Bio Unit Flashcards
(69 cards)
1
Q
Paradigm
¶digm shift
A
Paradigm-
The way human view the world/the way we think about something
Paradigm shift- a race and significant change in the way humans view the world/how they view a certain thing(ex a change in our paradigm)
2
Q
Ecosystem
A
A community of organisms and the physical environments that they live in
3
Q
Habitat
A
The ecological or environmental area where an organism lives
It is made of abiotic and biotic factors
4
Q
What are the abiotic factors that affect living in an ecosystem
A
The non living factors hat affect life in an ecosystem Includes -space -temperature -oxygen -light Water -inorganic and organic nutrients
5
Q
Biotic factors
A
The living factors that affect life in an ecosystem
Includes Decomposing animals Disease Predator Competition Symbiosis
6
Q
Symbiosis
A
A relationship between different species of organisms that have a close connection
- at least one organism benefits
The relationships include Mutalism Commensalism Parasitism Parasitoidism Predator-prey
7
Q
Mutualism
A
Both organisms benefit
Ex polyp &hermit carb
Pollination
Egyptian plover and croc
8
Q
Commensalism
A
One organism benefits, one organism neither benefits nor is harmed
Ex. Beavers and fish
Trees and nesting birds
Clownfish and anemone
9
Q
Parasitism
A
One organism, a parasite, benefits while another, the host, is harmed
10
Q
Parasitoidism
A
One organism benefits while it slowly kills the host
11
Q
Predator-prey symbiotic relationship
A
One organism benefits by quickly killing its host
Ex lion and zebra
12
Q
Trophic structure
A
Trophic structure describes feeding relationships in an ecosystem
The types of feeders: producers-consumers-decomposers
13
Q
Producers
A
Aka autotrophs("self feeders)
Organisms can produce their own food using photosynthesis
14
Q
Consumers and the types of consumers
A
Aka heterotrophs
Organisms that CANNOT produce their own food so they feed on OTHER organisms
1. Herbivore( plant eater
2. Carnivore( eats other consumers,can be either a predator or a scavenger)
3. Omnivore(eats plants and animals)
15
Q
Describes the categories of consumers
A
1.Primary First order consumers -feed on producers -considered the second tropic level(first trophy=the plant) 2. Secondary consumers -aka second order consumers -feed on primary consumers - considered the third trophic level 3. Tertiary - aka third order consumers - feeds on secondary consumers -considered the fourth trophic level
16
Q
Decomposers
A
Aka detritivores or saprobes
-organisms that get their nutrients by breaking down detritus( which is decaying plants or animals)
17
Q
Food chain
A
A diagram that defines one single chain of feeding relationships
Starts with producers and connects with arrows up to the top
Carnivore
18
Q
Food web
A
A diagram that shows all the possible food chains in an ecosystem
19
Q
Pyramid of energy
A
A diagram that shows the passage of energy through a food chain
- energy is measured in joules
Producers always have the most energy(bottom level)
-top carnivores always have the least energy(top level)
- about 10% of total energy is passed on from in trophic level to the next90% is lost
Due to life processes such as respiration-body temp control-growth-digestion-reproduction-waste
20
Q
Population
A
Members of the same species
21
Q
Community
A
All the populations of different species in the same ecosystem or habitat
22
Q
Ecotone
A
The border between two different ecosystem
Ex. Area between lake and forest
- forest & bog
-ocean and river
23
Q
Biodiversity
A
Refers to the number of species in an ecosystem and the variety within those species
Higher biodiversity means that the ecosystem is more stable in the long term
24
Q
Microecosystem
A
A very small ecosystem
-ex an ecosystem in a decaying fallen long or in a puddle of water
25
Albedo effect
```
The measure of the amount of sunlight that is reflected by an object
Expressed as a decimal value or percent
Light objects have a high albedo
Dark coloured objects have a low albedo
Greenhouse gases have a low albedo
```
26
Photosynthesis
A biochemical process
Produces the Suns energy, carbon dioxide and water
They produce sugar and oxygen
Oxygen is needed by consumers
Sugars are used for energy for ALL LIFE on earth
27
Cellular respiration
A biochemical process
Consumers release the energy stored in the a sugar
Consumers use sugar and oxygen
They produce carbon dioxide, water and energy.
Cellular respiration is the opposite and complementary reaction to photosynthesis
28
Thermodynamics
The study of energy changes
(Chemical energy to heat or light)
(It has two 1.laws that energy cannot be created nor destroyed only transferred from one form to another
2. During energy transfers, some energy is lost as heat energy is not passed on)
29
Pyramid of biomass
&
Pyramid of numbers
Pyramid of biomass- biomass is the mass of an organism without water
The pyramid shows the total biomass of all organisms @ each trophic level
Pyramid of numbers-shows the total number of all organisms at each trophic level(not always shaped like pyramids)
30
Keystone species
A species that is so important to ecosystem stability that if that species is declined the ecosystem might collapse
31
Ecological niche
```
An organisms niche is the role
It plays
-includes everything an organism does to survive and reproduce such as
Feeding relationships
Habitat
Breeding grounds/behaviours
Activist times
Competitive relationships
```
32
Ecology
The study of the interrelationships between organisms and between those organisms and their environment
33
What are six abiotic factors that affect sustainability
```
Space
Temperature
Oxygen
Light
Water
Inorganic or Organic soil nutrients
```
34
What are 5 biotic factors that affect sustainability?
```
Decomposing animals
Disease
Predator(prey)
Competition
Symbiosis
```
35
Competition
In nature there is sometimes competition for niches when two or more organisms have similar requirements for space,food, and or water -survival of the fittest usually prevails
Two main types of competition
36
List and describe the two main types of competition
Intraspecific competition
Between members of the same species ex. Bears
Interspecific competition
Between members of different species
Ex.lion and hyena, fish and other species
37
Exotic species
These are non-native species that are not natural parts of ecosystems
-interspecific competition with native species in the area
Ex 'moose in Nl in 1904
Green crab in Atlantic Canada
Zebra Mussels
38
List the two major factors(& there like subfactors) of why forests change over time
Human disturbances
- logging
- clearing land(ex farming,cabins,roads)
- pollution(ex acid rain, air pollution,garbage)
- global warming(changes in weather and climate)
- ozone depletion(more sun exposure)
Natural disturbances
- natural climate change
- species extinction
- volcanic activity
- floats
- forest fires
39
Short term stresses
Ecosystem changes that occur for a short period of time
| Ex sudden changes, water shortages,floods, sudden but limited human impacts
40
Long term changes
Ecosystem changes that permanently alter an organisms habitat
Global warming, exotic species, habitat destruction, acid rain
41
Seasonal changes
Short term changes that occur from year to year
Ex. Leaves changing colour
Animals also change colour(rabbits)
42
Forest succession
A long term change(unlike short seasonal changes)with succession, a significant disturber ion permanently alters the forest ecosystem, and life comes back to an area over time
Two stages to the process
1. Pioneer species
2. Climax community
43
Pioneering plants
- The first organisms to reoccurs an area which has been disrupted
- They require a lot of light and generally are short lived
- these pioneers provide nutrients and new habitats for other organisms
44
Climax community
After
Undergoing a series of succession over time, the climax community is former
-they are slow growing and long lived
-it is the final, stable, complex sustainable community of dominant organisms of an area
It is the last stage of succession
45
What are the two types of succession
1. Primary succession
This type begins in an area where there is no soil or previous life
(Ex lava field, after a glacier, sand dune, after an earthquake)
-could take 390 years to reach climax community
46
Secondary succession
This type occurs in an area that has been cleared of vegetation,but still has soil at the start
- clear cut-insect damage-overblowing by animals
- could take up to 75 years to reach climax community
47
Factors that affect ecological succession
```
1. Climate
Temperature,precipitation,sunlight
2.soil type
Moisture, texture,salinity, nutrients
3.geography
Latitude,altitude,water proximity,topography
```
48
Pests
An organisms is considered a pest if
- humans believe it to be undesirable(gross)
- it has a negative impact on the human environment
- it is in competition with a human use for a resource
49
What are pesticides and the four types
```
Pesticides are chemicals used to kill various pests
There are four types
Insecticide-kills insects
Herbicide-kills plants
Fungicide-kills mould/fungi
Bactericide-kills bacteria
```
50
Describe the two generations of pesticide
First generation
-origin: natural
Ex arsenic,lead,mercury,nicotine
Second generation
Origin: human made/synthetic
Ex DDT and penicillin
51
Explain how pesticides have changed over time
Older pesticides were fat soluble
When eaten, these pesticides attached to fat cells
- they permanently remain in the organism
Newer pesticides are water soluble
When eaten they do not accumulate in fat cells
These can be flushed out of an organisms system
52
Bioaccumulation
Aka bioamplification or biomagnification
| -occurs in food chains when fat soluble pesticides build up in the fat cells of higher level consumers
53
What is DDT (dichorodiphenyltrichloromethane)
| And what were the negative effects of it
-second generation pesticide
- a fat soluble insecticide to control insects that
Feed in agricultural crops
Damage forests(ex spruce budworm)
Carry diseases ( ex malaria)
DDT was very effective
But had serious negative effects
- egg shell thinning in too carnivores such as the Bald Eagle(this meant high rates of chick morality)
-it takes about 15 years for DDT to break down in the environment
54
What are the alternatives for pesticide control
Ban DDT and other fat soluble pesticides(no banned in Canada but some countries still use it)
- use water soluble pesticides
- use sustainable alternatives to pesticides
```
Integrated pest management
AKA IPM
-a sustainable approach to managing lest that involves
-prevention
-avoidance
-monitoring
-suppression
```
55
What are the main types of IPM(integrated pest management)
```
1 chemical confirm
-Uses chemicals to control insects
- highly effective
Disadvantages
-Bioaccumulation
-not target specific
-not 100% effective ( some pests not killed)
-could lead to pesticide resistance
```
Biological control
-uses natural ecological relationships to control pests
-they are more target specific
Disadvantages
Expensive
Short term effectiveness (takes a long time)
Organisms simply move to another area
Biological control methods natural predators,disease organisms, competitors, pheromones)
56
What are the biological methods
1.Natural predators
-use a natural predator to wipe out a species
ex. Shrews and spruce sawfly
Lady bug larvae and wood aphids
Parasitic wasp and spruce budworms
2. Disease organisms
- introduce a disease into a population
ex hemlock looper and BT bacteria
3. Competitors
-bring in another organism to out complete
Ex zebra mussel out completes pearly mussel
4. Pheromones
These are chemical perfumes produced by males and females to attract mates
We use these to attract pests and then sterilize them or trap them
57
What is pesticide resistance
Some pests are naturally immune to pesticides
| After the non immune pests are killed off the immune pests reproduce a new generation that all pesticides resistant
58
What are biochemical cycles?
| &I what is a biochemists?
-cycles that recycle material through living organisms and the physical environment
Biochemist= a scientist who studies how life works at a chemical level
-they have found that living organisms are made of some of the same elements that are found in the air,water and soil
note the four elements that make up the majority of living tissue are oxygen,carbon,hydrogen and nitrogen)
59
tell about the processes that are required for elements to be constantly recycled between organisms and the environment( biological processes and geological processes)
biological process
- respiration
- photosynthesis
- decomposition
- assimilation
- excretion
Geological processes
- fossilization
- erosion
- combustion/burning
- weathering
- sedimentation
60
the carbon cycle
the recycling of carbon through the atmosphere,and the physical environment and ecosystems
-carbon is the backbone for all life on earth(aka we are carbon based life forms)
-carbon moves through living organisms due to photosynthesis and cellular respiration
-
61
what are the two types of carbon stored in the nonliving physical enviroment
1.organic reservoirs
carbon that has been stored from the decomposition of living organisms
-process takes millions of years
-ex.detritus trapped under: peat will form coal ,oceans form oil and natural gas
2. inorganic reservoirs include:
- air-0.03% of air is carbon
- oceans-both dissolved (CO2 gas) and in shells ( CaCO3-calcium carbonate)
- Land- in sedimentary rocks ,which may be released from volcanoes
62
nitrogen cycle
the recycling/movement of nitrogen through the atmosphere, the physical environment and ecosystems
-nitrogen is used to make DNA and proteins
-most nitrogen on earth is found in the air(79%)
atmospheric nitrogen is in the form of N2 and is unusable to most living organisms
plants and animals cannot use N2 gas
we can use nitrogen in two forms NH3(ammonia) and NO3(nitrates)
the key nitrogen cycle processes are nitrogen fixation(air to soil) and denitification
63
what are the two types of processes that are key in the nitrogen cycle
nitrogen fixation/ nitrification
-N2 gas is converted to a usable form by lightning or nitrogen fixing bacteria( which are found in root nodules of legumes such as Alfalfa and Clover)
Detrification
-denitrifying bacteria convert usable forms of nitrogen back into gaseous nitrogen,N2.
These bacteria are found in soil
64
global warming
humans have disrupted the carbon cycle by
burning fossil fuels which has increase levels of CO2
deforestation which has decreased O2 and increase CO2
the increase in CO2 levels has led to an enhanced greenhouse effect
65
what are greenhouse gases and the three main types
-they are gases that can hold heat in the atmosphere,they keep earth warm(greenhouse effect = good ,but enhanced greenhouse effect = bad)
3 main gases are
-carbon dioxide-CO2
(sources = cellular respiration,and combustion/burning)
- methane-CH4
( sources fossil fuel combustion,decomposition,livestock)
-nitrous oxides NOx
(sources combustion,agriculture fertilizers,industrial emissions)
66
possible effects of global warming
- increased spread of diseases
- rising sea levels
- loss of polar ice caps
- loss of freshwater sources
- more extreme weather
- more species extinction
- ice gone by2019
67
how have humans impacted the nitrogen cycle?
by releasing fertilizers and untreated human sewage into Aquatic ecosystems
these fertilizers,and untreated sewage contain nitrates and phosphates,these chemicals leach into water ways through groundwater,road runoff etc
lakes with high levels of phosphates and nitrates can undergo eutrophication
68
what is aquatic eutrophication
is the transformation from an oligtrophic lake to an eutraphic lake
69
what are the differences between an oligotrophic lake and an eutrophic lake
Oligotrophic lake
- low levels of nitrates & phosphates
- low numbers of microorganisms
- High diversity and numbers of fish
- clear,deep,cold
- High d.O2
- not prone to Algal Blooms
Eutrophic lake
- high levels of nitrates and phosphates
- high numbers of mircoorganisms
- low diversity and numbers of fish
- turbid,shallow ,warm
- low d.O2
- high rates of Algal blooms
