CH55 Flashcards

1
Q

Why would a species X be absent from an area?

A
  • Area not accessible or insufficient time to leave area
  • If not, abiotic factors such as salinity, temperature, moisture
  • If not, biotic factors such a predation, herbivory, competition, pathogens
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2
Q

What are an ecosystem’s emergent properties?

A

Energy flow and chemical cycling

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3
Q

Define

Stock

A

Amount of some resource. Measured at a fixed point in time, with units

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4
Q

Define

Flow

A

A measure of input or output into/from a stock, in units/time

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5
Q

Define

Turnover time

A

Time it would take to replenish the whole stock

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6
Q

What is the first law of thermodynamics?

A

Energy cannot be created/destroyed, but only transformed

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7
Q

What is the second law of thermodynamics?

A

Every energy exchange increases entropy and energy conversions are inefficient

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8
Q

Who are the primary producers?

A

Photoautotrophs, who fix carbon and nutrients into new material. Support all the layers above

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9
Q

Who are the primary consumers?

A

Herbivores

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10
Q

Who are the secondary consumers?

A

The carnivores who eat herbivoes

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11
Q

Who are the tertiary consumers?

A

The carnivores who eat the secondary consumers

Eaten by quaternary consumers

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12
Q

Describe

Detritivores

A
  • Also called decomposers
  • They are linked to every trophic level
  • Consumers of non-living material, transform organic matter into organic compounds usable by primary producers
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13
Q

Define

Primary production

A

The amount of light energy converted to chemical energy (organic compounds) by autotrophs during a given time period

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14
Q

Define

Net primary production

A
  • The amount of plant biomass available to consumers
  • Gross primary production - energy for autotrophic respiration
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15
Q

What are the limitations of terrestrial ecosystems?

A

Nutrient limitation (ammonium and phosphate), as a consequence of latitude

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16
Q

Define

Secondary production

A

Amount of chemical energy in consumer’s food converted to their own biomass in a given period

17
Q

Define

Trophic efficiency

A

Growth quantity (J) / Total quantity (J)