Ecology Chap 3 definitions

Question 1

biosphere

Answer 1

consists of parts of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere wher elife is found.

Question 2

ecosystem

Answer 2

one or more communities of diferent species interacting with their nonliving environment of matter and energy

Question 3

community

Answer 3

populations of different species living in a particlar place, and potentially interacting with each other

Question 4

poplulation

Answer 4

a group of individuals of the same species living in a particular place

Question 5

organism

Answer 5

an individual living being

Question 6

cell

Answer 6

the fundamental structural and functional unit of life

Question 7

molecule

Answer 7

chemical combinations of two or more atoms of the same or different elements

Question 8

atom

Answer 8

basic unit of chemical element that exhibits its chemical properties

Question 9

ecology

Answer 9

scientific study of the interations among organisms as well as the interactions between organisms and their non-living environment

Question 10

a’ & ‘b’ factors -why factors

Answer 10

factors that affect plants, animals

Question 11

abiotic factors

Answer 11

non-living, environmental factors (light (solar energy),temperature,precipitation,water availablity/quality, wind, air pollution , nutrients,geology=variations soil types, topography, altitude, and natural disasters (fire), [Pine trees require fire open cones]

Question 12

biotic factors

Answer 12

living organisms and their interactions (competition, predation,parasitic, herbavory) [plants, animals, microbes(micoorganisms: bacteria, fungi, phytoplankton)

Question 13

biodiversity

Answer 13

total #number of different species present in an area

Question 14

endemic speciies

Answer 14

species that is restricted to living in a certain habitat, or a certain set of environmental conditions

Question 15

scientific method

Answer 15

way of studying natural world through observations, hypothesis, and deductive reasoning. 1) Make Observations 2) Ask Questions 3) Make Hypothesis 4) Generae Testable Predictions from Hypothesis 5) Devise Tests (Experiments) [me: Analyze Data and Draw Conclusions. Hypothesis supported or not supported by experiment]

Question 16

exp endemic species

Answer 16

serpentine rock (state rock, green-gray from volcanic activity) has toxic metals and low Nitrogen–not good for most species plants live. However ~240 species can live in serpatine soil. The are endemic to the areas containing serpatine soil.

Question 17

microclimate

Answer 17

climate on very local scale, which differs from general climate of surrounding area

Question 18

topography

Answer 18

the arrangement of the natural and artificial physical features of an area (see drawing of cali)

Question 19

point reyes unique

Answer 19

rock type different due plates it rests on. Similar to mexico

Question 20

soil

Answer 20

minerals + dead organic material = abiotic since dead organic. Types = clay | sand | silt

Question 21

photosynththesis

Answer 21

capture solary energy, use it with CO2 and H20 to create glucose (C6h1206 which store chemical energy)

Question 22

producers

Answer 22

autotrophs (Self feeders) make nutrients they need from compouns and energy obtained from ENV (see photosynthesis)

Question 23

producers land ocean

Answer 23

green plants, freshwater/ocean=algae aquatic plants, phytoplankton

Question 24

chemosynthsis

Answer 24

bacteria convert inorganic compounds in env - hydrothermal vents ocean

Question 25

consumers

Answer 25

called heterotrophs other feeders. Must obtain energy storing organic molecules and nutrients feeding other ogranisms (producers or other consumers)

Question 26

primary consumers

Answer 26

herbivores plant eaters (catepillar)

Question 27

secondary consumers

Answer 27

carinvores like spiders, lions, small fish feed on herbivores

Question 28

tertiary consumers

Answer 28

feed on flesh other carnivores

Question 29

ominvores

Answer 29

pigs, rats, humans eat both plant and animals

Question 30

decomposers

Answer 30

are consomers that in process obtain own nutrients release nutrients from wasters or reammins of plants/animals and return those nutiresn soil, water, or aire. Detritivores feed on wastes or dead bodies

Question 31

cellular respiration

Answer 31

set metabolic reactions and processes take place cell of organism to convert biochemcial energy from nutrients into ATP (adeosine triphoshate)

Question 32

aerobic respiration

Answer 32

glucose + oxygen –> 6CO2 and 6H2O + energy. (opp. Photosynth)

Question 33

anaerobic respiration

Answer 33

fermentation - absense of oxygen. Form cellular respiration. End process combpounts methan gas, ethyl alcohol and hydrogen sulfide

Question 34

food chain

Answer 34

sequence organisms each serves source food /energy for next

Question 35

food web

Answer 35

organism in ecosystm that end up forming complex network of interconnected food chains

Question 36

biomass

Answer 36

dry weight of all organic matter

Question 37

2nd law thermodynamics

Answer 37

energy xfer through food chains/webs not efficient, each transfer, some usable chemcial energy is degraded /lost to env as low quality heat.

Question 38

pyramid of energy flow

Answer 38

shows decrease usable chem anegy avail each succeeding trophic level in food chain/web. Each xfer from one trophic level to antoerh–90% loss usable energy goes environment form low quality heat

Question 39

gross primary productivty

Answer 39

rate at which an ecosystems prodcuers (plants) convert solar energy into chemcial energy in form of biomass found in tissue.

Question 40

net primary productivity

Answer 40

rate which prodcuers use photosynthsis to produce and store chemcial energy MINUS rate at which they use some stored chemcial energy through aerobic respiration. MEASURE HOW FAST producers can make chemcial energy stored tissue and is available for consumers.