Chapter 3 Notes Flashcards
What is a biome?
It is a group of ecosystems that have that have the same climate and dominant communities.
What does the biosphere contain?
It contains the combined portions of the planet in which all life exists, including land, water, and air, or atmosphere.
Why do ecologists ask questions about events and organisms?
They ask questions to understand relationships within the biosphere.
The study of ecology will range from what?
It ranges from the study of a individual organism to populations, communities, ecosystems, biomes and the biosphere.
What is a species?
A group of organisms so similar to one another that they can breed and produce fertile offspring.
What are populations?
They are groups of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the same area.
What are communities?
They are assemblages of different populations that live together in a defined area.
What is a ecosystem?
It is a collection of all the organisms that live in a particular place, together with their nonliving,or physical, environment.
What are the three methods ecologists use to conduct modern ecological research?
Observing, modeling and experimenting.
What is the first step in asking ecological questions?
Observing
Why do ecologists set up a artificial environment in a laboratory?
They are trying to imitate and manipulate conditions that organisms would encounter in the natural world.
Why are ecological phenomena difficult to study?
It is because it occurs long periods of time.
Why do ecologists make models?
It is because they are trying to gain insight into complex phenomena such as the effects of global warming on ecosystems.
What do ecological models consist of?
It consists of mathematical formulas.
What are the two main types of energy?
Solar energy and chemical energy.
What is the main energy source for life on Earth?
Sunlight.
What do some organisms rely on for energy?
They rely on energy stored in inorganic compounds.
Plants, some algae and certain bacteria that capture energy from sunlight or chemicals and use that energy to produce food are called what?
They are called autotrophs.
What is another word for autotrophs?
Producers.
What do autotrophs do during photosynthesis?
They use light energy to power chemical reactions that convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and energy-rich carbohydrates such as sugars and starches.
What are the main autotrophs on land?
Plants.
What are the main autotrophs in freshwater ecosystems and in the sunlit layers of the ocean?
Algae.
What are the most common photosynthetic bacteria that are important in certain wet ecosystems such as tidal flats and wet marshes?
Cyanobacteria.
What is the process in which organisms use chemical energy to produce carbohydrate?
Chemosynthesis.
How many types of bacteria perform chemosynthesis?
Several.
Where do chemosynthetic bacteria live?
They live in remote places such as volcanic vents on the deep ocean floor and hot springs in Yellowstone Park and tidal marshes along the coast.
Organisms that rely on other organisms for their energy and food supply are called what?
Heterotrophs.
What is another word for heterotrophs?
Consumers.
Organisms that obtain energy by only eating plants are called what?
Herbivores.
Organisms such snakes, dogs and owls that eat animals are called what?
Carnivores.
Organisms such as humans, bears and crows that eat both plants and animals are called what?
Omnivores.
Organisms such as mites, earthworms, snails and crabs that feed on plant and animal remains and other dead matter are called what?
Detrivores.
Organisms such as bacteria and fungi that break down organic matter are called what?
Decomposers.
A series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten is called?
A food chain.
What is a food web?
A network of complex interactions formed by the feeding relationships among the various organisms in a ecosystem.
What is a trophic level?
It is each step in a food chain or food web.
What is a ecological pyramid?
A diagram that shows the relative amounts of energy or matter contained within each trophic level in a food chain or food web.
What does a energy pyramid show?
It shows the relative amount of energy available at each trophic level.
What does a biomass pyramid show?
It shows the amount of living organic matter at each trophic level.
What does a pyramid of numbers show?
It shows the relative number of individual organisms at each trophic level.
What is biomass?
The total amount of living tissue within a given trophic level.
Where is matter recycled?
Within and between ecosystems.
What is a biogeochemical cycle?
A process in which elements, chemical compounds, and other forms of matter are passed from one organism to another and from part of the biosphere to another.
What is evaporation?
The process by which water changes from one liquid form to a atmospheric gas.
What is transpiration?
The process by which water enters the atmosphere by evaporating from the leaves of plants.
What happens during condensation?
Water vapor condenses into tiny water droplets that form clouds.
What precipitates from clouds as it becomes dense?
Rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
What are nutrients?
Chemical substances that a organism needs to sustain life.
What does every living organism need?
Organisms need nutrients to build tissues and carry out essential life functions.
How are nutrients like water?
They both travel between organisms.
What are other important cycles besides the water cycle and nutrient cycle?
The carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle and the phosphorous cycle.
