Ecology - quiz 2 Flashcards
what do high-intensity fires lead to?
Dead trees, nutrient-depleted soil, and less carbon sequestering.
pollution
Any harmful contaminants released into the environment (ex. Acid precipitation, plastics, garbage, pesticides)
acid precipitation effects (5)
Can cause health problems, acid leaching, damage to vegetation, acidification of lakes, soil depletion
bioaccumulation
The gradual accumulation of substances, such as pesticides, or other chemicals in an organism.(eg. DDT and bald eagles)
the cycles of matter
water, phosphorus, nitrogen, and carbon
the water cycle
The series of processes that cycle water through the environment.
Liquid water evaporates, forming water vapour. The vapour eventually condenses, forming liquid water or ice crystals, and returns to Earth as rain, hail, or snow. Water falling on land may enter the soil and groundwater or move across the surface entering lakes, rivers, and oceans. Water that is taken in by plant roots maybe released from leaves in a process called transpiration.
carbon cycle
The biogeochemical cycle in which carbon is cycled through the lithosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere.
Carbon moves between the abiotic and biotic parts of an ecosystem in the carbon cycle.
This carbon is not cycled but it is stored in carbon-rich deposits. Examples include fossil fuels like coal, oil, natural gases.
humans change the carbon cycle as we burn fossil fuels which releases large amounts of carbon dioxide. Deforestation as well increases the amount of CO2 in our atmosphere due to a reduction in the amount of carbon dioxide being removed in the atmosphere.
nitrogen cycle
The series of processes that cycle water through the environment.
Nitrogen used by organisms are taken from the atmosphere. Some organisms have bacteria which converts the nitrogen into nitrogen-containing compounds which is then absorbed by producers. It is passed up the food chain. From waste or dead organic material, decomposes break down the nitrogen-rich compounds which are then recycled in the soil or released into the atmosphere.
biogeochemical cycle
the movement of matter through the biotic and abiotic environment
phosphorus cycle
The movement of phosphorus through the environment
Phosphorus is absorbed by plants through weathering of rocks. It is then passed along to consumers who excrete waste that contain phosphorus and leave behind organic matter when they are dead which are all broken down by bacteria and fungi. The phosphorus can then be carried into the water or be uplifted, allowing phosphorus to enter soil and water again.
putting out fires leads to forests that are…
overly thick and dense
branches and dry vegetation are referred to as…
ladder fuels
another word for low-intensity burns is?
cultural burns
low-intensity burns/cultural burns
*to __ ecosystems
*decrease the chance of …
Fires that have been lit purposefully for thousands of years by Indigenous fire keepers to rebalance ecosystems. Forests treated with low-intensity burns decreases the chances of a wildfire disaster.
what do low-intensity burns due to seeds?
they wake up and germinate
what are the effects of low-intensity burns?
The forest has space and can start to regenerate
Animals are drawn to the area and new vegetation
Trees have more room to grow bigger and develop thicker bark, protecting them from surface fires, disease, and damage
The tree canopy expands, providing habitats for insects, birds, and animals
These bigger trees can also take in more carbon dioxide
2 differences between high intensity burns and low intensity burns
high intensity burns are not intentionally lit and result in dead trees, nutrient-depleted soil, and less carbon sequestering.
low intensity burns are intentionally lit and are controlled. they result in regeneration and a healthier forest.
acid precipitation
Also referred to as acid rain and is caused by industrial processes and the burning of fossil fuels
Compounds such as SO2, CO2, or NOx are released into the atmosphere as emissions and form acids with the water Vapor
leaching
process by which nutrients are removed from the soil as water passes through it
effects of synthetic fertilizers
Harms aquatic ecosystems as fertilizer runoff causes __ __ in which they grow due to fertilizer then die.
If leached into water, can be harmful to humans due to high __ levels
Harms aquatic ecosystems as fertilizer runoff causes algae bloom in which they grow due to fertilizer then die.
If leached into water, can be harmful to humans due to high nitrogen levels
why are pesticides sometimes ineffective?
Pesticides become less effective over time as plants and insects become resistant to the sprays
how do large plastics harm organisms?
large plastics can entangle, attach, kill, or main aquatic organisms
microplastics effect on environment
microplastics can cause chemicals to be absorbed from the environment. Microplastics in our drinking water and water sources (eg. fish) is considered a growing risk.
oil spills can occur due to…
international shipping
how can oil affect animals
oil cause organ damage to animals and hinders the insulation of birds feathers
3 ways to repair damage of oil spills
skimming, vacuuming, bioremediation (microorganisms that feed on oil)
why are synthetic fertilizers more harmful?
because they are high in nitrogen levels that can cause health problems to humans, especially infants
how do pesticides help farmers?
pesticides help farmers kill pests, which increase food production
what are pesticides used to control (4)
weeds, insects, rodents, fungi, and others. ex. used to kill mosquitos or prevent diseases
when can bioaccumulation occur?
when higher food chain organism consume other organisms which have ingested pesticides
most of the earths carbon is not cycled. what deposits are carbon stored in? how do they form?
-deposits in coal, limestone, ocean sediments, shells of marine animals, oil, and natural gas
-form when decomposed organisms are compressed over millions of years
what is soil a mixture of
minerals, water, dissolved nutrients, air and decomposing matter, and home to organisms
what are the most important nutrients for plants
nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium
natural fertilizers + ex
made from natural materials like plant and animal waste
ex. manure, compost, wood, ashes
pros and cons of natural fertilizers
pros: -danger of over fertilizing
-release nutrients slowly
-can improve soil structure
cons: -nutrients may be too slow
-low concentrations of nutrients
-difficult to apply and measure
synthetic fertilizers + ex
made by humans using chemical processes
ex. ammonia, potassium, “bagged” fertilizer
synthetic fertilizer pros and cons
pros: -easy to apply and measure
- release nutrients quickly
cons:-if released too quickly can cause an imbalance in soil chemistry
-takes a lot of energy to produce
-causes water pollution leaching
