chap 3 bruh Flashcards
Differences between photosynthesis and cellular respiration
Photosynthesis produces glucose and oxygen using light energy.
Cellular Respiration breaks down glucose to produce ATP energy.
- Explain the difference between gross primary productivity (GPP) and net primary productivity (NPP). Give the equation for calculating net primary productivity and provide an example of a problem using the equation.
GPP is the total energy captured by plants, while NPP is the energy that is available for growth, reproduction, and other organisms in the ecosystem after plants use some energy for their own processes.
No, all types of ecosystems or biomes do not have the same net primary productivity (NPP). The NPP varies significantly across different ecosystems due to several factors, including climate, availability of water, nutrients, temperature, and the types of plants and organisms present in those ecosystems.
More plant growth due to more rain –> higher NPP
What is the difference between biomass and standing crop
Biomass refers to the total mass of living organisms in an area, while standing crop is the amount of living biomass at a specific point in time.
Why might scientists be interested in monitering biomass/standing crop??
These measurements are important for understanding energy flow, ecosystem health, trophic structure, and management of resources. They tell scientists how much energy is available in an ecosystem, how it is distributed among organisms, and how the ecosystem responds to changes over time.
Explain how the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics is related to food chains and the 10% rule.
The Second Law of Thermodynamics explains why energy decreases with each step up the food chain—because energy is lost as heat during each transfer.
Explanation of water cycle
Solar Energy: Drives evaporation and transpiration.
Evaporation: Water from oceans, rivers, etc., turning into vapor.
Transpiration: Water vapor released by plants.
Precipitation: Rain, snow, etc., falling from the clouds.
Surface Runoff: Water moving over the land into water bodies.
Infiltration: Water soaking into the soil.
Groundwater: Water stored beneath the surface.
Explanation of carbon cycle
Photosynthesis: Plants convert CO₂ into organic material.
Respiration: Organisms release CO₂ back into the atmosphere.
Exchange: Movement of CO₂ between the atmosphere and water bodies.
Sedimentation: Carbonates form and settle in the oceans.
Burial: Carbon is stored in sedimentary layers or fossil fuels.
Extraction: Fossil fuels are extracted from the Earth.
Combustion: Burning of fossil fuels releases CO₂ into the atmosphere
Which processes in the carbon cycle are biologic (associated with living things) and which are abiotic (non-living things)? Which process(es) must be reduced to reduce climate change? What are the 2 major carbon sinks (storage)?
Biologic processes: Photosynthesis, respiration, and decomposition.
Abiotic processes: Exchange, sedimentation, burial, extraction, and combustion.
To reduce climate change, we must reduce fossil fuel combustion and limit deforestation.
The two major carbon sinks are the oceans and the terrestrial biosphere (forests and soils).
Explain the nitrogen cycle
Nitrogen Fixation: Conversion of atmospheric N₂ into ammonia (NH₃) by bacteria or lightning.
Nitrification: Conversion of ammonia (NH₄⁺) into nitrites (NO₂⁻) and then nitrates (NO₃⁻) by bacteria.
Assimilation: Plants absorb nitrates (NO₃⁻) or ammonium (NH₄⁺) for growth.
Mineralization (Ammonification): Decomposers break down organic nitrogen into ammonia (NH₃) or ammonium (NH₄⁺).
Denitrification: Denitrifying bacteria convert nitrates (NO₃⁻) back into nitrogen gas (N₂), releasing it into the atmosphere.
Phosophorus cycle
Start with the Earth’s Crust:
Draw the Earth’s crust (rocky material) at the bottom of the diagram. Label it Phosphate Rock and show that phosphorus is mainly stored in these rocks in the form of phosphate ions (PO₄³⁻).
Weathering:
Draw arrows from the phosphate rock to the soil and water bodies, labeled Weathering. This process releases phosphorus from rocks into the soil and water over time through physical, chemical, or biological breakdown.
Mining:
Draw an arrow from Phosphate Rock to the surface, labeled Mining. This represents human extraction of phosphorus (phosphate) for use in fertilizers and other products.
Runoff and Leaching:
From the soil, draw arrows labeled Runoff and Leaching pointing toward rivers, lakes, or oceans. This represents phosphorus moving into aquatic ecosystems from the land, either through water flow or by being dissolved in water.
Plants:
Draw an arrow from the soil to Plants, labeled Assimilation. Plants absorb phosphate ions (PO₄³⁻) from the soil and incorporate them into their tissues.
Animals:
Draw an arrow from Plants to Animals, labeled Consumption. Animals obtain phosphorus by eating plants or other animals.
Decomposition:
Draw arrows from Plants and Animals back to the Soil, labeled Decomposition. This process returns phosphorus to the soil as organic phosphorus when plants and animals die and decompose.
Geological Uplift:
Draw an arrow from deep within the Earth back to the surface, labeled Geological Uplift. This process slowly brings phosphorus-containing rocks back to the Earth’s surface, restarting the cycle.
Fertilizers and Detergents:
Draw arrows from Fertilizer and Detergents pointing to the Soil and Water. Fertilizers and detergents add phosphorus to the environment through human activities, increasing phosphorus in soil and water.
Resistance vs resilience
Resistance minimizes the impact of disturbances by preventing change, whereas resilience focuses on recovery and adaptation after a disturbance has occurred.
- Define and describe an example of the “intermediate disturbance hypothesis”.
The Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis suggests that ecosystems are most biodiverse when disturbances are neither too rare nor too frequent. Moderate disturbances prevent any one species from dominating and provide opportunities for a variety of species to thrive, maintaining higher levels of biodiversity.
