APES Chapter 2 Review Flashcards
1
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Ecology
A
The study of living organism and how they interact with one another as well as with the nonliving world
2
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Abiotic Factors
A
Nutrients, temperature, solar energy, water, dissolved oxygen
3
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Biosphere
A
The part of the earth where organisms interact with one another and the abiotic factors in the environment
4
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Basic unit of life
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Cell
5
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Single-Celled Organisms
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Bacteria and most protists
6
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Prokaryotes
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These organisms have no distinct nucleus or membrane bound organelles
7
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Eukaryotes
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These organisms have a nucleus and membrane bound organelles
8
Q
Bacteria
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Oldest known cells
9
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Population
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A group of individuals of the same species that live in the same place at the same time
10
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Community
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All the populations of different species that live in one place at one time
11
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Ecosystem
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A community interacting with one another and the abiotic factors in their environment
12
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A one-way flow of energy from the sun
A
Energy from the sun arrives at the earth in the form of solar radiation, which is required for life on earth.
Ex: 50% arrives as visible light
40% arrives as infrared radiation (responsible for global heating)
Less than 10% arrives as ultraviolet radiation
0.1% of all solar energy is captured by primary producers to start the food web
13
Q
Cycling of Nutrients
A
Earth acts as a closed system for matter, therefore, there is a fixed supply of nutrients on the planet that must be continually recycled to support life
14
Q
What are the three major processes that make it possible for life to exist and flourish on Earth?
A
A one-way flow of energy from the sun, cycling of nutrients, and a consistent force of gravity
15
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A Consistent Force of Gravity
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Gravity holds our atmosphere close to earth and facilitates the flow of nutrients and water, which are vital to the growth and reproduction of organisms
16
Q
What are the four major systems that regulate and support life in the biosphere?
A
Atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, and biosphere
17
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Atmosphere
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The air around us.
18
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Hydrosphere
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Consists of all of the water available on the planet
19
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Geosphere
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Consists of the earth’s crust, mantle, and core
20
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Biosphere
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Includes all of the layers of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere where life exists
21
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Greenhouse Effect
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When molecules in the air gain kinetic energy and vibrate they release even longer wavelength infrared radiation, which warms the surface of the earth
22
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Ozone
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O3; Responsible for filtering out approximately 95% of the harmful incoming ultraviolet light
23
Q
Biomes
A
Divided major terrestrial life zones that have distinct climates that dictate their unique flora and fauna
24
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Marine Zones
A
An aquatic life zone that includes salt water areas, intertidal coral reefs, open-ocean and estuarine areas
25
Freshwater Zones
Lakes, rivers, and streams
26
Troposphere
Bottom layer in the atmosphere, where all of our weather occurs. Extends from 0-17 km, depending on location. 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen, the remaining 1% is mostly argon gas.
27
What are the naturally emitted greenhouse gases?
Water vapor, carbon dioxide, and methane
28
Water
A powerful force that is continuously shaping our earth through erosive forces
29
Where is water found in the world?
Liquid Form: Surface and underground
Ice: Polar ice, permafrost, and icebergs
Water vapor
30
What percent of the world is covered by oceans?
71%
31
Crust and Mantle
Contains the soil and rock system that house the nonrenewable fossil fuels and minerals we use as natural capital
32
What does soil contain?
Valuable nutrients: Nitrates and phosphates
33
Abiotic
Nonliving
34
Biotic
Living
35
Range of Tolerance
The range an organism can live within the physical and chemical variations that exist within their environment
36
Optimum Range
The maximum growth of a species
37
Limiting Factors
Abiotic factors that limit a population's ability for growth and reproduction
38
Trophic Levels
A hierarchy of feeding orders in an ecosystem between organisms
39
Producers/Primary Producers/Autotrophs
Self-feeding organisms; They acquire nutrients by converting compounds or energy from their environment; Represent the first trophic level in an ecosystem
40
Photosynthesis
A process producers go through to convert solar energy into energy rich carbohydrates for consumers.
Formula:
Solar energy + 6H2O + 6CO2 = C6H12O6 (Glucose) + 6O2
41
Phytoplankton
Single celled algae
42
Hydrothermal Vent
Found deep on the oceanic floor where no sunlight can penetrate
43
Chemosynthesis
When hydrothermal vents use bacteria to convert sulfur compounds, like hydrogen sulfide, escaping from the vents into organic compounds for consumers
Formula:
Heat + 3H2S + 6CO2 + 6H20 = C6H12O6 (Glucose) + 3H2SO4
44
Consumers/Heterotrophs
Organisms that cannot produce their own energy and therefore rely on the production from producers; Obtain their energy by feeding on organisms or their remains
45
Aerobic Respiration
Consumers need this to break down glucose consumed from other organisms; Requires oxygen and releases the carbon dioxide that producers depend on.
Formula:
C6H12O6 + 6O2 = 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy
46
Decomposers
Bacteria and fungi
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Anaerobic Respiration/Fermentation
A way decomposers breakdown organic compounds without the use of oxygen
48
Yeast
Single celled fungi
49
Ethanol Fermentation
C6H12O6 (glucose) = 2C2H5OH (ethanol) + 2CO2
50
Primary Consumers
Herbivores; Eat only primary producers
Ex: Rabbits
Deer
Some insects
Zooplankton in aquatic ecosystems
51
Secondary Consumers
Carnivores and omnivores; Feed on other consumers for energy
Carnivores Ex: Some birds
Frogs
Spiders
Fish
Omnivores Ex: Foxes
Pigs
Humans
52
Carnivores
Animals that only eat other heterotrophs/consumers
Ex: Some birds
Frogs
Spiders
Fish
53
Omnivores
Animals that feed on both consumers and plants
Ex: Foxes
Pigs
Humans
54
Tertiary Consumers
Predators at the top of the food chain and are typically carnivores. Usually have very few natural predators in the ecosystem
Ex: Hawks
Killer Whales
Wolves
55
Detritivores
Feed on detritus material; Includes scavengers
56
Detritus
Composed of parts of dead organisms and fragments of waste of living organisms
Ex: Earthworms
Mites
Some beetles
57
Scavengers
Larger organisms that feed on carrion, rotting carcasses
Ex: Vultures
58
Decomposers
Bacteria and fungi; Recycle organic material from dead organisms into organic nutrients that support the growth and development of primary producers
59
Food Chain
Shows the movement of energy from one trophic level to the next
60
Food Web
Show the more complex interrelationships of energy flow from one organism to another
61
Biomass
Dry weight of all organic matter contained in an organism and provides a measure of how much energy is available to the next trophic level
62
Ecological Efficiency
Refers to the percent of usable chemical energy that is transferred as biomass from one trophic level to the next
63
What is the rule about trophic levels and energy gain?
Only 10% gain from a lower level to a higher level
64
Gross Primary Productivity
The rate at which primary producers convert solar energy into chemical energy through photosynthesis
65
Net Primary Productivity
The amount of gross primary productivity minus aerobic respiration
66
What 6 elements make up the majority of biomass in living organisms?
Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Sulfur. All of these are collectively known as C.H.O.N.P.S.
67
Biogeochemical Cycles
The continuous renewal cycles of the various nutrients for living organisms
68
What are the five major biogeochemical cycles?
Carbon cycle, hydrologic cycle, nitrogen cycle, phosphorus cycle, and sulfur cycle
69
Resrvoirs
Places where nutrients collect
70
Hydrologic Cycle
Helps to distribute and purify earth's vital quantity of this necessary compound. The dominant reservoirs of water exist as surface water (oceans, lakes, and rivers), ground water, atmospheric gas, and polar ice caps and glaciers. The hydrologic cycle is powered by the energy of the sun, this triggers the major processes of evaporation, precipitation, and transpiration.
71
Evaporation
Changes liquid water into water vapor in the atmosphere
72
Transpiration
A process by which water that is absorbed by plants, usually through the roots, evaporates into the atmosphere from the plant surface
73
Precipitation
Usually becomes surface runoff that flows into lakes, rivers, and streams.
74
Aquifers
When surface runoff infiltrates past soil layers into areas of porous rock, sand, or gravel
75
Groundwater System
A system of underground aquifers
76
What are three human impacts on the hydrologic cycle?
Withdrawal, increased chance of flooding, and deforestation
77
Withdrawal
When a water resource is depleted faster than the natural recharge can replace it
78
Increased Chance of Flooding
When humans remove large areas of wetlands or create new non-porous tracts of land (parking lots, roads, buildings) the earth's natural absorptive properties are decreased and erosion is increased and this overall increases the chance for flooding
79
Deforestation
Clearing large amounts of vegetation for urban growth, agriculture, mining, etc...
80
Carbon
The backbone of the living world as it forms the organic monomers that make up larger organic macromolecules
```
Ex:
DNA
Carbohydrates
Proteins
Lipids
```
81
Monomers
Chemical building blocks
82
Macromolecules
Polymers
83
Fossil Fuels
Fuel that is formed from the deposition of organisms' remains that were exposed to intense heat and pressure over millions of years
84
What are the major reservoirs of carbon?
Oceans
Biosphere
Atmosphere
85
Oceans (Reservoir of carbon)
Oceanic sediments are the largest reservoir of earth's carbon; Much dissolved carbon dioxide is converted to bicarbonate and carbonate ions. These ions typically combine with calcium to form calcium carbonate, which makes shells of marine organisms
86
Biosphere (Reservoir of carbon)
This reservoir includes carbon stored in freshwater systems, soil, and the biomass of living organisms.
87
Atmosphere (Reservoir of carbon)
Carbon dioxide gas makes up only a small portion of the troposphere (0.038%). The greenhouse gas acts as a natural thermostat for earth's surface temperature
88
What are the major human impacts on the carbon cycle?
Burning of fossil fuels and clear-cutting
89
Burning of Fossil Fuels (Carbon cycle)
The burning of coal, oil, and natural gas for electrical, heating, and transportation purposes releases large amounts of carbon in the form of CO2.
90
Clear Cutting
Removing large tracts of forest, especially in tropical regions, faster than they can grow back decreases the amount of carbon dioxide that is naturally stored in plants through photosynthesis
91
Global Climate Change
An increase in the carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere
92
Nitrogen Cycle
One of the most important nutrient cycles in ecosystems, as it is often a limiting factor for primary productivity
93
Where is the largest reservoir for nitrogen found?
The atmosphere; Nitrogen gas (N2) makes up 78% of the troposphere
94
What are the only two forms of nitrogen that serve as nutrients?
Ammonium (NH4+)
| Nitrates (NO3-)
95
Primary producers and consumers need nitrogen compounds to do what?
Build organic macromolecules such as proeins and nucleic acid, like DNA
96
What are the two natural processes that can convert nitrogen gas into the organic compounds producers can use?
Lightning in the atmosphere
| Nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the soil, water, and in the roots of some plants
97
Assimilation
The process by which primary producers take in inorganic nitrogen compounds and consumers take in organic nitrogen compounds and transform them into a part of their own body systems
98
What are the steps of the nitrogen cycle?
Nitrogen fixation
Ammonification
Nitrification
Denitrification
99
Nitrogen Fixation
Conversion, by bacteria in the soil and cyanobacteria in aquatic systems, of nitrogen gas (N2) in the atmosphere into ammonia and ammonium
100
Ammonification
Decomposers convert organic remains of organisms into detritus and eventually into inorganic ammonia and ammonium ions
101
Nitrification
Bacteria convert ammonia or ammonium ions in the soil into nitrate ions (NO3-) for plants to uptake
102
Denitrification
Bacteria primarily in the sediments of aquatic zones such as lakes, oceans, swamps, estuaries, and bogs, convert ammonia and ammonium ions into nitrogen gas (N2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) a greenhouse gas
103
What are the human impacts on the nitrogen cycle?
Excess nitrates, burning of fossil fuels, and using inorganic fertilizers
104
Excess Nitrates (Nitrogen Cycle)
Nitrates from animal feedlot waste and municipal sewage discharge runs off into nearby waterways. These extra nutrients create anoxic, low dissolved oxygen, conditions in waterways which deplete the aquatic diversity (known as eutrophication).
105
Anoxic
Low dissolved oxygen
106
Eutrophication
Humans cause extra nutrients runoff into waterways and in turn depletes the aquatic diversity
107
Burning of Fossil Fuels (Nitrogen Cycle)
Burning of these fuels releases nitric oxide (NO) into the atmosphere where it is converted to nitrogen dioxide (NO2), a raw material for photochemical smog, and nitric acid (HNO3), a contributor to acid rain
108
Using Inorganic Fertilizers (Nitrogen Cycle)
By adding large amounts of nitrogen-based inorganic fertilizer to agricultural systems, we increase denitrification by anaerobic bacteria. Through this process the bacteria release the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O) into the atmosphere which further exacerbates global climate change
109
Phosphorus Cycle
Phosphorus does not exist in a gaseous phase on earth, therefore the largest reservoirs are found in oceanic sediments and terrestrial rock layers. This cycle depends on the erosion of sediments and rocks to release valuable phosphates (PO43-) for producers, phosphate is considered a limiting factor for primary productivity. Phosphate is an important component of DNA, ATP (cellular energy), and the bones and teeth of vertebrates
110
Where are the largest phosphorus reservoirs found in the world?
Oceanic Sediments and terrestrial rock
111
What is phosphate needed for?
DNA, ATP (cellular energy), and the bones and teeth of vertebrates
112
What is a human impact on the phosphorus cycle?
Phosphate run-off
113
Phosphate Run-off
Excess phosphate runs off into nearby waterways from sewage, mining waste, and fertilizers. Like nitrates, these excess phosphates can promote algal growth in aquatic systems, which eventually leads to low levels of oxygen and therefore depletes aquatic diversity (eutrophication)
114
Sulfur Cycle
The largest reservoirs are in oceanic sediments, rock and mineral layers of the earth. Sulfur is emitted into the atmosphere in several ways-volcanic activity releases sulfur dioxide (SO2), anaerobic bacteria release hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and oceanic sea spray and forest fires emit particles of ammonium sulfate. Also, certain marine algae release volatile dimethyl sulfide that acts as condensation nuclei in the atmosphere and can affect cloud cover, thereby impacting climate
115
What is a human impact on the sulfur cycle?
Release of sulfur dioxide
116
Release of Sulfur Dioxide (Sulfur Cycle)
Sulfur is an impurity in coal and petroleum, therefore, the burning of coal and oil as well as the refinement of petroleum into gasoline are all processes that release the gas into the atmosphere. In the atmosphere, sulfur dioxide can form sulfuric acid (H2SO4) that contributes to the majority of our acid deposition problems. Sulfur dioxide can be removed before, during, or after the combustion process.
117
How many different species have scientists identified?
1.8 million species
118
Biodiversity
Refers to the variety of species, the genes they contain, and the ecosystems they live in. The more biodiversity an ecosystem has, the more stable and mare more likely to survive environmental change.
119
Natural Capital
Whe the biodiversity of organisms supplies humans with food sources fuelwood, ennrrgy, and medicines
120
Species Diversity
The number of different species in one area at one time combined with the relative abundance of individuals within each of those species
121
Species Richness
The number of different species in one area at one time
122
Species Evenness
The relative abundance of individuals within a species
123
Genetic Variability
Small changes in an organism's DNA that causes biodiversity
124
Natural Sleection
A biological mechanism for evolution. When an organism has a specific trait or gene that gives them an increased chance for survival in their environment, that organism is more likely to reproduce than other organisms lacking the gene and wiil increase the percent of the population who have the successful gene
125
Adaptaions
The genetically inheritable traits that make an organism more likely to survive are reproduce
126
Evolution/Biological Evolution
The change in the genetic makeup of a population over time
127
Speciation
When natural selection evolves into an entire new species
