wind
different temperatures of air
What is the most important factor in plant growth in terrestrial ecosystems
solar energy from sunlight
Where does the most photosynthesis occur in aquatic ecosystems
near the water’s surface
What are two examples of how a chemoautoroph gains energy?
sulfur bacteria gains energy from extracting energy from the inorganic chemicals in its ecosystem
organisms get nutrition from bacteria living inside their bodies
What is an example of an organism that is an ectotherm
frogs
Why are frogs ectotherms
because they have a 3-chambered heart which does not properly separate de-oxygenated and oxygenated blood
How do frogs keep their internal temperature stable
they gain warmth by absorbing heat from their surroundings
Temperature is particularly important in what bodily function
metabolism
How does water affect organisms that live in terrestrial ecosystems?
Dehydration and watertight coverings that enable plants and vertebrates to be successful
Where do plants get nitrogen and phosphorus from
the soil
How does wind affect life
it can increase an organisms rate of water loss by evaporation
What two factors cab explain the presence of a species in a particular area
1) the species that migrated to that location
2) species that evolved there
What is the only organic molecule chemoaututrophs create
glucose
