Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

IB Environmental Systems and Societies > Chapter 2 > Flashcards

Chapter 2 Flashcards

1
Q

Species

A

Group of organisms (living things) sharing common characteristics that interbreed and produce fertile offspring

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Population

A

Group of organisms of the same species living in the same area at the same time, and which are capable of interbreeding

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Habitat

A

Environment in which a species normally lives

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Population density

A

Average number of individuals in a stated area

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Abiotic factors

A

Non-living, physical factors that influence the organisms and ecosystem, eg temperature, sunlight

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Biotic factors

A

Living components of an ecosystem - organisms, their interactions or their waste - that directly or indirectly affect an organism

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Niche

A

Describes the particular set of abiotic and biotic conditions and resources to which an organism or population responds

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Fundamental niche

A

Describes the full range of conditions and resources in which a species could reproduce and survive

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Realised niche

A

Describes the actual conditions and resources in which a species exists due to biotic interactions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Limiting factors

A

Factors which slow down the growth of a population as it reaches its carrying capacity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Carrying capacity

A

The maximum number of a species or ‘load’ that can be sustainably supported by a given area

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Population dynamics

A

The study of the factors that cause changes to population sizes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Butterfly effect

A

Refers to small changes that happen in a complex system that lead to seemingly unrelated results that are impossible to predict

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Intraspecific competition

A

Individuals of the same species competing for the same resources

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Interspecific competition

A

Individuals of different species competing for the same resources

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Predation

A

When one animal (predator) eats another animal (prey)



How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Herbivory

A

An animal (herbivore) eating a green plant

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Parasitism

A

A relationship between two species in which one species (parasite) lives in or on another (host), thus harming the host

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Mutualism

A

A relation between two or more species in which all benefit and none suffer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

S and J population curves

A

Describe a generalized response of populations to a particular set of conditions (biotic and abiotic factors)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

S curve

A

Also known as a logistic growth curve, which begins with an exponential growth and then slows down as it reaches its carrying capacity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

J curve

A

Also known as an exponential growth curve, in which the population fluctuates at a rapid rate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Carrying capacity

A

The maximum population size of the ecosystem

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Environmental resistance

A

The area between the exponential growth curve and the S-curve

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Diebacks

A

Collapse in a population after an exponential growth

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Overschoot

A

When the population exceeds the carrying capacity on a long-term or continuing basis before the collapse occurs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Community

A

A group of populations living and interacting with each other in a common habitat (the same place)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Ecosystem

A

Community and the physical environment it interacts with

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Photosynthesis

A

The process by which green plants make their own food from water and carbon dioxide using energy from sunlight

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

Photosynthesis equation

A

Carbon dioxide + water = glucose + oxygen

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

Respiration

A

The conversion of organic matter into carbon dioxide and water in all living organisms, releasing energy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

Respiration equation

A

Glucose + oxygen = energy + water + carbon dioxide

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

Compensation point

A

When carbon dioxide that plants produce in respiration is used up, the rates of the 2 processes are equal and there is no net release of either oxygen or carbon dioxide

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

Food chain

A

Flow of energy from one trophic level to the next. It shows the feeding relationships between species in an ecosystem

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

Trophic level

A

The position that an organism occupies in a food chain, or a group of organisms in a community that occupy the same position in a food chain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

Top carnivore

A

The carnivore at the top of the food chain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

Producers/autotrophs

A

Green plants which make their own food from carbon dioxide and water using energy from sunlight

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

Chemosynthetic organisms

A

Organisms that make their own food from other simple compounds instead of using sunlight

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

Consumers/heterotrophs

A

Organisms which feed on autotrophs or other heterotrophs to obtain energy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
40
Q

Detritivores

A

Organisms that derive their energy from detritus or decomposing organic material

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
41
Q

Decomposers

A

Organisms that obtain their energy from dead organisms by secreting enzymes that break down the organic matter

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
42
Q

Omnivores

A

Organisms that eat autotrophs and heterotrophs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
43
Q

Bioaccumulation

A

The build-up of persistent/non-biodegradable pollutants within an organism or trophic level because they cannot be broken down

44
Q

Food web

A

Complex network of interrelated food chains which create a food web

45
Q

Biomagnification

A

The increase in concentration of persistent or non-biodegradable pollutants along a food chain

46
Q

Ecological pyramids

A

Include pyramids of numbers, biomass, and productivity and are quantitative models and are usually measured for a given area and time

47
Q

Pyramid of numbers

A

A pyramid that shows the number of organisms at each trophic level in a food chain at one time

48
Q

Standing crop

A

The number of organisms at each trophic level in a food chain at one time

49
Q

Pyramid of biomass

A

A pyramid that contains the biomass (mass of each individual x number of individuals) at each trophic level

50
Q

Pyramid of productivity

A

A pyramid that shows the rate of flow of energy or biomass through each trophic level

51
Q

Trophic efficiency

A

The percentage of energy that moves from one trophic level to the next

52
Q

Solar radiation

A

Energy emitted by the sun and is made up of visible and invisible wavelengths

53
Q

Solar constant

A

The solar energy reaching the top of Earth’s atmosphere per second

54
Q

Productivity

A

The conversion of energy into biomass per unit area per unit time over a given period of time. It is the rate of growth or biomass increase in plants and animals

55
Q

Gross

A

Refers to the total amount of something made as a result of an activity, e.g. profit from a business or salary from a job

56
Q

Net

A

The amount left after deductions are made. (e.g. costs of production or deductions or tax and insurance from a salary.) It is what you have left and is always lower than the gross amount

57
Q

Primary

A

Means to do with plants

58
Q

Secondary

A

Is to do with animals

59
Q

Biomass

A

The living mass of an organism or organisms but sometimes refers to dry mass

60
Q

Gross productivity (GP)

A

The total gain in energy or biomass per unit area per unit time. It is the biomass that could be gained by an organism before any deductions

61
Q

Net productivity (NP)

A

The gain in energy or biomass per unit area per unit time that remains after deductions due to respiration

62
Q

Gross primary productivity (GPP)

A

The total gain in energy or biomass per unit area per unit time by green plants. It is the energy fixed (or converted from light to chemical energy) by green plants by photosynthesis.

63
Q

Net primary productivity (NPP)

A

The total gain in energy or biomass per unit area per unit time by green plants after allowing for losses to respiration. This is the increase in biomass of the plant - how much it grows - and is the biomass that is potentially available to consumers (animals) that eat the plant

64
Q

Net primary productivity (NPP) formula

A

NPP = GPP - R, where R = respiratory loss

65
Q

Gross secondary productivity (GSP)

A

The total energy or biomass assimilated (taken up) by consumers

66
Q

Gross secondary productivity (GSP) formula

A

GSP = mass of food eaten - mass of fecal loss

67
Q

Net secondary productivity (NSP)

A

The total gain in energy or biomass per unit area per unit time by consumers after allowing for losses to respiration. There are other losses in animals as well as to respiration but respiration is the main one

68
Q

Net secondary productivity (NSP) formula

A

NSP = GSP - R, where R = respiratory loss

69
Q

Biogeochemical cycles

A

When nutrients are absorbed by organisms from the soil and atmosphere and circulate through the trophic levels and are finally released back to the ecocystem

70
Q

Carbon fixation

A

When carbon dioxide, water vapour and heat are recaptured by photosynthesis in green plants and locked up in their bodies for a time as glucose or other large molecules

71
Q

Haber process

A

Nitrogen-fixing process used to make fertilizers. Nitrogen and hydrogen gases are comined under pressure to form ammonia

72
Q

Nitrification

A
  • Nitrifying bacteria convert ammonium to nitrites

- Nitrifying bacteria convert nitrites to nitrates

73
Q

Denitrification

A
  • Denitrifying bacteria convert ammonium, nitrate and nitrite ions to nitrogen gas, which then goes into the atmosphere
74
Q

Decomposition

A
  • Decomposition of dead organisms provides nitrogen for uptake by plants
  • Supplies the soil with a lot of nitrogen
75
Q

Assimilation

A
  • Absorb into

- When living organisms take in nitrogen and build it into more complex molecules

76
Q

Energy budget

A

The quantities of energy entering, staying within and leaving the animal or population

77
Q

Anthropogenic

A

A process, effect or activity derived from humans is known as anthropogenic

78
Q

Energy subsidy

A

The additional energy that humans have to put into the system which comes from the Sun’s energy

79
Q

Maximum sustainable yield (MSY)

A

The largest crop or catch that can be taken from the stock of a species without depleting the stock. Taken away is the increase in production of the stock while leaving the stock to reproduce again.

MSY = NPP/NSP of a system

80
Q

Biome

A

A collection of ecosystems sharing similar climatic conditions

81
Q

Biosphere

A

That part of the Earth inhabited by organisms. It extends from the upper part of the atmosphere down to the deepest parts of the oceans which support life

82
Q

Latitude

A

The distance north or south from the equator

83
Q

Wind

A

Air moving horizontally at the surface of the Earth. Winds blow from high to low pressure areas

84
Q

Ocean currents

A

Distribute surplus heat energy at the equator towards the poles

85
Q

Latent heat

A

When water changes from state to state and either gives out or takes in heat

86
Q

P/E ratio

A

The ratio of precipitation to evaporation

87
Q

Productivity

A

The conversion of energy into biomass over a given period of time. It is the rate of growth or biomass increase in plants or animals. It is measured per unit area per unit time

88
Q

Tropical rainforest

A
  • Hot and wet
  • High rainfall 2000-5000 mm yr-1
  • NPP 2200
  • No seasonal variation
89
Q

Desert

A
  • Dry, hot areas
  • Evaporation > precipitation
  • Very low NPP as water is a limiting factor
90
Q

Temperate grassland

A
  • P slightly > E
  • NPP 600, not very high
  • Low rainfall, threat of drought
91
Q

Temperate forests

A
  • Mild climate
  • P > E
  • Rainfall 500-1500
  • Seasonal variations
  • Second highest NPP, but still low because of low photosynthesis (leaves falling)
  • NPP 1200
92
Q

Arctic tundra

A
  • NPP 140, very low

- Cold, low precipitation

93
Q

Deep ocean

A
  • NPP low, around 20-300
94
Q

Zonation

A

The change in community along an environmental gradient due to factors such as changes in altitude, latitude, tidal level or distance from shore/coverage by water

95
Q

Succession

A

The process of change over time in an ecosystem involving pioneer, intermediate and climax communities

96
Q

primary succession

A

A type of succession that occurs on a bare inorganic surface

97
Q

pioneers

A

First species to colonize an area; can adapt to extreme conditions; are usually r-selected species

98
Q

R-selected species

A

Small size, short life cycles, rapid growth and production of many offspring or seeds

99
Q

K-selected species

A

Small number of offspring, parental care, most offspring survive, good competitors (out-compete r-strategists in a stable and climax ecosystem)

100
Q

Climax community

A
  • Maximum possible development that a community can reach under the environmental conditions of temperature, light and rainfall
  • The final stage of succession when species composition stops changing
  • Is stable and self-perpetuating
  • Exists in a steady-state dynamic equilibrium
101
Q

Secondary succession

A

Type of succession where soil is already developed and ready to accept seeds carried in by the wind

102
Q

Gross primary productivity

A
  • Initially: low due to the initial conditions and low density of producers
  • Increases through the pioneer and early stages
  • Decreases as the climax community reaches maturity
    productivity: respiration ratio = 1
103
Q

Net productivity

A
  • Initially: high, the proportion of energy lost through community respiration is low
  • NPP as a % of GPP can fall, as respiration rates increase with more biomass
    productivity: respiration ratio = 1
104
Q

Sub-climax community

A

When succession is stopped by an abiotic or biotic factor. This can only continue its development if the limiting factor is removed

105
Q

Plagioclimax community

A

When a climax community is affected by a natural disturbance or human activity. eg pastures or farmlands. This can only continue its development if the human activity stops.

106
Q

Biodiversity

A
  • Increases during succession

- Decreases slightly if a stable climax community is reached

107
Q

Mineral cycling

A
  • Slow at the early stages

- Increases strongly during the succession process

IB Environmental Systems and Societies (4 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions