Ecology Flashcards
What percentage of our atmosphere does nitrogen make up?
78%
How does nitrogen enter our atmosphere?
Precipitation
Where does nitrogen go first after entering the atmosphere?
The nitrogen-fixing bacteria at the roots of the plants
What happens to Nitrogen at the roots of the plants?
Nitrogen is combined with hydrogen to create ammonia.
What is it called when nitrogen is mixed with hydrogen to create ammonia?
ammonification
After nitrogen fixation, oxygen is mixed with ammonia. What is this called?
Nitrification
After nitrification, nitrogen is in a form called WHAT?
Nitrites
Bacteria convert the nitrites into WHAT?
Nitrates
Plants can absorb the nitrogen after it takes the form of WHAT?
Nitrates
This sphere provides an ecosystem that organisms need to survive, and it contains the Earth’s biodiversity and most of our resources.
Biosphere
This sphere is the mass of all the water above and below the surface of the land, needed as water supplies many life forms.
Hydrosphere
This sphere is all of Earth’s lands, starting from the ground to the Earth’s inner core. Without this sphere, there would be no earth, and a great lack for resources.
Geosphere/lithosphere
This sphere is a mixture of gasses surrounding the earth, important because it provides organisms with air to breathe and it protects us from solar radiation.
Atmosphere
What is a limiting factor (definition)
A factor that constrains a population’s size, and slows or stops it from growing
Abiotic limiting factors (on the terrace?)
Sunlight, temperature, soil, water, and oxygen
Biotic limiting factors
Food, bacteria, mates, relationship with other organisms for resources
What are the three forms of aquatic ecosystems?
Oligotrophic, eutrophic, and watersheds
This aquatic ecosystem hosts very little vegetation
Oligotrophic
This aquatic ecosystem hosts large quantities of organisms (so much its euphoric)
Eutrophic
This ecosystem receives precipitation and drains it into water reservoirs
Watersheds
Definition of an organism’s niche
An organism’s niche is the environmental and physical conditions that the organism requires
What is fragmentation? (fragments, pieces)
A form of asexual reproduction in which an organism breaks into individual pieces when it reaches full maturity.
During photosynthesis, a plant absorbs WHAT?
Carbon dioxide, water and USES light energy from the sun
What does a plant create during photosynthesis?
Glucose(sugar), and oxygen
Why do organisms need nitrogen?
Nitrogen plays a major part in amino acids and, therefore, it builds proteins and other body chemicals.
What is cellular respiration?
The process in which cells derive energy from glucose using oxygen.
Cellular respiration input and output (equation)
Glucose+Oxygen = Carbon dioxide+Water+Energy (ATP)
Photosynthesis input and output (equation)
Water+carbon dioxide = Glucose+oxygen
Oxygen symbol
O
Hydrogen symbol
H
Nitrogen symbol
N
Water symbol
H20
Carbon dioxide symbol
C02
Glucose chemical equation
C6 H12 06
Explain the carbon cycle
- nature’s way of reusing carbon atoms
- carbon atoms travel from the atmosphere to organisms to the atmosphere again.
- stored and absorbed by water reserves, organisms, and the atmosphere
- released in many ways
Explain the water cycle
Just think!
Explain the nitrogen cycle
Just think!
Give examples of terrestrial biomes
Tundra, grassland, rainforest, forest, desert, savanna, temperate rainforest
This biome is frequently very cold, although it can get warmer during the summer. The winters have temperatures below 0 Celsius for 6-10 months per year. The biome is so cold, there is a layer of permafrost all year round.
Tundra
This biome remains warm all year round with average temperatures ranging from 20-25 degrees Celsius.
Tropical Rainforest
What is the difference between primary and secondary succession?
Primary succession is the succession/evolution that occurs in an ecosystem that did not have a previous life. Example: a new island created by a volcanic eruption.
Secondary succession occurs in an area that had previously been inhabited but experienced a disturbance. Example: A forest that experienced a fire, while still remaining relatively intact.
Describe biodiversity
Biodiversity is a measure of the diversity
of species and genetics in an ecosystem.
Why is biodiversity important?
Biodiversity is necessary to maintain life on Earth through a sustainable environment with enough resources for all organisms.
What is equilibrium in an ecosystem?
In equilibrium, the ecosystem has a balance between all organisms and their niches
When does equilibrium in an ecosystem occur?
Equilibrium occurs when all organisms have all of the resources and living conditions that they need to survive. (All of their niches)
Draw a diagram explaining the Borneo story
Draw a diagram explaining the nitrogen cycle
Watch a video about the nitrogen cycle
Watch a video about the carbon cycle
What is acid rain?
Acid rain is any form of precipitation that includes acidic components
How does acid rain happen?
Caused by a chemical reaction when certain substance rise into the air where they mix and react with moisture, oxygen, and other chemcials to form more acidic pollutants such as acid rain.
What is an agroecosystem?
Agroecosystems are simpler ecosystems with fewer species and less genetic diversity within a species
What is a natural ecosystem
A natural ecosystem has more niches and great biodiversity. They are also self-sustaining.
An artificial ecosystem is the opposite as they have low biodiversity, and need to be assisted by humans.
Describe bioaccumulation
Bioaccumulation is the gradual accumulation of substances in an organism.
Describe bioamplification (a.k.a biomagnification)
Bioamplification refers to the process of increasing the concentration of a substance as it moves up the food chain.
Autotroph definition
Autotrophs are able to make their own food from raw materials and energy.
Heterotroph defintion
Heterotrophs consume producers or other consumers
Where can carbon be found?
Animals release carbon through breathing and through excretion.
- The soil contains decomposers that release carbon into the soil and atmosphere.
- Carbon is in the lithosphere.
- The ocean absorbs a lot of carbon.
- The ocean contains a lot of phytoplankton that absorb a lot of carbon dioxide for photosynthesis.
- Burning of fossil fuels.
- Deforestation causes the amount of carbon in the atmosphere to increase.
Carbon is released again by…
Organisms:
- death
-breathing
- excretion
- deforestation
Other:
- volcanic eruptions
- fires
- fossil fuels are burnt
How much energy reaching the earth is used by photosynthesis?
0.08% of energy reaching the earth is used for photo synthesis.
How is photosynthesis related to cellular respiration?
Photosynthesis and cellular respiration are both processes of organisms that allow them to receive and/or create energy using certain materials.
Symbiosis has 3 parts to it: competition, parasitism, commensialism and mutualism. Explain them.
Competition - two or more species in competion for the same resource
Commensialism – where one species benefits while the other is unaffected.
Mutualism – both species benefit.
Parasitism – one species benefits while one is harmed.
What biomes are in Canada?
Tundra, desert, grassland, and forest
What is fragmentation of an ecosystem?
Fragmentation is the dividing up of a region into
smaller parts or fragments
decreases sustainability
Some species that require large home ranges may
not have enough area to survive (i.e. bears)
Species richness is higher closer to the equator.Why?
The equator has a favorable climate, rich in nutrients and sunlight, that promotes the growth of microhabitats and primary productivity
- The lithosphere/geosphere is the solid, outer part of Earth.
- includes the upper portion of the mantle and the crust
- the outermost layers of Earth’s structure
Say it again
Which biome has the highest species richness
Tropical Rainforest
Equilibrium of an ecosystem
The state of an ecosystem with relatively constant conditions over a period of time
What is an invasive species
An organism that causes harm in an environment where it is not native.
What is the difference between a community and a population?
A community is a group of populations of different species in an area.
(monkeys and spiders live in the same forest)
A population is a group of individuals of the same species living in an area. (Same species)
What is an ecosystem?
the community of organisms in an area and the factors with which those organisms interact.
What is the difference between pathogens and parasites?
Pathogens are organisms causing disease to their host organism.
Parasites are organisms that feed off of their host organism.
A sustainable ecosystem is related to the equilibrium of an ecosystem. How?
In equilibrium, and in a sustainable ecosystem, the ecosystem maintains a relatively constant set of characteristics.
Tolerance range vs optimal range?
The tolerance range is the abiotic conditions within which a species can survive.
The optimal range is the abiotic conditions within which the species is best adapted.
What is the percentage of transfer of energy from one trophic level to the other
10%
Which cells perform cellular respiration?
All cells
Scavenger vs detrivore?
Scavengers eat animals that have died.
Detrivores eat decomposing plants and animals
Food chains vs food webs?
Food chains are only a part of the more complex sets of relationships that exist among species.
Food webs are more complex diagrams as they show all of the food chains in an ecosystem.
What is biomass?
The total mass of organisms
What is the difference between a carbon sink, carbon source, and carbon reservoir?
Carbon sink: reservoir that absorbs more carbon than it releases
Carbon source: releases more carbon than it absorbs
Carbon reservoir: maintains a constant amount of carbon
