Ecology Flashcards
What is an open system?
One that allows both energy and matter to cross the systems boundary
What is a closed system?
One that allows only energy (but not matter) to cross the boundary
Is earth considered an open or closed system?
Earth is a naturally closed system. It only allows energy (sun) to enter or exit on its own. Other things like rockets and satellites can only enter/exit with human intervention
What is the process that all organisms use to obtain energy from chemical compounds?
Cellular respiration
What is albedo?
Albedo is the amount of energy that is absorbed or reflected off of a surface. Lighter surfaces have a higher albedo, while darker surfaces absorb more, meaning their albedo is lower.
What is chemosynthesis?
Chemosynthesis happens in organisms that inhabit areas where there is no light. They split hydrogen sulfide molecules and use the broken chemical bonds to create energy-storing compounds
What is an isolated system?
A system where neither energy or matter can cross
Where can chemosynthetic organisms live?
In deep oceans, hot springs, deep caves and soil
What is the difference between photosynthesis and chemosynthesis?
Photosynthesis uses light to generate energy and chemosynthesis uses energy from broken chemical bonds
What is an autotroph?
Autotrophs are also known as producers. They are self feeders that use the suns energy or inorganic chemicals to feed themselves
What is a heterotroph?
Heterotrophs are also known as consumers. They feed on other organisms for the energy in their tissues
What is the first law of thermodynamics?
Energy cannot be created or destroyed
What is the second law of thermodynamics?
With each energy conversion in a system, there will be less energy available for the next level
What is the rule of 10?
Less than 10% of the energy that is present at one level will be passed down to the next.
How much energy is lost in the form of heat?
90% of energy is lost in the form of heat, solidifying the rule of 10
What do ecological pyramids represent?
The distribution of energy in an ecosystem
What is a pyramid of numbers?
Represents the number of organisms in each tropism
What is a pyramid of biomass?
Represents the dry mass of living organisms per unit of area
What is a pyramid of energy?
Represents the amount of energy that is transferred through each tropism
What causes a pyramid to be inverted?
When there is a large number of primary consumers (rabbits) feeding on a single producer (grass) the ecosystem will become unbalanced
What happens when a dynamic equilibrium in an ecosystem becomes unbalanced?
The health and number of organisms will be greatly affected. If the change is large enough, some organisms can go extinct
What does it mean for water to be a polar molecule?
This means that a water molecule has a negative and positive end. It attracts to nearby water molecules and forms a hydrogen bond
What is fusion?
Solid to liquid
What is vaporization?
Liquid to gas
True or false, water has low melting and boiling points?
False, water has very high melting and boiling points
True or false, ice is less dense than water?
True
What is cohesion?
Cohesion gives water its surface tension. This means that it will stick to other things [specifically other water molecules.
(hydrogen bonding)] This is why small bugs can walk on water without falling through
What is adhesion?
Adhesion is the force that attracts molecules of one kind to a different kind. This why raindrops will stick to leaves or glass
True or false, water has a low specific heat capacity?
False, water has a high specific heat capacity and as a result, can store huge amounts of heat energy, allowing large bodies of water to moderate their temperatures
What are the steps of the carbon cycle in order?
1) Photosynthesis
2) Cellular Respiration
3) Diffusion
4) Fossilization
5) Combustion
6) Volcanic Eruptions
PCDFCV
What are the steps of the water cycle in order?
1) Evaporation
2) Transpiration
3) Condensation
4) Precipitation
5) Runoff
6) Percolation
7) Groundwater
ETCPRPG
What is percolation?
Water that falls to the ground and seeps into the soil, filtering downward
What is condensation?
When water vapor cools as it rises and changes back into liquid
What is transpiration?
When plants release water vapor into the air through the tiny openings in their stomata
What are the steps of the nitrogen cycle in order?
1) Lightning
2) Nitrogen Fixation
3) Assimilation
4) Decomposition
5) Ammonification
6) Denitrification
7) Eutrophication
LNADADE
What is assimilation in the nitrogen cycle?
When plants absorb nitrates or ammonium from the soil and incorporate them into important molecules. Animals then eat plants and the nitrogen is incorporated into their bodies
What is denitrification in the nitrogen cycle?
This is when denitrifying bacteria convert nitrates in the soil back to nitrogen gas, which is released into the atmosphere and completes the cycle
What is eutrophication?
An excess of nitrogen (usually from fertilizers or human waste) which can lead to the harm of an aquatic ecosystem with things like increased algae production and oxygen depletion
What percentage of the atmosphere does nitrogen gas make up?
78%
