Ecology

Question 1

Whats evolution?

Answer 1

evolution is the change in heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations.

Question 2

Whats the carbon cycle?

Answer 2

The process in which carbon atoms continually travel from the atmosphere to the Earth and then back into the atmosphere.
1) CO2 from the atmosphere is absorbed by green plants in photosynthesis and is used to make glucose.
2) The plants are then eaten by animals which passes carbon dioxide onto the animal.
3) The animal then respires releasing CO2 into the atmosphere.
4) Decomposers then break down the dead material and respire releasing CO2.

Question 3

Whats eutrophication?

Answer 3

occurs when the environment becomes enriched with nutrients, increasing the amount of plant and algae growth to water bodies.

Question 4

How does eutrophication result in fish dying?

Answer 4

Excess nitrates can be washed from farm fields and into waterways, plants then use these nitrates to build proteins and grown extremely quickly. The sudden growth results in not enough space availible for the plants which leads to them dying from not carrying out photosynthesis.
Decomposers then consume the excess dead plant material and respire aerobically. This results in the aquatic animals not receiving oxygen and dying.

Question 5

What are some greenhouse gases?

Answer 5

methane, CO2, water vapor and nitrous oxide.