Ecosystems Flashcards
Define an ecosystem.
Where biotic and abiotic factors interact
Define ecology
the study of ecosystems
List abiotic components.
-physiographic factors
-edaphic factors
-light
-water
-atmospheric gases
List biotic components
-autotrophic factor
-heterotrophic factor
Describe physiographic factors.
the position of an area in relation to the sun
What does a slope do?
determines the amount of water run off
Components of North-facing slopes include:
-more direct sunlight
-are warmer and drier
-plants thrive in the sunlight
Components of South-facing slopes include:
-cooler and wetter
-shade plants thrive
What type of soil consists of tiny soil particles?
clay
This soil type consists of slightly bigger particles:
loam
Define sandy soil
coarser and consists of large particles
What is humus formed from?
dead and decaying plants/animals
True or false: Humus is usually dark.
true
What does Humus do?
it increases the soil fertility and water holding capacity of the soil.
What is leaching?
when water rapidly filters through large spaces between soil particles, taking in nutrients
True or false: clay has a low water holding capacity.
false
Which soil type is most suitable for plant growth?
loam
Define air content of soil
spaces between soil particles that are filled with air
Define porosity
the size of particles and how firmly the soil is compacted
What is light?
radiant energy from the sun that is very important for photosynthesis
What are shade-loving plants? Give two examples.
plants that are able to photosynthesize at low light intensities
e.g) ferns, moss
What are sun-loving plants? Give two examples.
plants that photosynthesize best in high light intensities
e.g) maize, sugar cane
Define day length
for how long the sun shines in a day
What are short-day plants? Give an example.
plants that flower when the day is shorter than night. strawberries
What are long-day plants?
plants that flower when the day is longer than night. maize
What are plants that flower when they are mature, irrespective of day length?
day-neutral plants
What are diurnal animals?
animals that are active during the day
These types of animals are active at night:
nocturnal
What type of plants lose leaves in autumn and sprout again in spring?
deciduous plants
Define annual plants:
plants that spend winter as seeds and germinate in longer, warmer days with rain
Give the term for when metabolic rate decreases and animals require little food:
hibernation
Define migration:
when animals move to warmer places, where food is plenty
True or false: evergreen plants never lose their leaves.
true
When aerial parts die down during cold months they survive as a bulb:
geophytes
What are annuals, in terms of temperature?
pants that die off completely during the cold months and survive as seeds
Define endotherms
able to regulate their body temperature
This term refers to organisms that cannot regulate their body temperature:
ectotherms
Is water vital for survival?
yes
This term refers to plants that need a lot of water to survive:
hydrophytes
Define Mesophytes
plants that require a moderate amount of water for survival
Define xerophytes
plants that are adapted for living in very dry conditions
What percent of nitrogen is in the atmosphere?
78%
What percentage of oxygen is in the atmosphere?
21%
What percentage of CO2 is in the atmosphere?
0,04%
What percentage of the atmosphere is made up of other gases?
0,96%
Give a definition for autrophic:
produce their own food, are producers
Give a definition for heterotrophs:
con not produce their own food, are consumers
