Bio 20 Study Cards Flashcards
What are the functions of the small intestine?
Absorption of nutrients and minerals from food
The small intestine is also involved in digestion.
What are the functions of the large intestine?
Absorption of water and electrolytes, formation of feces
The large intestine also plays a role in the fermentation of indigestible food.
What are alveoli?
Tiny air sacs in the lungs that facilitate gas exchange
Alveoli are essential for oxygen entering the bloodstream and carbon dioxide being expelled.
What is the water cycle?
The continuous movement of water through evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection
The water cycle is crucial for maintaining ecosystems.
What is the nitrogen cycle?
The process of nitrogen moving between the atmosphere, soil, and living organisms
Key processes include nitrogen fixation, nitrification, and denitrification.
What is the carbon cycle?
The series of processes by which carbon compounds are interconverted in the environment
Involves photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, and combustion.
What is the phosphorous cycle?
The movement of phosphorus through the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere
Unlike carbon and nitrogen, phosphorus does not have a gaseous phase.
Why are algal blooms bad for a lake?
They deplete oxygen in the water and can produce toxins
Algal blooms are often caused by nutrient runoff from fertilizers.
Define organism.
A single, individual living entity
Organisms can be unicellular or multicellular.
Define community.
A group of different species living in the same area
Communities interact with each other and their environment.
Define population.
A group of individuals of the same species living in a specific area
Populations can be affected by factors such as birth rates and migration.
Define ecosystem.
A community of living organisms and their physical environment interacting as a system
Ecosystems can be small, like a pond, or large, like a forest.
Define biome.
A large geographical biotic unit, a major community of plants and animals with similar life forms and environmental conditions
Examples include deserts, forests, and grasslands.
Define species.
A group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring
Species are the basic unit of biological classification.
Define biogeochemical cycles.
Natural processes that recycle nutrients in various chemical forms from the environment to organisms and back to the environment
Examples include the water cycle, carbon cycle, and nitrogen cycle.
Define carnivore.
An organism that primarily eats meat
Carnivores are at higher trophic levels in food chains.
Define herbivore.
An organism that primarily eats plants
Herbivores play a crucial role in food webs.
Define producer.
An organism that produces its own food, typically through photosynthesis
Producers form the base of the food chain.
Define omnivore.
An organism that eats both plants and animals
Omnivores have flexible diets and can adapt to various food sources.
Define autotroph.
An organism that can produce its own food from inorganic substances
Autotrophs include plants and some bacteria.
Define heterotroph.
An organism that cannot produce its own food and relies on other organisms for nutrition
Heterotrophs include all animals and many fungi.
Define biodiversity.
The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem
Biodiversity is crucial for ecosystem resilience.
Briefly describe the taiga biome.
A biome characterized by coniferous forests, cold temperatures, and moderate precipitation
Taiga is also known as boreal forest.
Briefly describe the tundra biome.
A cold, treeless biome with low-growing vegetation and permafrost
Tundra is found in polar regions.
