Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Biology Unit B > Ecosystems > Flashcards

Ecosystems Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
AP® Biology flashcards Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Explain Ecosystems vs Biogeography

A

ECOSYSTEMS: System including biotic and abiotic communities

BIOGEOGRAPHY: Distribution of plants and animals over the world

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Polar climates vs Temperature climates

A

Polar climates are usually much colder, therefore is why they are the region of permafrost.
ex. Alaska/Greenland/etc.

Temperature climates always have the four seasons: Winter, summer, fall, spring.
ex, most of Canada and north America.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Semi tropical vs Tropical climate

A

Semi tropical climates are ALMOST all summer, they have a short spring/fall term.

Then Tropical Climates have summer weather all year round, such as Mexico.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are biomes?

A

Biomes are large geographical forms of land that are organized/identified by their climate conditions.
Biomes function as a system, have all sets and parts of land working as one.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

North America has FIVE specific Biomes, what are they?

A
  1. Tundra
  2. Taiga
  3. Grassland
  4. Desert
  5. Deciduous Forest
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Open vs Closed systems

A

The main difference is the exchange of energy and matter….
For open systems, they exchange energy AND matter with its surroundings.
While closed systems only exchange energy but NOT matter with its surroundings.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Additional Facts about BIOMES

A
  • Biomes get their INPUT energy from the sun and lose their energy trough heat OR chemical energy to other biomes.
  • Biomes exchange matter(air), water, pants and animals wit other biomes(surroundings), therefore its an OPEN SYSTEM.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Alpine Meadows (tundra)

A

Ice and snow cover the tundra, also known as permafrost.
- Because of this permafrost, no trees or low growth plants like shrubs/moss, are present.
- Very few animals and plants, as they migrate in for summer but leave for winter.
- VERY FRAGILE landscape
- Because there is a lack of sun in the tundra, this region is found to be the coldest and the driest out of they 6 biomes.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Earth has SIX biomes, list them?

A
  1. Ice and Snow Tundra
  2. Taiga
  3. Deciduous Forest
  4. Grasslands
  5. Desert
  6. Rainforest
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Describe the TAIGA (boreal Forest)

A

The taiga has 3-6 months of summer, and higher precipitation rates.
- there are more PERMANANT plant and animal species, because of the weather and food webs are actually present.
- These regions are slightly warmer, but also more wet.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Describe the Ice and Snow Tundra

A

At the polar ice caps or the highest mountains, there has been zero months of summer.
- There is very little precipitation, and no populations of plants, because its so cold.
- Plants and animals cannot sustain in that cold of weather, so there aren’t any permanent plant populations and animals begin to migrate.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Deciduous Forest

A

The deciduous forest is mostly made up of BROAD-LEAFED trees
- These forests have HIGH precipitation, and a high evaporation rate.
- This region have even more permanent plants and animals than the taiga.

This forest has VERY distinct winter and summer seasons.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is the Desert Biome?

A

Lacks so much moisture.
- These regions are hot but can also be cold, with a day and night temperature change.
- Plants and animals need to be able to save water to actually survive the heat and the cold.
- Many animals in the desert are poisonous or slow-moving.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Describe the Grasslands

A

These grasslands lack sufficient moisture, so their soil is typically drier and unable to support plants like trees.
- animals tend to be grazers and travel LONG distances for food.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

How do terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems support diversity of organisms?

A

Because of their complex cycles, energy moves up the two systems and makes the lives more productive.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

How do biotic and abiotic characteristics influence local ecosystems?

A

Biotic factors such as animals or plants, etc. Provide food and competition for other biotic factors/organisms. While abiotic factors such as water, sunlight, air, etc. Allow the biotic factors to continue living and producing.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is ecology?

A

Ecology is the study of interactions between organisms, along with their biotic and abiotic conditions.
- these interactions also help diversify ecosystems with unique and specific characteristics.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is the difference between Biotic and Abiotic?

A

Biotic refers to the living things on earth, and abiotic refers to the NON- living tings on our earth.
- Biotic (plants, animals, etc.)
- Abiotic (air, minerals, water, sunlight, etc.)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Different levels of life (simplest to most complex)

A
  • cell
  • organism
  • population
  • community
  • ecosystem
  • biosphere
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is the difference between population and community?

A

Population is a group of specific/individuals of one species in the same area.

A community is a group of interacting populations (many different species) in one area.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

How would you describe Ecotone?

A

An ecotone could be referred to a “meeting spot” for communities. Because ecotones are referred to as transition areas between ecosystems, where they interact and integrate.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Roles in Ecosystems: Nice

A

A niche is an organisms role in an ecosystem. Every living organism has their own unique role/niche in their ecosystem. This includes their purpose in ORDER to survive in their own climate.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Competition for Niches

A

Organisms don’t always have deferent niches from one another. Because groups of species could all have the same niche, and they could be living in a community together. Now this creates competition between the species they are all hunting, fighting for the same thing, and it just depends on who’s faster and more athletic to receive.

15
Q

Terrestrial and Aquatic ecosystems. Describe these biomes?

A

Not only are there land biomes, but there are also aquatic and terrestrial biomes which consist on geographical areas with a specific climate.

16
Q

Terrestrial biomes in Canada

A
  • tundra
  • taiga
  • grassland
  • Deciduous forest
17
Q

Aquatic Biomes in Canada

A
  • Salt-water
  • Fresh-water
18
Q

Define Muskeg in an Ecosystem?

A

This is part of the taiga. Northern regions where the climate is colder, there is quite a lot of permafrost that develops on the ground layer. When this snow/rain melts into the ground it creates this swampy mucky layer in the summer. Creating a swampy-like biome.

19
Q

Grassland Ecosystems

A

In these regions there is increased sunlight, warmer temperatures, and less precipitation.

20
Q

Salt water ecosystems?

A

This biome has water with a 9 percent and higher salt content. Once evaporated out of the ocean the saltwater becomes freshwater and could fall as precipitation.

21
Q

Fresh water ecosystems

A

These regions have water less than 1 percent salt content.

22
Q

freshwater ecosystems: Lakes

A

There are oligotrophic lakes and eutrophic lakes
The difference is that oligotrophic lakes have lower nutrient levels, and are more cold, clear, and deep.

Then eutrophic lakes have higher nutrient levels and are often more shallow and warm, while they look very murky.

23
Q

Describe eutrophication?

A

Overtime, oligotrophic lakes turn into eutrophic lakes. Eventually, nutrients will accumulate in these oligotrophic lakes more and more. This will turn lead to algae blooms.
- and gradually these lakes will fill wit organic matter and soil, and will become dry land.

24
Q

Zonation in water ecosystems?

A
  1. littoral
  2. Limnetic
  3. Profundal
  4. Benthic
25
Q

Define the Littoral Zone?

A

This area include an area of dry land that slopes into the water. Plants are still growing, and waters are shallow.

26
Q

Define the Limnetic Zone?

A

this zone is considered the open lake, where sunlight is still able to penetrate the water, allowing photosynthesis, which means growth of plants.

27
Q

Define the Profundal Zone?

A

In this zone, there is not enough sunlight to reach the area, therefore there is no photosynthesis occurring.
- only source of nutrients come from decaying matter, that falls from the limnetic zone above.

28
Q

Define the Benthic Zone?

A

This is the deepest/and most bottom part of the lake. Consisting of rocks/sediments and soil.
- very little organisms living in this zone, including catfish, mollusks and worms.

29
Q

Functions/Roles of Aquatic Ecosystems?

A
  1. Control the earths weather patterns
  2. Act as transport systems/reservoirs that cycle chemicals thorough the biosphere.
  3. They help with biodiversity int he biosphere.
  4. Provide healthy water for usage.
30
Q

Factors affecting aquatic Ecosystems

A
  • chemical environment (dissolved chemicals such as oxygen, phosphorus, nitrogen, etc.)
  • temperature( affected by season and water depth; More light and warm temps)
  • sunlight
  • water pressure(the pressure increases the deeper you go down)
  • seasonal variation
  • human factors
31
Q

Describe how water density works?

A

In water, as it cools it becomes more dense(up to 4 degrees Celsius, which is the most dense)
- the more dense it gets, the heavier it becomes.
Therefore the water that sinks to the bottom of the lake int he winter is around 4 degrees.

32
Q

Seasonal Variations

A

During the different seasons, the lakes act in different ways. Ex. Turnover.

33
Q

Winter

A

During winter, the top of the water is frozen. And at the bottom of the lake during winter, it is warm (4 degrees Celsius).
- Oxygen cannot penetrate/go through the ice. BUT if the ice is clear enough, sunlight can penetrate the ice and photosynthesis can provide oxygen beneath the surface.

34
Q

Spring Turnover

A

The weather begins to warm up and the ice will eventually melt.
- water allows oxygen to diffuse into the water. The wind stirs the water.
- the surface of the water will reach 4 degrees, meaning it will become dense, carry the oxygen and sink to the bottom. This process is called a turnover.

35
Q

Summer

A

In the summer there is no sinking, because all water is at a temperature of 4 degrees. All the layers are able to receive more sunlight.

36
Q

Define the layers of a lake?

A

1st epilimnion
- the upper level of the lake that warms up during the summer.
2nd Hypolimnion
- lower level of the that remains at a lower temperature all year round.
3rd. Thermocline
- the middle layer in which the temperature drops radically.

37
Q

Autumn/Fall

A

Same thing occurs in fall as spring, the surface temperature COOLS to reach 4 degrees and become dense. The water will fall to the bottom of the lake and bring oxygen down to the hypolimnion level.

38
Q

Biotic Potential

A

This is described as that maximum amount of offspring one species could produce.
- its capacity on creating offspring.

39
Q

What is the difference between density-dependent and density-independent?

A

Dependent, refers to factors that affect members in a population BECAUSE of the pop density.
But Independent, refers to the factors that affect members regardless of the pop density, so will occur without a change in pop density.

40
Q

Law no. 1 : Limits of Tolerance

A
  1. Law of The Minimum
    - The nutrient that is in the least supply, is the nutrient that is limiting ones growth.
41
Q

Law no. 2: Limits of Tolerance

A
  1. Law of Tolerance
    - The particular range of an abiotic factor that an organism can survive within.
42
Q

Activity within an ecosystem:

A
  1. slash and burn
    - burning and cutting leaves
  2. Clear-cutting
    - removal of trees to replant new ones
  3. Selective cutting
    - harvesting only CERTAIN trees
43
Q

Human activity within an ecosystem:

A
  1. Prescribed Burns
    - controlled fires/set intentionally
    - The fires can help rejuvenate forest and grassland ecosystems.
44
Q

Define terrestrial succesion

A

The slow changes in plant and animal population between communities.

45
Q

Soil layers

A

1) Litter
2) Topsoil
3) Subsoil

46
Q

Describe litter

A

Litter is made up of decomposed leaves and grass, and insulate the soil. Helping with lots of water loss.

47
Q

Describe topsoil

A

Includes small particles of rock and decaying plant animal matter. This decaying matter is called HUMUS.

48
Q

Define the Subsoil layer

A

This layer contains a little more rocks and organic material, there are large amounts of minerals found in this specific layer. Then the deeper you go down you will find the end of the subsoil, called the bedrock.

Biology Unit B (2 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions