Ecology pt. 2 Flashcards
What does trophic levels refer to?
It refers to the position of a species on a food chain
What’s an autotroph producer? 3 main points*
-get energy from sunlight or inorganic energy sources
- inorganic to organic forms.
-1st trophic level, supports all other organisms
Heterotroph (consumers) are?
organisms that derive their energy by consuming other organisms.
What’s a primary consumer?
herbivores (eat only plants)
what are the Secondary and Tertiary Consumers?
- carnivores (eat other animals)
- omnivores (animals which eat both producers and consumers)
what are decomposers?
organisms that derive their energy from dead organisms and waste products.
What are the four main carbon reservoirs?
- fossil fuels
- Ocean
- Atmosphere
- Living organisms
What is the green house effect?
a process that occurs when gases in Earth’s atmosphere trap the Sun’s heat
How does carbon contribute to global warming
By adding more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, causes global temperature to rise
What is nitrogen fixation?
Converting atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia (NH3) / NH4 ions
What is Denitrification?
Bacteria reconvert nitrates into Nitrogen, which returns to atmosphere.
How fertilizer is involved in the nitrogen cycle?
It has chemicals that contain nitrogen and phosphorus
Where is phosphorus found? 3 ideas?
Found in ATP, cell membranes and animal bones.
Is phosphorus a limiting factor or not, to in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems?
Yes- Phosphorous isn’t useable
Define transpiration? (water cycle)
Loss of water from plant leaves.
