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Biology 20 > A 1&2&3 > Flashcards

A 1&2&3 Flashcards

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1
Q

Why is water the universal solvent? How can it dissolve solutes?

A
  • water is polar(slightly negative oxygen end, slightly positive hydrogen end)
  • polarity allows it to form hydrogen bonds
  • The charged portion attracts oppositely charged ions and other polar molecules allowing it to dissolve a wide variety of compounds
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2
Q

What are the 3 types of Ecological pyramids?

A

Feeding relationships throughout the trophic levels can be modelled in 3 ways:
1. Pyramid of numbers
2. Pyramid of Biomass
3. Pyramid of Energy

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3
Q

what does anoxic mean:

A

no oxygen present

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4
Q

what is the first law of thermodynamics:

A

energy cannot be created or destroyed it can only change forms

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5
Q

examples of humans increasing the CO2 being releases in carbon cycle:

A
  • mining fossil fuels
    – driving cars
  • heating homes and buildings
  • factories
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6
Q

Ecosystem:

A

All the organisms in an area & the physical environment of an area

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7
Q

What are the two types of cycling:

A

Rapid and slow

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8
Q

what is detritus:

A

non-living organic matter (ex. poop)

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9
Q

examples of humans DECREASING the CO2 being taken up in the carbon cycle:

A

-deforestation
- clearing other vegetation

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10
Q

what are the 3 components of the biosphere:

A
  1. atmosphere
  2. lithosphere
  3. hydrosphere
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11
Q

Anabolic:

A

synthesize smaller molecules into larger one
- requires energy
-smaller to larger

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12
Q

when does water vapour turn to liquid in the hydrological cycle?

A

through condensation NOT precipitation

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13
Q

Carbon Cycle:

A

-directly linked to the oxygen cycle
-plays a key role in metabolic processes

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14
Q

Is water a polar molecule?

A

Yes.
- The hydrogen end has a slightly positive charge and the oxygen end has a slightly negative charge
- polarity allows the molecule to have hydrogen bonding

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15
Q

What is water?

A

The universal solvent(dissolves other things)
- H2)
- Polar(different charges at each end of the molecule)

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16
Q

down falls of Phosphorus:

A

algae blooms

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17
Q

cellular respiration:

A

C6H12O6 + 6O2 -> 6CO2 + 6H2O +ATP
- a process that converts the chemical energy stored in the bonds of glucose into ATP, molecules which serve as our body’s main fuel source
- ATP is “Burned” to power cellular processes. This serves to transform it into usable forms of energy, such as kinetic (to move) and thermal(to keep us warm)

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18
Q

Pyramid of energy:

A

Energy (kJ or J) contained at each trophic level for a given area at a given time
- ALWAYS PYRAMID SHAPED

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19
Q

Food chain:

A

linear pathways through which food/energy is transferred

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20
Q

adhesion:

A

attraction of water molecules to molecules of other substances
- adhesion provides upward force on water which counteracts the pull of gravity
- transpiration

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21
Q

Oxygen cycle:

A
  • Linked to the carbon cycle
  • oxygen cycles through cellular respiration and photosynthesis
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22
Q

Producers/autotrophs (‘self-feeder’):

A
  • An organism able to use the sun’s energy to create(synthesize) their food(organic molecules)
  • can be done using either photosynthesis or chemosynthesis
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23
Q

productivity:

A

rate at which an ecosystems producers capture and store energy within organic compounds over a certain length of time
- ** Rate at which ecosystems produce new biomass per year
-net productivity vs total

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24
Q

First consumers:

A
  • herbivores
  • organisms that eat plants/autotrophs
  • grazing mammals
    -mammals that eat fruit and seeds
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25
Q

Density of water:

A

water cooling= hydrogen bonds losen = lower density
water heating = hydrogen bonds tighten = higher density

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26
Q

whats cyanobacteria:

A

bacteria that is a photosynthetic microorganisms that lead to an increase in oxygen in the atmosphere 2.5 billion years ago

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27
Q

What is a hydrogen bond?

A

an attraction between two compounds that already participate in other chemical bonds

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28
Q

Is Earth an open or closed system:

A
  • in terms of MATTER eath is a closed system
  • in terms of ENERGY eath is an open system
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29
Q

what are the reserviors/sinks in the biogeochemical cycles:

A
  • atmosphere(air/gases) Carbon and Nitrogen
  • Lithosphere (rocks/minerals) Carbon Nitrogen Phosphorus
  • Hydrosphere(oceans/lakes/groundwater) Carbon, Nitrogen, phosphorus
  • biotic worls(living/dead organisms) Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus
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30
Q

rapid cycling of carbon:

A

Producer—> consumer and decomposer —> atmosphere
- carbon is released quickly from reservoirs
ex: forest fires, photosynthesis, cellular respiration, decomposition

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31
Q

where is the largest amount of energy found in the food chain?

A

according to the second law of thermodynamics, the largest amount of energy is found within the first trophic level of the food chain
-less and less energy is available to higher trophic
- organisms at the top of the food chain have to consume more and more
- food chains have a limit as there is a limitation of energy available

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32
Q

Ammonification:

A

Converting organic nitrogen to ammonium by decomposers breaking down organic matter
- litho and hydrosphere only

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33
Q

Nitrogen cycle:

A
  • Nitrogen is a key component of amino acids(proteins)
  • makes up ~ 2kg of our body mass
  • ~78% of the earths atmosphere
  • nitrogen gas is UNUSABLE to plants
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34
Q

issues with algae blooms:

A
  • blocks sunlight
  • temperature decreases
  • creates anoxic zones
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35
Q

What is energy transformation 2:

A

cellular respiration

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36
Q

what trophic level are producers:

A

first

37
Q

What does increased global temperatures result in?

A

less CO2 dissolves in oceans

38
Q

Percentage breakdown of the suns energy that reaches the earth:

A

-30% is reflected in space, depending on the albedo of a specific region (ex. water has a lower albedo of 25% or less)
-19-20% is absorbed by gases in the atmosphere
- 50% is absorbed by the Earth’s surface(land or water)
-** Less than 1% of all available sunlight is absorbed by photosynthesizers, which are still able to make 150-200 billion tonnes of organic matter each year

39
Q

second law of thermodynamics:

A

all chemical and physical processes in a closed system result in waste energy(90% is waste)
- in biological systems, this is usually heat
- no process of energy conversion is 100% effective

40
Q

What is ecology:

A

The study of the relationships between living(biotic) and their abiotic(non-living) surroundings(environment)

41
Q

slow cycling of carbon:

A
  • Cycling through carbon sinks(reservoirs)
    ie) fossil fuel deposits, oceans(dissolved CO2), Limestone rock
  • Carbon is accumulated and is stored in varios reservoirs for long periods of time(unavailable to organsims until released)
  • carbon is slowly released from reservoirs
    ex: wethering, fossilization, erosion
42
Q

What are the two categories of living things:

A
  • Producers/autotrophs(self feeding)
  • consumers/heterotrophs(other-feeder)
43
Q

Ice:

A
  • ice is less dense than water so it floats
  • ice expands when frozen
    -longer hydrogen bonds results in the molecules being further apart
  • farther apart molecules results in less dense
44
Q

decomposers or detrivores:

A

-they eat detritus
- organisms that absorb leftovers or waste matter
- fungi or bacteria
- important because they return organic/inorganic matter to the soil/ air/water

45
Q

how many years ago did cyanobacteria appear in the ocean?

A

2.5 billion years ago

46
Q

Slow cycling:

A
  • substances accumulate and are stored for a long periods of time in nutrient reservoirs
  • unable for organisms to use
    – fossils
47
Q

stromatolites:

A

-fossilized sedimentary rock formed from ancient bacteria.
-some have bands of iron oxides(formed when iron ions combined with dissolved oxygen in oceans)

48
Q

Biogeochemical cycles:

A

The cyclical route taken by water and other chemical nutrients through all biotic and abiotic components of the biosphere

49
Q

whats a difference between cellular respiration, chemosynthesis, and photosynthesis?

A

cellular respiration is catabolic whereas photosynthesis and chemosynthesis is anabolic

50
Q

homeostasis:

A

maintaining a relatively stable equilibrium/balance between elements

51
Q

What do hydrogen bonds allow water to do?

A

-allows the hydrogen of one water molecule to have a weak attraction to the oxygen of another
- enables water to dissolve and transport substances
- allows water to remain in a liquid state over a large temperature range (high specific heat capacity)

52
Q

Phosphorus cycle:

A

-cycles through the lithosphere
- found in water and soil in the form of phosphates where it is used quickly or stored in rocks

53
Q

What are three features that biogeochemical cycles have in common?

A
  • They all move through the abiotic and biotic environment by rapid and slow cycling
  • they all have nutrient reservoirs
  • they all involve transport by water
54
Q

Hydrological cycle:

A

-cycling of all phases of water!
- connects ecosystems across the globe
- 97% of water in the biosphere exists in liquid form
- linked to all other cycles, any change in the hydrological cycle will affect other cycles of matter

55
Q

Consumers/heterotrophs (“other-feeder”):

A
  • obtain their organic food(energy) from other organisms(eating) autotrophs or other heterotrophs)
  • the food is used to fuel the process of cellular respiration
56
Q

how does water dissolve things?

A

The charged portions of a water molecule attract oppositely charged ions and other polar molecules, enabling water to dissolve a wide variety of molecular and ionic compounds

57
Q

Biosphere:

A

all organisms and their non-living environments
- 3 components

58
Q

catabolic:

A

Breaks down larger molecules into smaller ones
-releases energy
-larger to smaller
-

59
Q

What is the Gaia hypothesis:

A

-biosphere acts like an organism that regulates itself, maintaining environmental conditions within certain limits
- biosphere needs a constant input of energy and the cycling of matter to maintain homeostasis
- life plays a role in maintaining conditions of the biosphere that allows organisms to survive

60
Q

specific heat capacity:

A

amount of energy required to change temperature by 1 degree Celcius
- water has a HIGH specific heat capacity

61
Q

Chemosynthesis:

A

6CO2 + 3O2 + 18H2S -> C6H12O6 + 12H2O +18S
-process that occurs in light free environments(like the deap sea)
- results in the production of sulfuric acid(instead of oxygen)

62
Q

Nitrogen fixation:

A

process of converting N2 gas to ammonium and nitrates
- done by:
1. some bacteria: bacteria on lumpy nodules on roots of legume plants
2. Lightning: nitrogen gas combined with water to form ammonia and nitrates

63
Q

Whats the difference between nitrification and ammonificaion?

A

Nitrification USES ammonium, ammonification MAKES ammonium

64
Q

third consumers:

A

carnivores
- animals that mainly eat other carnivores
-lions,wolves, polar bears, orcas

65
Q

Pyramid of Biomass:

A
  • Mass of ALL of the individuals at each trophic level for a given area at a given time (g/m2)
66
Q

what is uniquely involved with chemosynthesis but not photosynthesis and cellular respiration?

A

sulfur

67
Q

Pyramid of numbers:

A
  • Number of individuals at each trophic level for a given area at a given time
    (not always pyramid-shaped)
68
Q

What is the rule of 10:

A

every time you move up a trophic level in an ecosystem, only 10% of the energy consumed/produced at the the previous level is available for use, 90% is lost as heat

69
Q

Nitrification:

A

converting this ammonium into nitrites and nitrates by “nitrifying bacteria”
NH4—> NO2 / NO3

70
Q

How much of the earth’s energy comes from the sun?

A

100%

71
Q

What is a trophic cascade?

A

This is an ecological phenomenon which is triggered by the addition or removal of a top predator in an ecosystem
- this causes changes in populations throughout the food chain resulting in dramatic shifts in ecosystem structure and nutrient cycling
ex: in a 3 level food chain, a DECREASE in carnivores will result in an increase in herbivores and a decrease in producers

72
Q

cohesion:

A

attraction of water molecules to one another
- water molecules are polar so are attracted to one another through hydrogen bonds
- responsible for surface tension

73
Q

Albedo:

A

The amount of energy reflected by clouds, water, and land
- the more an object reflects, the higher the albedo

74
Q

photosynthesis:

A

6CO2+6H2O+solar energy -> C6H12O6
- Process where producers(plants, algae, and some bacteria) convert radiant energy from the sun into chemical energy (glucose)
- chemical energy is stored in the bonds of carbohydrate molecules known as glucose, or sugar, which may then be used to fuel cellular activities

75
Q

What are the 4 main biogeochemical cycles:

A
  1. Hydrological cycle(water)
  2. Carbon and oxygen cycle(life)
  3. Nitrogen cycle(nutrient)
  4. Phosphorus Cycle(nutrient)
76
Q

Steps of the nitrogen cycle:

A

Atmoshphere —> N2 gas —> ammonium —> nitrites —> nitrates—-> used by plants

77
Q

Denitrification:

A

Nitrites and nitrates being converted back into nitrogen gas by “denitrifying bacteria”

78
Q

Biomagnification:

A

A compound(ie. pollutant/ pesticide) increases in concentration in the tissues of organisms as it goes up the food chain/web
ex: the use of DDT after WWII

79
Q

food web:

A

a model of food/energy transfer in an ecosystem that shows the connections among food chains
- more accurate
- arrows point in the direction of matter flow

80
Q

How are the carbon and water cycles connected:

A

-oceans are a very effective carbon sink
- about a quarter of the excess CO2 produced by humans is absorbed in the oceans
-PROBLEM = CO2 + H2O—> carbonic acid
- increasing H+ ion concentration in oceans = acidifying oceans

81
Q

which of the biogeochemical cycles can be sustained with photosynthetic organisms alone?

A
  • hydrologic
  • carbon/oxygen
82
Q

Rapid cycling:

A

-substances move quickly between nutrient reserviors
- ex carbon moving from a producer to a consumer to a decomposer and back to the atmosphere (trees burning)

83
Q

Important roles of water:

A
  • distributes mineral and nutrients throughout planet
  • supports cellular activities(cellular respiration and photosynthesis)
  • human body is composed of 60% water
  • plants composed of 95% water
84
Q

What are the processes of energy transformation 1:

A
  • photosynthesis and chemosynthesis
85
Q

Second consumers:

A

-carnivores and omnivores
-animals that eat mainly herbivores

86
Q

one way flow:

A
  • energy does not cycle, it goes one way
87
Q

Trophic levels:

A

the feeding levels in an ecosystem through which energy and matter are transferred
- example of a food chain
- the first trophic level=producer(autotrophs)-provides all the chemical energy required to fuel the other trophic
- all remaining trophic levels= consumers
- decomposers may feed at ANY of the trophic levels

88
Q

what maintains levels of oxygen suitable for life?

A

Interchange between photosynthetic organisms and consumers maintain levels of suitable for life

89
Q

Properties of water:

A

-Density
- Adhesion
- Cohesion

Biology 20 (9 decks)

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