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Science > Chapter 2 Defintitons > Flashcards

Chapter 2 Defintitons Flashcards

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Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Atmosphere

A

The layer of gases surrounding the earth that protects us from temperature of the sun

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2
Q

Lithosphere

A

Earths solid outer layer or shell some examples are mountains, rock and sea bed. It is 50 to 150 km thick

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3
Q

Hydrosphere

A

All of earths water in solid liquid and gas form. This includes seas, ocean, ice, clouds.

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4
Q

biosphere

A

The zone around earth where life can exist within the lithosphere atmosphere and hydrosphere

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5
Q

Ecosystem

A

All living organisms that share a region and interact with each other and their non-living environment

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6
Q

Biotic factors

A

Living things, there remains, and features such as nests, associated with their activities. Example: bears in a forest

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7
Q

Abiotic factors

A

The nonliving physical and chemical components of an ecosystem. Example: temperature, wind, water

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8
Q

Sustainable ecosystem

A

And ecosystem that is maintained through natural processes

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9
Q

Sustainability

A

The ability to maintain an ecological balance

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10
Q

Radiant energy

A

Energy that travels through empty space

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11
Q

Light energy

A

Visible forms of radiant energy. Light energy can be used by some organisms but it cannot be stored and is not available at night

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12
Q

Thermal energy

A

The form of energy transferred during heating or cooling. Thermal energy keeps earths surface warm

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13
Q

Photosynthesis

A

The process in which the suns energy is converted into chemical energy.

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14
Q

Producer

A

An organism that makes it’s own energy rich food compounds using the suns energy

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15
Q

Cellular respiration

A

The process by which sugar and oxygen are converted into carbon dioxide and water to provide energy for the cell

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16
Q

Consumer

A

An organism that obtains its energy from consuming other organisms

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17
Q

Ecological niche

A

The function of a species serves in its ecosystem including what it eats and how it behaves

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18
Q

Herbivore

A

Animal that eats plants or other producers. An example of an herbivore is a rabbit

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19
Q

Carnivore

A

Animal that eats other animals. An example of a carnivore is a lion

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20
Q

Omnivore

A

Animals that eat both plants and animals. In example of an omnivore is a human

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21
Q

Scavenger

A

Animals that feed on the remains of other organisms. An example of a scavenger is a vulture

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22
Q

Food chain

A

A sequence of organisms each feeding on the next showing how energy is transferred from one organism to another

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23
Q

Trophic level

A

The level of an organism in an ecosystem depending on its feeding position along a food chain

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24
Q

Food web

A

A representation of the feeding relationships within a community

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25
Q

Ecological pyramid

A

They display relationships between trophic levels in ecosystems. There are three types of ecological pyramids: energy, numbers and biomass

26
Q

Pyramid of number

A

Shows the number of individuals of all populations at each trophic level

27
Q

Pyramid of biomass

A

Shows the total mass of organisms in each trophic level

28
Q

Biomass

A

The mass of living organisms in a giving area

29
Q

Biogeochemical cycle

A

The movement of matter through the biotic and abiotic environment

30
Q

Water cycle

A

The series of processes that cycle water through the environment. Evaporation condensation precipitation and transpiration

31
Q

Transpiration

A

Water that is taken by plant roots may be released from leaves

32
Q

Carbon cycle

A

The biogeochemical cycle in which carbon is cycled through the little spear, atmosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere

33
Q

Carbon deposits

A

Large quantities of carbon cycle through photosynthesis and cellular respiration carbon dioxide) include fossil fuel’s such as coal, oil and natural gas

34
Q

Carbon sinks

A

When decomposed organisms are compressed over millions of years they form fossil fuel’s. Carbon is also stored for millions of years as limestone formed from dead marine organisms

35
Q

Carbon dioxide gas

A

Carbon dioxide gas is released into the air as fossil feels are burned. This gas is then used by producers in photosynthesis

36
Q

As these plants die_________

A

As these plants die in a return to the ground they decompose into carbon once again

37
Q

The nitrogen cycle

A

The series of processes in which nitrogen compounds are moved through the biotic and abiotic environment

38
Q

Nitrogen fixation

A

Nitrogen used by living things is taken from the atmosphere by certain bacteria through the process of nitrogen fixational which converts nitrogen gas into a variety of nitrogen base compounds: nitrates nitrites and ammonia

39
Q

Limiting factor

A

Any factor that restricts the size of a population

40
Q

Tolerance range

A

The abiotic conditions within which species can survive

41
Q

Carrying capacity

A

The maximum population size of a particular species that a given ecosystem can sustain

42
Q

Biome

A

A large geographical region defined by climate (precipitation and temperature) with a specific set of biotic and abiotic features

43
Q

Tundra

A

Abiotic factors: low temperatures for most of the year, short growing season, permafrost layer beneath the soil, precipitation from 0 to 25 cm a year, poor soil quality

Biotic factors: low diversity, rapid flowering plants, masses in legions, Caribou, ptarmigan, limnings, arctic foxes

44
Q

Boreal forest

A

Abiotic factors: warmer than tundra, no permafrost, change the weather, soil contains some water and is acidic precipitation 40 cm a year or more

Biotic factors: coniferous trees, Seed eating birds, squirrels, falls, snowshoe hares, BlackBerries, Pine Martin’s, gray wolves

45
Q

Grassland

A

Abiotic factors: Longer growing season them boreal forest, higher temperatures than tundra or boreal forest, rich and fertile soil, precipitation from 25 to 75 cm a year

Biotic factors: grasshoppers, bison, voles in mice, snakes, Hawk’s, coyotes

46
Q

Temperate deciduous forest

A

Abiotic factors: longer growing season then boreal forest , higher temperatures in tundra or boreal forest for tile soil, precipitation up to 100 cm a year

Biotic factors: deciduous trees and other flowering plants, tree and ground squirrels, many insects, Shrews and mice, dear, black bears, hummingbirds, weasels

47
Q

Mountain forest

A

Abiotic factors: temperatures vary with elevation, cool summers, windy conditions, heavy precipitation on Leeward side of mountains, fast flowing rivers

Biotic factors: marmots, squirrels, elk, black and grizzly bears, cougar, large coniferous tree ferns

48
Q

Aquatic biomes fresh water

A

Freshwater ecosystems include rivers and lakes. There are several types of freshwater ecosystems

49
Q

Oligotrophic

A

bodies of water are those that are low in nutrients

50
Q

Eutrophic

A

Bodies of water that are rich in nutrients

51
Q

Watersheds

A

The land area drained by a particular river also called a drainage basin. The credit Valley and the don valley

52
Q

Aquatic biomes: marine

A

More than 70% of earth is covered in oceans. Most of the ocean cannot support many photosynthesizing organisms; deep oceans get no sunlight, call reefs in shallow water support many organisms but are sensitive to temperature, acidity or pollution changes

53
Q

Estuaries

A

Are particularly enclosed bodies of water where salt and freshwater mix. And example is the golf of St. Lawrence

54
Q

Mangroves

A

They appear in tropical and semi tropical sandy shorelines. The trees that appear mangroves can grow at the waters edge and help to protect coast lines from erosion

55
Q

Intertidal zones

A

Are areas between the low tide and high tide lines. The bay of Fundy sees tides up to 17 m during high tide. In these areas, biotic influences may include sea stars seaweed and sea urchins

56
Q

Competition

A

Two individuals vie for the same resource

57
Q

Predation

A

One individual feeds on another

58
Q

Mutualism

A

Two individuals benefit each other

59
Q

Parasitism

A

One individual lives on or in and feeds on a host organism

60
Q

Commensalism

A

One individual benefits and the other neither benefits nor is harmed

Science (7 decks)

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