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BIOL 172 > Ch 55 Ecosystems > Flashcards

Ch 55 Ecosystems Flashcards

1
Q

Ecosystem size range

A

Microscopic to large scale

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2
Q

Two main processes in an ecosystem:

A

1) Energy flow

2) Chemical cycling

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3
Q

___ flows through an ecosystem

A

Energy

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4
Q

___ cycles within an ecosystem

A

Matter

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5
Q

1st law of thermodynamics

A

Energy is neither created nor destroyed, but can be transformed from one form to another

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6
Q

2nd law of thermodynamics

A

Physical systems tend to proceed to a state of greater disorder (entropy)

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7
Q

Law of conservation of mass

A

States that matter can be neither created nor destroyed

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8
Q

1)___ elements are continually 2)___ within an ecosystem

A

1) Chemical

2) Recycled

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9
Q

What kind of system is an ecosystem?

A

An open system

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10
Q

Open systems absorb:

A

1) Energy

2) Mass

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11
Q

Open systems release:

A

1) Heat

2) Waste products

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12
Q

Primary production

A

The amount of light energy converted into chemical energy by autotrophs in a given time period

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13
Q

The extent of 1)___ ___ sets the spending limit for an 2)___ ___ ___

A

1) Photosynthetic production

2) Ecosystem’s energy budget

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14
Q

Gross primary production (GPP)

A

The total primary production of an ecosystem

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15
Q

Gross primary production is measured as what?

A

The conversion of chemical energy from photosynthesis per unit time

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16
Q

How is net primary production (NPP) calculated?

A

Gross primary production (GPP) minus energy used by primary producers for respiration

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17
Q

Two ways net primary production (NPP) is expressed:

A

1) Energy per unit area per unit time (J/m^2*yr)

2) Biomass added per unit area per unit time (g/m^2*yr)

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18
Q

Net primary production (NPP)

A

The amount of new biomass added in a given time period

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19
Q

Ecosystems vary greatly in what?

A

Net primary production

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20
Q

Ecosystems contribute to what?

A

The total net primary production on Earth

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21
Q

Net ecosystem production (NEP)

A

The total biomass accumulated during a given period

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22
Q

How is net ecosystem production (NEP) calculated?

A

Gross primary production minus the total respiration of all organisms (consumer + producers) in an ecosystem

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23
Q

Net ecosystem production (NEP) is estimated by comparing what?

A

The net flux of CO2 and O2 in an ecosystem

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24
Q

In marine and freshwater ecosystems, what controls primary production?

A

1) Light

2) Nutrients

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25
Q

What two nutrients most often limit marine production?

A

1) Nitrogen

2) Phosphorus

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26
Q

Eutrophication

A

The addition of extra nutrients to bodies of water

27
Q

Results of eutrophication:

A

1) Algae population explosions

2) Depletion of oxygen from these habitats

28
Q

Critical load

A

The amount of added nutrients that can be absorbed by plants without damaging ecosystem integrity

29
Q

What causes dead zones?

A

Decomposition of phytoplankton blooms, which create low oxygen levels

30
Q

In terrestrial ecosystems, what affects primary production on a large scale?

A

1) Temperature

2) Moisture

31
Q

In terrestrial ecosystems, what affects primary production on the small scale?

A

Soil nutrients (nitrogen, etc.)

32
Q

Secondary production

A

The amount of chemical energy in food converted to new biomass during a given period of ime

33
Q

Production efficiency (definition)

A

The fractions of energy stored in food that is not used for respiration

34
Q

Production efficiency (equation)

A

Net secondary production/Assmilation of primary production

35
Q

Do ectotherms or extotherms have higher production efficiencies?

A

Ectotherms

36
Q

Trophic efficiency

A

The percentage of production transferred from one trophic level to the next

37
Q

What is trophic efficiency, usually?

A

~10%

38
Q

Terrestrial ecosystem biomass pyramid

A

inefficiency of production transfer between trophic levels leads to a pyramid in the distribution of biomass

39
Q

In the terrestrial ecosystem biomass pyramid, is there more biomass at higher or lower levels?

A

Lower levels

40
Q

In the terrestrial ecosystem biomass pyramid, 1)___ ___ ___ is required to produce biomass at 2___ ___ ___

A

1) More total energy

2) Higher trophic levels

41
Q

Do terrestrial or aquatic ecosystems transfer energy more efficiently?

A

Aquatic ecosystems

42
Q

Why do aquatic ecosystems transfer energy more efficiently?

A

1) More cold-blooded (low metabolism) consumers
2) Longer food chains
3) More rapid turnover in primary producers

43
Q

1)___ primary production, 2)___ standing producer biomass

A

1) High

2) Low

44
Q

Gaseous forms of what four elements occur in the atmosphere and cycle globally?

A

1) Carbon
2) Oxygen
3) Sulfur
4) Nitrogen

45
Q

All elements cycle between 1)___ and 2)___ reservoirs

A

1) Organic

2) Inorganic

46
Q

What kind of elements cycle locally?

A

Less mobile elements (phosphorus)

47
Q

When are less mobile elements cycled more broadly?

A

When they are dissolved in aquatic systems

48
Q

Only ___ of Earth’s water is available in lakes, streams, and groundwater

A

1%

49
Q

What is the main process driving the water cycle?

A

Evaporation by solar energy

50
Q

Carbon cycle

A

Carbon added to the atmosphere is removed

51
Q

How is carbon added to the atmosphere?

A

By respiration of living organisms (CO2)

52
Q

How is carbon removed from the atmosphere?

A

By photosynthesis

53
Q

Major reservoirs of carbon:

A

1) Soil
2) Oceans
3) Biomass
4) Atmosphere
5) Fossil fuel (oil)

54
Q

Nitrogen cycle

A

Only plans and bacteria can acquire nitrogen from the atmosphere to make organic molecules from which animals can acquire nitrogen

55
Q

Phosphorus is a major component of:

A

1) Nucleic acids
2) Phospholipids
3) ATP

56
Q

What is the most important inorganic form of phosphorus?

A

Phosphate (PO4)

57
Q

Major reservoirs of phosphorus:

A

1) Sedimentary rocks
2) Ocean
3) Organisms

58
Q

What heavily dictates the rate at which nutrients cycle?

A

The rate of decomposition

59
Q

What controls the rate of decomposition?

A

1) Temperature
2) Moisture
3) Nutrient availability

60
Q

Restoration ecology

A

The study of ways to initiate or speed up the recovery of degraded ecosystems

61
Q

How does restoration ecology try to restore degraded ecosystems?

A

Manipulating biogeomechanical signaling

62
Q

Bioremediation

A

The use of organisms (bacteria, fungi, plants) to detoxify ecosystems

63
Q

Biological augmentation

A

The use of organisms to add essential materials to a degraded ecosystem

BIOL 172 (29 decks)

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