Ecology & Environment (Ch 30) Flashcards

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1
Q

What is ecology

A

Studies the relationship and interactions between organisms and its environment

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2
Q

2 categories of environment

A
  1. Biotic (living things that affect organism; animals, plants, fungi, bacteria)
  2. Abiotic (non living; water, temp, light, soil)
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3
Q

What is organism

A

Individual living unit

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4
Q

what is population

A

Groups of organisms of same species

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5
Q

What is communities

A

interactions groups of populations of different species

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6
Q

What is ecosystem

A

all interacting organisms in a given area + their interactions w/ abiotic surroundings

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7
Q

What is biosphere

A

sum total of living things on Earth and areas they inhabit

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8
Q

What is species

A

group of organisms that can reproduce with one another in nature and produce fertile offspring.

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9
Q

6 characteristics of ecosystems

A
  1. biotic (living) and abiotic parts (non-living)
  2. Energy flows through ecosystems (food chain)
  3. Matter is recycled in ecosystems (carbon, cycle, nitrogen cycle)
  4. Every organism occupies an ecological niche
  5. Ecosystems are dynamic (change over time)
  6. Ecosystems maintain homeostasis
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10
Q

Habitat and niche differences

A

Habitat = natural home
Niche (role) = reflects organisms use of resources and functional role in community

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11
Q

3 types of energy relationships

A
  1. Producers
  2. Consumers
  3. Decomposers
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12
Q

Producers meaning and examples

A
  1. organisms creating own energy through photosynthesis
  2. Uses photosynthesis
  3. Produces contain green plants + photosynthetic algae and Cyanobacteria (photosynthetic organisms)
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13
Q

Photosynthesis

A

energy from sun is converted into energy stored within chemical bonds

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14
Q

What are consumers and examples

A

require energy from other organisms

Ex: animals- eat plant directly, indirectly, consuming another consumer
Insect, birds, other animals

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15
Q

Decomposers and its examples

A

organism uses dead organisms for energy

Ex: bacteria + fungi
Convert organic matter into simple inorganic molecules that can be used by producers in photosynthesis

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16
Q

What is food chain and trophic levels

A

Food chain = sequence of feeding

Trophic levels = step in the flow of energy through ecosystem

17
Q

4 levels of trophic levels

A

1st = producers
2nd = herbivores
3rd = carnivore = feed on herbivores
4th = carnivore = feed on primary carnivores

18
Q

1st level = producers

A

photosynthetic and receiver energy from sun

19
Q

2nd level = herbivore

A

Eat plants

20
Q

4 steps of carbon cycle

A
  1. carbon is produced as CO2 by organisms carrying out cellular respiration
  2. Carbon is taken up as CO2 by plants carrying out photosynthesis
  3. Carbon flows through the food chain as consumers eat
  4. Decomposers break down decaying matter + return carbon to soil nutrients
21
Q

4 steps of nitrogen cycle

A
  1. nitrogen is taken in from atmosphere by nitrogen fixing bacteria (make it in a form plants can use)
  2. Nitrogen from soil is incorporated into plants as they grow + flows through the food chain as consumers eat
  3. Decomposers break down decaying material + return nitrogen to soil nutrients
  4. Some nitrogen returns to the atmosphere when converted by bacteria
22
Q

4 ways to explain energy flow

A

=passage of energy within ecosystem
=Energy is lost passing through each trophic level (90%)
=Loss of energy happens as heat
Thus, there are fewer consumers than producers

23
Q

5 types of organism interactions

A

Predation
Parasitism
Commensalism
Mutualism
Competition

24
Q

What is predation

A

Predator vs. Prey relationship
Predator benefits, prey is killed
Spiders, hawks, owls lions

25
Q

What is parasitism

A

Parasite vs. Host relationship
Parasite benefits, host is harmed
External parasites; Fleas, mosquitoes, leeches
Internal parasites; bacteria, virus, tapeworms

26
Q

What is commensalism

A

One organism benefits, the other is not affected

Cattle egrets + cows
Sharks and remora
Epiphyte
Whales and barnacles

27
Q

What is mutualism (symbiotic)

A

both organism benefit

Cow + microorganisms living in their digestive tract
Flowers + insect

28
Q

What is ruminants

A

Type of animals

herbivorous diet
Have special microorganisms in their gut to help them digest cellulose

29
Q

What is competition

A

both organisms are harmed

Intraspecific competition: b/w same species
Interspecific competition: b/w diff species

30
Q

lake Victoria disaster

A

Nile Perch by sport fishermen caused decrease in fish population

Growth of algae and parasite eating snails

Soil erosion at shore of lake

Deforestation (perch must be smoked to eat)

31
Q

Symbiosis

A

Any association between two species populations that live together

species benefit, harm, or have no effect on one another.