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Biol 143 > ecosystem ecology > Flashcards

ecosystem ecology Flashcards

1
Q

example of a small ecosystem

A

tide-pool

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2
Q

how is “ecosystem” a flexible term?

A

may be large and complex OR may only have a few species

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3
Q

how is the earth energetically open?

A
  • energy constantly added by sun
  • energy radiated away into space
  • more comes from sun
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4
Q

how is the earth materially closed?

A
  • matter is not added or removed
  • chemicals are not added or removed
  • stuck with what we have
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5
Q

energy flow: conservation of energy

A
  • comes from sun
  • movement through ecosystem
  • passed form organism to organism
  • eventually all lost as heat
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6
Q

nutrients cycle: conservation of mass

A
  • biochemical cycles
  • chemicals required for life
  • movement through ecosystems
  • cycle: used and reused
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7
Q

gross primary production:

A
  • amount of sun energy captured
  • amount of sugar produced
  • measure of photosynthesis
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8
Q

net primary production

A
  • energy that goes into plant growth
  • energy available to other organisms
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9
Q

net primary production forms the __ of the trophic pyramid

A

base: amount available affects everything in ecosystem

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10
Q

where is net primary production highest?

A

in tropical rain forests

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11
Q

energy is produced by the …

A

lowest trophic level

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12
Q

energy flows from …

A

low trophic to a higher one

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13
Q

much energy is used to run…

A

body systems: most of this is lost as heat

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14
Q

small fraction of energy is used for..

A

growth: energy available to higher trophic levels

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15
Q

energy and biomass ___ at higher trophic levels

A

decreases

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16
Q

most energy is lost as…

A

heat
-basal metabolic rate
-movement

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17
Q

energy used to grow is not…

A

lost

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18
Q

10% of energy is transferred to…

A

higher trophic levels
-the other 90% is lost
-limits the number of trophic levels (<5)

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19
Q

what has the most weight and energy?

A

plants

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20
Q

where are nutrients stored?

A

reservoirs

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21
Q

residence time:

A

length of time in reservoir

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22
Q

nutrient cycle:

A
  1. Organism gets nutrients from reservoir
  2. Nutrient moves through food web
  3. Decomposers return nutrient to reservoir
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23
Q

___ are important nutrient reservoirs

A

plants

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24
Q

__ leaves forest when trees are removed

A

nutrients: significant portion of the cycle gets disrupted

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25
Q

nutrient cycle depends on

A

decomposers

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26
Q

decomposition rates increase with…

A

temperature and moisture

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27
Q

rarest resource =

A

limiting factor

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28
Q

limiting factor example: pond algae

A

 Limiting resource is phosphorus
 Phosphorus added from fertilizer
* No longer limited
 Algae growth explodes

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29
Q

most important water reservoir =

A

oceans

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30
Q

water cycle:

A

o Sun evaporates water into atmosphere
o Evapotranspiration from plants adds water to atmosphere
o Water condenses and falls as precipitation
o Ultimately runs back to ocean

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31
Q

water impacts net primary production:

A

 Terrestrial net primary production
 Higher precipitation correlated with higher production
 Water is a critical resource for plants

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32
Q

most important carbon reservoir?

A

the atmosphere (CO2)

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33
Q

carbon cycle:

A

o Plants use carbon to make sugar
o Animals eat sugar
o Both break down sugar for energy via cellular respiration
 Returns carbon to reservoir

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34
Q

respiration and photosynthesis should..

A

balance

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35
Q

disruption of global carbon cycle:

A

 Earth had a balanced carbon cycle
 Humans have unbalanced the carbon cycle
* Add extra carbon from fossil fuels
* Remove forests
* Burn jungle

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36
Q

consequences of unbalanced carbon cycle

A

warming temperature
acidifying ocean

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37
Q

___ is needed to make DNA and RNA

A

phosphorus

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38
Q

____ portion of the phosphorus cycle is very slow

A

inorganic

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39
Q

reservoir of phosphorus is?

A

rock:
-Bacteria degrade rock and release phosphorus
-Eventually buried and turns back to rock
-Mined for fertilizer

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40
Q

some ways phosphorus is added to soil

A

*Rock decomposition (by bacteria)
*Dissolved in water
*Blow by wind
*Animal waste
*Decomposition

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41
Q

some ways phosphorus is removed from soil

A
  • Used by plants
  • Soil erosion and runoff
  • Sedimentation
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42
Q

largest nitrogen reservoir is.

A

the atmosphere

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43
Q

what is the largest component of the atmosphere?

A

nitrogen (78%)

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44
Q

__ is the limiting resource for many plants

A

nitrogen (N2 is not useable by plants or animals)

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45
Q

how do plants get nutrients from nitrogen reservoir if they are in an unusable form?

A

nitrogen fixing bacteria

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46
Q

examples of plants that are mutualistic with nitrogen fixing bacteria?

A

legumes (peanuts and soy) and alder trees

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47
Q

farming and nutrients cycle:

A

*plants grow using nutrients in the soil
*plants are taken somewhere else after death and do NOT return nutrients

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48
Q

farming depletes the soil of…

A

nitrogen and other nutrients

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49
Q

plants with______________ can be lated in nitrogen poor soil to fix nitrogen and leave extra nitrogen in soil

A

bacteria symbionts

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50
Q

how can farmers fix the nitrogen cycle?

A

rotate crops that remove and produce nitrogen
*Don’t have to buy as much fertilizer
*Better for the environment

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51
Q

how is nitrogen added to soil?

A
  • Nitrogen fixing bacteria
  • Lightning
  • Animal waste
  • Decomposition
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52
Q

how is nitrogen lost from soil?

A
  • Used from plants
  • Soil erosion
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53
Q

denitrification

A

bacteria return nitrogen to atmosphere

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54
Q

limiting distribution:

A

Organisms have a range of tolerance for each environmental factor (determines their niche)

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55
Q

abiotic limits:
terrestrial -
aquatic -

A

terrestrial: temp, humidity, precipitation, water availability, nutrients, sunlight

aquatic: temp, oxygen, salinity, nutrients, sunlight

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56
Q

biotic limits:

A

negative interactions with another species, competitive exclusion, exploitation, disease.

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57
Q

dispersal ability limits an organism’s…

A

range

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58
Q

meterological conditions

A

wind, precipitation, air pressure, temperature, cloud cover

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59
Q

weather

A

meteorological conditions on a given day

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60
Q

climate

A

long term trends in meteorological conditions

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61
Q

Microclimate:

A

local climate in a small area

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62
Q

macroclimate:

A

climate in a large area

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63
Q

factors that affect climate:

A

Solar intensity, wind, seasonality, altitude, water, global currents

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64
Q

solar intensity patterns:

A

Lower intensity at higher latitudes

Higher intensity near the equator

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65
Q

why is solar intensity lower at higher latitudes?

A

Sun passes through more atmosphere

Sunlight is spread out over more area

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66
Q

wind patterns:

warm, moist air rises at…

A

equator (due to solar intensity)

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67
Q

wind patterns:

wind moves __ or ___

A

north or south

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68
Q

wind patterns:

air cools as it …

A

rises, and loses moisture as rain

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69
Q

cooler air cannot hold as much…

A

water

70
Q

dry air descends at ____ degrees north and south of …

A

30 degrees north and south of the equator

71
Q

dry air creates

A

large deserts

72
Q

coriolis effect

A

Deflects things right in the Northern Hemisphere

Deflects things left in the southern hemisphere

73
Q

prevailing wind direction

A

Toward the west near equator

Toward the east 30 degrees N or S

74
Q

seasons are due to

A

the tilt of the earth

75
Q

seasons are more pronounced near…

A

the poles

76
Q

mutualistic relationship between plants and nitrogen fixing bacteria

A
  • plants provide root pouches for bacteria (protection) and they share sugar
  • bacteria fix nitrogen and provide a steady supply to plants
76
Q

altitude: temp is colder..

A

higher up

77
Q

enclosed valleys may be older since…

A

cold air sinks (temp inversion)

78
Q

rain shadow

A

Moisture removed as air cools over mountain

Area of little rainfall on leeward side of mountain

79
Q

Water slowly ___ heat form the air in hot weather

A

removes

80
Q

Water slowly ___ heat to the air in cold weather

A

releases

81
Q

warmer water creates…

A

more storms: greater precipitation nearby

82
Q

warm or cold water may…

A

flow to new locations

83
Q

biome:

A

large ecosystem

84
Q

abiotic factors that determine biomes

A
  • Climate for terrestrial biomes
  • Water properties and depth for aquatic biomes
85
Q

disturbance

A

outside event that disrupts community or resource availability

86
Q

3 categories of biomes

A

terrestrial, freshwater, marine

87
Q

types of forest biomes

A
  • Tropical rainforest
  • Temperate broadleaf
  • Northern coniferous
88
Q

tropical forests climate

A

Lots of rain year round
Warm temperatures
Days mostly the same length

89
Q

tropical forest: what are the plants like?

A

Plants have large leaves to absorb sunlight

Plants grow continually

Very abundant primary production
* Supports complex ecosystems
* High biodiversity

90
Q

what are tropical forests threatened by?

A

deforestation: results in nutrient poor soils

91
Q

savanna: climate

A

Tropical

Warm year round

Rainy and dry seasons

Intense sunlight and high production
* Complex ecosystems

92
Q

savanna: what are plants like?

A

Scattered shrubs and trees

Grass adapted to constant grazing

93
Q

savanna: threatened by

A

cattle which eat all the grass

called desertification

94
Q

desert: climate

A

Rainfall less than 30cm per year
*Most are 30 degrees N and S of equator
*Very dry air

Hot during the day, cold at night

95
Q

desert: what are plants/animals like?

A

Many plants have spines to protect their stored water

Plants minimize water loss
* Waxy covering
* Traditional leaves small or absent

Animals are adapted to need little water
* Kangaroo rat can live its entire life without ever drinking

96
Q

deserts are threatened by…

A

urbanization and agriculture

97
Q

chaparral is AKA

A

mediterranean scrub

98
Q

chaparral climate

A

Moderate rainfall during moderate winters

Very hot, dry summers
* Burns a lot

99
Q

where are chaparrals located

A

along the edges of continents

100
Q

chaparral: what are plants like?

A

Drought resistant plants
* Small leather leaves
* Adapted to frequent fires

101
Q

chaparrals are threatened by

A

urbanization

102
Q

types of grasslands:

A

savanna and temperate

103
Q

terrestrial biomes include:

A

forest
chaparral
grasslands
desert
tundra

104
Q

temperate grassland: climate

A

 Hot summers
 Cold snowy winters

105
Q

temperate grassland: plants

A

Nutrient rich soil

Mostly grasses (height depends on precipitation)

106
Q

temperate grassland types

A

prairie: high precipitation, long grass

steppe: lo precipitation, short grass

107
Q

temperate grassland is threatened by

A

agriculture

108
Q

temperate broadleaf forest: climate

A

Moderate precipitation year round

Cold winters and warm summers

109
Q

temperate broadleaf forest: what are plants like?

A

Plants have moderately sized leaves

Shed all their leaves in the winter

Grow new leaves in the spring

110
Q

why do temperate broadleaf forest’s leaves shed in winter?

A

Conditions poor for growth

Little sunlight

Little access to water

111
Q

northern coniferous forest: climate

A

Most extensive terrestrial biome

Dry, cold winters

Rains fall primarily during summer

Short growing season

112
Q

northern coniferous forests is AKA

A

Taiga or boreal forest

113
Q

northern coniferous forests: what are plants like?

A

Dominated by conifers
*Cone shaped to shed snow
*Waxy needles prevent water loss during winter

Often very wild

114
Q

northern coniferous forests are threatened by

A

logging and mining

115
Q

tundra: climate

A

Coldest biome

50-60 day growing season

Permafrost: permanently frozen soil
*Prevents water drainage leading to marshy soil

116
Q

tundra: what are plants

A

Low clustered plants avoid cold and wind

Animals migrate elsewhere or hibernate during winter

117
Q

tundra is threatened by

A

oil exploration and climate change

118
Q

factors that influence biomes:

A

temperature and rainfall

119
Q

types of aquatic biomes:

A

freshwater and Marin

120
Q

freshwater biomes:

A

(less than .1% salt)

 Lakes and ponds
 Rivers and streams
 Wetlands

121
Q

marine biomes:

A

(3.5% salt)

-covers 75% of the earth’s surface

122
Q

freshwater habitat zones include:

A

-photic zone
-aphotic zone
-pelagic zone
-benthic zone

123
Q

photic zone

A

-near surface
-light from surface
-littoral zone if bottom of photic

124
Q

aphotic zone

A

-little to no light rom surface
-limnetic zone if bottom of aphotic zone

125
Q

___ zone above bottom

A

pelagic

126
Q

___ zone on bottom

A

benthic

127
Q

Seasonal vernal (spring) ponds are important for

A

breeding

128
Q

why does surface/shore of lakes/ponds have more organisms?

A

Water is warm, bright, and well oxygenated

129
Q

lakes/ponds: oligotrophic

A

few nutrients and clear water

130
Q

lakes/ponds: eutrophic

A

many nutrients and cloudy water

131
Q

lakes/ponds: eutrophication

A

addition of nutrients

132
Q

lakes and ponds are threatened by

A

pollution, eutrophication, and acid rain

133
Q

turnover in temperate lakes:

___ in summer

A

thermocline: warm surface water (high in oxygen) and cold deeper water (little oxygen)

134
Q

turnover in ___ and ___

A

spring and fall

135
Q

what is turnover?

A

*Mixing of deep and surface water
*Redistributes nutrients and oxygen

136
Q

___ lakes often have permanent thermocline

A

tropical

137
Q

rivers/streams: headwater

A

clear, cold, high in oxygen, quick flowing

138
Q

Good habitat for trout and related species

A

headwater in rivers and streams

139
Q

middle of river/stream:

A

slower, warmer, high photosynthesis

140
Q

fish, insects, amphibians, reptiles live where?

A

middle of river/stream

141
Q

characteristics of wetlands:

A

High nutrient levels

Support a huge variety of species

141
Q

importance of wetlands

A

Slow the flow of water
*Allows pollutants to settle out
*Help prevent flooding

142
Q

what are wetlands?

A

Standing water with plants above surface

142
Q

wetlands are threatened by

A

destruction by drainage

143
Q

marine habitat zones: ___ near surface

A

photic

144
Q

marine habitat zones:

neritic zone ___ continental shelf

A

over

145
Q

marine habitat zones:

oceanic zone ___ oceanic shelf

A

beyond

146
Q

marine habitat zones:

pelagic zone

A

above bottom

147
Q

marine habitat zones:

benthic zone

A

on bottom

148
Q

estuaries

A

Area of fresh and saltwater mixing

Extremely productive and diverse habitat

149
Q

why are estuaries called nurseries of the sea

A

Provides habitat for juveniles of many commercial fish species

150
Q

estuaries are buffers that stabilize…

A

shoreline and prevents erosion

151
Q

estuaries are threatened by…

A

pollution, eutrophication, and habitat destruction

152
Q

tides are caused by..

A

gravitation pull of the moon

153
Q

intertidal zone

A

only underwater part of the time
*Shoreline interface between land and sea

154
Q

intertidal zone animals must survive…

A
  • Temperate fluctuations
  • Rough waves
  • No water
  • Land and aquatic predators
155
Q

intertidal zones are threatened by

A

by pollution, habitat destruction, and overexploitation

156
Q

coral reefs:

A

Habitat structure created by organisms themselves

Corals build skeletons from calcium carbonate

Up to 90% of energy is provided by alage that live in coral

157
Q

coral reefs need..

A

warm, well lit water

158
Q

coral reefs are threatened by

A

pollution, warming temperatures, and ocean acidification

159
Q

open ocean pelagic zones covers __ of earth’s surface

A

2/3

160
Q

50% of earth’s oxygen is genernated by…

A

photosynthetic plankton
-serve as base of ocean food chain

161
Q

open ocean is threatened by

A

overharvesting, pollution, and garbage

162
Q

open ocean benthic zone: characteristics

A
  • Much of it receives no sunlight
  • Food falls from above
  • Very cold (3C)
  • Extreme water pressure
  • Relatively high oxygen levels
163
Q

open ocean benthic zone is threatened by

A

by bottom trawling, oil spills, and unknown factors

164
Q

hydrothermal vents: characteristics

A
  • Very deep, no light
  • Hot water spews from holes
    o Volcanically heated
    o Full of minerals
165
Q

where does energy come from in hydrothermal vents?

A

Energy from bacteria: they break down sulfur compounds (rely on sulfur, not sun)

166
Q

mouth of river/stream:

A

very slow, high sediment, lower oxygen

166
Q

bottom dwelling fish (catfish and carp) live where?

A

mouth of river

167
Q

rivers/streams are threatened by

A

pollution, eutrophication, and dams

Biol 143 (21 decks)

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