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Ecology and evolution > CH.9-Decomposers > Flashcards

CH.9-Decomposers Flashcards

1
Q

What is detritus?

A

Non-living organic matter

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2
Q

What is a decomposer?

A

Organism that breaks down organic nutrients in detritus by secreting exoenzymes

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3
Q

How does the breakdown go back to the producers?

A

Breakdown products absorbed for energy –> Inorganic nutrients are returned to the physical environment –> Available for producers to reuse

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4
Q

Decomposer are essential nutrient ___ of all ecosystems

A

recyclers

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5
Q

What happens if we don’t recycle nutrients by decomposers?

A

Nutrients would remain trapped withing dead organisms –> Unavailable for producers to use

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6
Q

Name the eukaryotic decomposers?

A

Fungi & certain protists (slime, water molds)

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7
Q

Can bacteria be a decomposer?

A

Yes

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8
Q

FUNGI: What kingdom?

A

Eukaryotic

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9
Q

FUNGI: General characteristics
- Unicellular or multicellular?
- Are cells surrounded by walls? If yes, what?
- They usually make up most/least mass of decomposers in their environment?
- Asexual or sexual reproduction

A
  • Uni and multicellular (most are multi)
  • Cell walls = chitin
  • Most of the mass of decomposers
  • Asexual and sexual
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10
Q

True or false: Fungi and animals, when compared molecularly, are the least similar than other eukaryotic kingdoms

A

False - They are more similar

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11
Q

FUNGI: Cells join together forming filaments called ___

A

hyphae

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12
Q

FUNGI: Networks of hyphae are called ___

A

Mycelium

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13
Q

What makes up majority of fungal organism?

A

Subterranean mycelium

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14
Q

What does hyphae do?

A

Maximize absorptive surface area to take nutrients in from organic matter being decomposed

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15
Q

Are fungi heterotrophic or autotrophic? Why?

A

Heterotrophic - They get E from detritus

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16
Q

What enzymes do fungi excrete?

A

Exoenzymes

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17
Q

Yeast is an example of what type of reproduction in fungi?

A

Simple asexual reproduction

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18
Q

Multicellular fungi: What is produced that are dispersed into the environment?

A

Spores

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19
Q

Each spore can grow into a new organism: T or F

A

True

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20
Q

What do fruiting bodies on fungi aid in?

A

Dispersal of spores

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21
Q

Is yeast a unicellular or multicellular fungi?

A

Unicellular

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22
Q

Yeast lives in what type of environment?

A

Rich in simple sugars, fruits surfaces…

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23
Q

Are molds multicellular or unicellular?

A

Multicellular

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24
Q

Where does mold grow (environment)?

A

Moist organic matter

25
Q

Aspergillus is an example of a highly toxic __

A

mold

26
Q

Club fungi produce large ___

A

fruiting bodies

27
Q

Why are fungi used for bioremediation?

A
  • They secrete exoenzymes to breakdown pollutants
  • Can breakdown petroleum fuels
28
Q

Can protists be decomposers? If so, which ones?

A

Yes, certain ones - Slime molds and water molds

29
Q

Protists that are decomposers are often mistaken for fungi due to what?

A

Their ability to produce fruiting bodies for reproduction

30
Q

Slimes molds are a type of ___

A

amoeba

31
Q

How are slime molds formed?

A

Solitary amoebas are gathered to form macroscopic aggregates that breakdown detritus

32
Q

Where are slime molds found?

A

Damp forest floors, fallen logs

33
Q

How do slime molds reproduce?

A

Producing fruiting bodies that disperse spores

34
Q

Water molds: Its cells arrange into ___

A

hyphae

35
Q

Where are water molds found?

A

Decomposers of dead algae and animals in freshwater

36
Q

Bacteria as decomposers are ___trophic

A

chemohetero - acquire E and carbon by breaking down large organic molecules in waste products from living organisms

37
Q

Bacteria in soil as decomposers and have different cell shapes, what are the names for: rod and spherical

A

bacillus - cocci

38
Q

Actinomycetes are what?

A

Fungi like bacteria, specialized decomposer bacteria

39
Q

Why are actinomycetes mistaken for fungus orginally?

A

Cell arrangement

40
Q

What characteristics do actinomycetes share with fungi?

A

1) Rod shape cells that form hyphae
2) Hyphae join to form mycelium
3) Very important decomposers in soil
4) Gives soil earth smell

41
Q

Do bacteria have organelles?

A

No

42
Q

Inside bacterial cells:

A

1) Main circular chromosome in nucleoid region
2) Plasmids:
- Small circular DNA molecules in cytoplasm
- Can be exchanged between bacterial cells during conjugation
3) Ribosomes
- Required to make proteins
- Smaller and less dense than euk cell ribosomes

43
Q

External bacterial cell features and functions:

A

1) Cell wall w/ substance called peptidoglycan (sugar+protein) –> Maintain shape + Protect from external enviroment
2) Capsule exterior with sticky texture –> Adhere to substrate or to each other

44
Q

What are the 2 groups bacteria can be placed based on structure of their cells walls?

A

Gram+ or Gram-

45
Q

What is Gram+ cell wall?

A

Composed of thick layer of peptidoglycan

46
Q

What is Gram- cell wall?

A

Thin peptidoglycan layer with outer membrane composed of lipopolysaccharides LPL

47
Q

What does fimbriae help with? What is it?

A

Adhere to surfaces - hairlike appendages

48
Q

What does flagella help with?

A

Locomotion

49
Q

What does pili help with?

A

Cell movement and DNA transfer between cells

50
Q

What are sex pili used for?

A

Pull 2 bacterial cells closer to transfer plasmids during conjugation (sexual reproduction)

51
Q

Bacterial asexual reproduction: Binary fission procedure

A

1) Chromosome and plasmids are replicated
2) Cell stretches
3) 1 copy of chromosome and plasmids are placed at opposite sides of cell
4) Cell divides into 2 daughters (genetically identical)

52
Q

How can bacteria adapt quickly?

A

Rapid reproduction + Mutation

53
Q

Is bacteria replication horizontal gene transfer (one species to another)? How?

A

Yes
1) Transduction: Virus
2) Transformation: Pick up pieces of DNA from surroundings
3) Conjugation: Transfers plasmids between cells temporarily joined

54
Q

Are plasmids essential to survival? Why?

A

NO - they’re an extra pool of genes (only useful in special situations)

55
Q

When antibiotic is given it kills ___ bacteria and the resistant ones survive and multiply

A

Sensitive

56
Q

The selective pressure is greater/lower when antibiotics are used?

A

Greater

57
Q

Do antibiotics cause resistance?

A

No they create an environment which favors the growth of resistant variants. When resistance, multiply quickly

58
Q

How do some bacteria survive hostile conditions?

A

By producing endospores - tough dormant structures that contains the genome of the cell

59
Q

Metabolic capabilities of bacteria:
1) Obligate aerobes: Need O to produce __
2) Facultative anaerobes: Can produce E in presence/absence of ___
3) Obligate anaerobes: Are poisoned by __. Anaerobic production of E only

A

Energy - oxygen - oxygen

Ecology and evolution (10 decks)

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