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Science (Grade 9) > Ecology > Flashcards

Ecology Flashcards

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Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Food Web

A

a pictorial relationship of a predating relationship among organisms in an ecosystem

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2
Q

Food Chain

A

a step-by-step sequence linking organisms that are feed each other (Note: Food chains always begin with a plant)

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3
Q

Scavengers

A

carnivores that eat the remains of dead animals

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4
Q

Omnivores

A

consumers that eat both animals and plants

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5
Q

Decomposer

A

breaks down organic matter and waste into its components

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6
Q

Sustainability

A

the ability to maintain balance overtime

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7
Q

Ecosystem

A

a system formed by the interaction of a group of organisms (biotic) with their environment (abiotic)

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8
Q

Biotic

A

living things (plants, animals, bacteria, etc.)

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9
Q

Abiotic

A

non-living things (light, air, water, nutrients, etc.)

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10
Q

Terrestrial Ecosystem

A

land based ecosystem

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11
Q

Aquatic Ecosystem

A

water based ecosystem

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12
Q

Lithosphere

A

hard part of the Earth’s surface

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13
Q

Hydrosphere

A

the water found on Earth

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14
Q

Atmosphere

A

the gases above Earth’s surface

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15
Q

Biosphere

A

the regions of Earth where living organisms exist

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16
Q

Water Cycle

A

Evaporation/Transpiration, Condensation, Precipitation/Runoff, Percolation

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17
Q

Carbon Cycle

A

Photosynthesis (CO2 into sugar), Cellular Respiration (sugar into CO2), Decomposition with or without oxygen, Extraction

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18
Q

Nitrogen Cycle

A

Nitrogen in Atmosphere, Decomposition/Nitrogen Fixation (nitrogen fixing bacteria to ammonia), Nitrification (ammonia to nitrates), Denitrification (nitrates to nitrogen)

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19
Q

100J of food eaten:

A 
60J= Waste
30J= Body Function
10J= Energy for next trophici level
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20
Q

Photosynthesis

A

the process of producing carbohydrates from carbon dioxide, water and sunlight.

carbon dioxide + water + sunlight to sugar + oxygen

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21
Q

Cellular Respiration

A

the process of plants used to obtain the energy from glucose

sugar + oxygen to carbon dioxide + water + energy

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22
Q

Population

A

a group of individuals of a single species that live in a particular area and interact with each other

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23
Q

Exponential Growth

A

population is growing, at this time, resources are unlimited

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24
Q

Carrying Capacity

A

the largest population the ecosystem can sustain

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25
Q

Limiting Factors

A

factors that can determine the carrying capacity of a population

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26
Q

Urban Sprawl

A

an unsustainable development because there is limited space on Earth

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27
Q

Equilibrium

A

maintaining the carrying capacity

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28
Q

Ecological Niche

A

the function of a species in an ecosystem (what it does, where it lives, what it eats, etc.)

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29
Q

Predation

A

when organisms eat other organisms to obtain food

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30
Q

Competition

A

when organisms compete for the same resources

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31
Q

Symbiosis

A

a close relationship between two organisms

Mutualism: both species benefit
Commensalism: one species benefits, no effect on other
Parasitism: one species benefits, effects other

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32
Q

Biodiversity

A

the number and variety of organisms in a particular ecosystem

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33
Q

What is the reason for measuring biodiversity?

A

a higher biodiversity leads to better sustainability

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34
Q

What are the benefits to high biodiversity?

A

1 ) high ecosystem sustainability

2) new material/ medicine
3) enjoy the nature
4) inspire people

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35
Q

What is biodiversity measurement?

A

when it focuses on the number of species, eyes (population distribution), and the difference (genetic or behavioural diversity)

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36
Q

Biodiversity Hotspots

A

a place where there is an exceptionally large number of species in a relatively small area

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37
Q

What are some threats to biodiversity?

A

1) Habitat Change/ Loss
2) Overexploitation
3) Pollution
4) Invasive Species
5) Climate Change
6) Extinction

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38
Q

Habitat Change

A

the process by which humans alter a habitat enough so that the native species can no longer live there

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39
Q

Habitat Fragmentation

A

a type of habitat change in which an ecosystem is broken down/ altered a bit at a time

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40
Q

What are 3 stresses put on freshwater lakes in Ontario?

A

motorboats, sewage, beaches

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41
Q

Clearcutting

A

removes all the trees in an area at one time

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42
Q

Pollution

A

any substance added to the environment that is harmful to organisms

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43
Q

What are the types of pollution?

A

land pollution, water pollution, air pollution

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44
Q

Point Source Pollution

A

a pollution at a specific place from an identifiable source

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45
Q

Non Point Source Pollution

A

a water pollution that happens when water from rain or snow picks up pollutants before entering a stream or a lake

46
Q

What are the negative impacts of pollution?

A

damages abiotic features, damages organisms

47
Q

How can you limit pollution?

A

Conserve
Burn less fossil fuel
Prevent environment accidents
Use less biodegradable substances

48
Q

ph Scale

A

a scale that describes the acidity level of a substance

49
Q

What is the pH range?

A

0-14
Acid: 0-7
Neutral: 7
Base: 7-14

50
Q

Acid Rain

A

Burning fossil fuel creates carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide.
Carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide combine with water vapour to acid vapour in air
Acid vapours dissolve in clouds
Acid rain occurs when rain or snow falls

51
Q

What are the effects of acid rain?

A

Aquatic: water becomes more acidic, which makes it difficult for many fish to live, which then effects the food web.

Terrestrial: damages the tree and leaves, dissolves and washes away their nutrients from the soil

52
Q

What are the two measurements that can test the health of an aquatic ecosystem?

A 
Dissolved Oxygen (DO): measures the amount of oxygen that is present in the water. 
*Low dissolved oxygen value means fewer organisms survive*

Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD): measures the oxygen usage by micro organisms in a given body of water.
High BOD means the water is very polluted and has a low oxygen level, which means fewer organisms survive

53
Q

Fertilizer

A

something that adds nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium to the soil, which helps plants grow

54
Q

Why do we need fertilizer?

A

plants continuously remove nutrients from soil

55
Q

What is the problem with fertilizer?

A

it causes eutrophication

56
Q

Eutrophication

A

the sudden growth of an organism (usually plants)

Example: Runoff of fertilizer goes into the water, which allows the algae to grow rapidly due to extra nutrients. This causes the algae to create a layer, which effects everything in the water.

57
Q

How do you minimize fertilizer usage?

A

No tillage farming: leave the remains of crops on the grounds after harvest to let the decomposer decompose the crop remains into nutrients

Crop Rotation: alternate what crops you use that use a lot of nutrients

Crop Selection: select crops that need less fertilizer

58
Q

Pest

A

any organism that causes illness or harm and is an annoyance to humans

59
Q

What are the types of pesticides?

A

Herbicide- for plants
Insectcide- for insects
Bacteriacide- for bacteria
Fungicide- for fungi and mould

60
Q

Pesticide

A

chemical or biological substance that kills plant or animal pests

61
Q

What are the benefits of using pesticide?

A

grow more crops
reduce the cost of food
control diseases

62
Q

Bioaccumulation

A

the gradual buildup of a substance in an organisms body

63
Q

Biomagnification

A

the increase in concentration of a substance as it moves higher up a food web

64
Q

Pesticide Resistance

A

when the pest is resistant to the pesticide

65
Q

Non- Target Species

A

when the pesticide kills unintended targets

66
Q

How do you minimize the pesticide problem?

A

don’t use pesticide and suffer the consequences of damage to crops, biological control (predatary organisms to eat the pests), create a pesticide that breaks down into harmless substances after use

67
Q

What can heavy metals have?

A

They can also have bioaccumulation and biomagnification

68
Q

Heavy Metals

A

when they have a density of 5g/mL or greater

E.g- mercury, copper, lead

69
Q

Non- Native Species

A

species that do not originate in the area or region

70
Q

How are non native species introduced to a new environment?

A
  1. Accidental shipments from other countries
  2. Economies
  3. Trying to control other species
  4. Release of pets into the wild
71
Q

Invasive Species

A

a non- native species that has a negative impact on the natural environment

72
Q

Are all non-native species invasive species?

A

No, usually non-native species will not be able to survive in the new environment, which will cause no harm. Non-native species will only become invasive species when they have a negative impact to the environment

73
Q

What are the negative impacts of invasive species?

A
  • population of species that originate from the area will decrease due to a higher competition of food
  • infect native species
  • damage forests and living areas
  • change the local environment
74
Q

How can you minimize invasive species?

A
  • Chemical method (pesticide)
  • Mechanical method (barriers, restrict movement)
  • Biological method (Predators to eat the species)
75
Q

DDT

A

a persistent pesticide that can remain in the environment for long periods of time. Serious pesticide due to biomagnification.

76
Q

What are the four layers of soil?

A

Organic, Top Soil, Subsoil, Bedrock

77
Q

Organic Layer

A

Partially decomposed leaves and grasses.

Limits temperature variation and water loss.

78
Q

Top Soil

A

Small particles of rock and humus
Rich in nutrients, oxygen and water
Plants get most of these nutrients from this layer

79
Q

Subsoil

A

Large rock with a little bit of humus
Fair amount of nutrients, oxygen and water
Plants that have deeper roots can only get nutrients

80
Q

Bedrock

A

Rock layer

Where soil is formed from

81
Q

What are the four soil types?

A

Loam Soil, Clay Soil, Sand Soil, Silt Soil

82
Q

Loam Soil

A

a mixture of sand, silt and clay
large and small spaces for air and water to flow through
holds humus
plants easily grow

83
Q

Clay Soil

A

soil sticks together so no air and water can flow through
traps water on surface
plants cannot push through it

84
Q

Sand Soil

A

big spaces and can’t hold water or nutrients

plants cannot hold onto soil

85
Q

Silt Soil

A

too light
holds water and nutrients but it erodes easily
plants grow well

86
Q

What pH do plants need?

A

Plants need a pH of 7. However, specific plants will need an environment that is more acidic or basic.

87
Q

What human impacts impact the ecosystem?

A

acid rain, walking on soil, fertilizer, deforestation, overgrazing

88
Q

Restoration Ecology

A

the renewal of a destroyed ecosystem by human intervention

89
Q

What are the methods of restoration ecology?

A

master plan, reforestation, wetland recreation, controlling invasive species, bioremediation, bioaugmentation

90
Q

Bioremedation

A

introducing plants or fungi to break down or absorb toxic materials

91
Q

Bioaugmentation

A

introducing organisms to replenish nutrients in the soil

92
Q

Conservation Biology

A

to seek, understand, and protect biodiversity

93
Q

Four Levels of Classification of at-Risk Organisms

A

Extirpated, Endangered, Threatened, Special Concern

94
Q

Extirpated

A

when the species does not exist in Ontario, but still exists elsewhere

95
Q

Endangered

A

close to extinction or extirpation

96
Q

Threatened

A

at risk of becoming endangered

97
Q

Special Concern

A

characteristics that make it sensitive to human activities or natural events

98
Q

In-Situ Conservation

A

conserves species in natural surroundings

99
Q

Ex-Situ Conservation

A

conserves species by removing them from their natural habitats

100
Q

Ecological Footprint

A

an estimate of how much land and water is needed to support your lifestyle

101
Q

Global Footprint

A

2.6 global hectares

102
Q

Canada

A

5.8 global hectares

103
Q

Earth Capacity

A

1.8 global hectares. Overusing Earth and the usage is unsustainable.

104
Q

Environmental Stewardship

A

manage resources wisely, ensuring that they are used in sustainable ways for current and future generations

105
Q

Sustainable Agriculture

A

use less pesticides or fertilizer

protect the soil (no-tillage farming)

106
Q

Sustainable Forestry

A

avoid clear-cutting

reforestation in rural areas and plant trees in urban areas

107
Q

Sustainable Construction

A

green/energy efficient designs

reduce waste and pollution produced

108
Q

Sustainable Business Practice

A

renewable energy generation methods
reuse and recycle
reduce waste and pollution

109
Q

Environmental Farm Plan

A

a tool that farmers use to identify environment problems on their farms and to develop action plans for the problems

110
Q

What are ways an urban forest can benefit a community?

A

removes excess carbon from the atmosphere

reduces energy consumption by providing shade, which leads to minimizing the use of air conditioning

111
Q

Organic Farming

A

when farmers do not use chemical fertilizers or pesticides

Science (Grade 9) (2 decks)

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