ECOLOGY Outcomes 4.5 - 4.9 (Test on Monday April 25, 2016) Flashcards
Without the Carbon Cycle, what would earth look like?
Without the Carbon Cycle, earth look like a frozen wasteland because it helps regulate the temperature when its on the atmosphere.
Where is carbon present? 4
It is in rocks
oceans
trapped in ice
and it’s in the atmosphere
If you were to take out the water out of your body, how many of your remaining body would constitute carbon?
half of the little pile of dust that used to be you
What organism is the first biological carbon reservoir?
plants
How are plants the first biological carbon reservoir? 3
They absorb a lot of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere because they need it to photosynthesize.
They also release carbon dioxide in the atmosphere during their respiration process to make ATP for all their cellular functions.
Plants take in more carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere than they release.
What are the three possible fates of carbon absorbed by plants?
It can be respired back out in the atmosphere
It can be eaten by an animal
Or it can be present when the plant dies
Aside from plants, what is another extremely important carbon reservoir?
The ocean
How is the ocean an extremely important carbon reservoir?
Carbon dioxide dissolves easily in water
Once it is in there, a lot of it is used by phytoplankton for photosynthesis
They make shells
What are the 3 main ingredients of a fertilizer?
Nitrogen
Phosphorous
Potassium
What is the main component of proteins and DNA?
Nitrogen
What are examples of Primary Succession? 4 (series)
Pioneer organisms such as lichens are carried to the area by wind or birds. They can live without SOIL OR SHELTER, lichens BREAK DOWN rock and decay to form SOIL
Plants that can grow in very this soil (mosses) join the lichens. Organisms that EAT mosses move into the area.
This causes more rock to break down, more decay and therefore more soil. A wider range of organisms can move into the area
A climax community is created
What is it called when an ecosystem in the primary succession ends when it reached maximum productivity for the environmental conditions?
It is called a Climax community.
While fertilizer can be good for a plant, too much can BLANK or BLANK the plant.
kill or damage
What is nitrogen main component of? 2
Proteins
and
DNA
In a fertilizer, What does Phosphorous do?
Helps plants to flower
What is a monoculture in agriculture? 3
Example? What is this natural trend called?
Humans must then try to deter these organisms by using pesticides.
A monoculture results when a single crop is grown on a large field
Population of organisms that feed specifically on that plant increases
This natural trend is called bio diverse ecosystem
What is Secondary Succession? 3
Occurs when an Ecosystem restores itself afetr a DISTURBANCE.
(Ex: Forest fire)
Process does not have to start with bare rock. Can BUILD on the remains of an old system.
The new climax community is similar to but not exactly like the old
What are the 4 most common elements found in living things?
Nitrogen
Carbon
Hydrogen
Oxygen
Can organisms absorb nitrogen gas (N₂) directly?
no
What is the process called when nitrogen atoms must first be pulled out of the air and “fixed” (bonded) to other elements to form new compunds (such as ammonia) with the help of NITROGEN FIXING BACTERIA?
This process is called NITROGEN FIXATION
What is primary succession? 2
It involves the series of changes that begins with a BARE LANDSCAPE
(Ex: Lave covered rock)
Ends with ecosystem reaching maximum productivity for the environment conditions called a CLIMAX COMMUNITY
In a fertilizer, What does Potassium do?
It is important for the overall growth of the plant
How does food affect population? 2
The type and amount of food available in any given area affects the population that can be supported by it.
Grain feeds more people than meat
If there is an increase in the the type of food eaten by a particular animal, that population will BLANK
Increase