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Environmental processes and systems, LEC 103 > Ecosystems, Lecture 35 > Flashcards

Ecosystems, Lecture 35 Flashcards

1
Q

To grow, plants need:

3

A
  1. energy from the sun
  2. water and nutrients from the soil
  3. other nutrients from the atmosphere
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2
Q

The network of relationships between plants and animals extends to processes…

A

operating in the soil and in the atmosphere

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3
Q

Ecosystem concept

3 aspects

A
  1. organisms and the environment
  2. applies at any scale
  3. energy flows and nutrient cycles are fundamental features
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4
Q

Ecosystem inputs

5

A
  1. solar radiation
  2. precipitation
  3. rock weathering
  4. organisms
  5. humans
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5
Q

Solar radiation

as an ecosystem input

A

powers all ecosystem processes

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6
Q

Precipitation

as an ecosystem input

A

supplies water and nutrients

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7
Q

Rock weathering

as an ecosystem input

A

inputs of nutrients to soil

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8
Q

Organisms

as an ecosystem input

A

can enter from outside eg: migrating animals, windblown seeds

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9
Q

Humans

as an ecosystem input

A

plant seeds, introduce animals, use fertilisers and pesticides to control organism growth

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10
Q

Ecosystem outputs

A
  1. water
  2. thermal radiation/heat
  3. plant and animal material
  4. leaf litter
  5. animals
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11
Q

Water

as an ecosystem output

A

May drain through soil and flow out of the area in a stream

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12
Q

Thermal radiation/heat

as an ecosystem output

A

can escape back into the atmosphere

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13
Q

Leaf litter

as an ecosystem output

A

can be blown into another area by wind

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14
Q

Animals

as an ecosystem output

A

migrate away

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15
Q

Plant and animal material

(as an ecosystem output)c

A

can be removed by humans

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16
Q

Are ecosystems closed or open systems?

Are flow and cycles closed or open systems?

A

ecosystems = open systems

some flows and cycles in them = closed systems

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17
Q

Changing one component of an ecosystem can lead to…

A

changes in all other components

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18
Q

A food chain illustrates

2

A
  1. links between organisms by the transfer of energy
  2. how each organism tends to fulfil a specific role within the ecosystem and how each organism maintains specific relationships with other organisms
19
Q

Two groups of organisms

A
  1. autotrophs

2. heterotrophs

20
Q

Autotrophs (producers)

A

manufacture own food using solar energy, carbon dioxde, water and nutrients

21
Q

Heterotrophs (consumers)

3 types

A

primary and secondary consumers

decomposers

22
Q

Type of heterotrophs

primary consumers

A

herbivores,

eat autotrophs

23
Q

Type of heterotrophs

secondary consumers

A

carnivores,

eat other heterotrophs

24
Q

Type of heterotrophs

decomposers

A

decompose dead tissues of other organisms

25
Q

Why are food webs better than food chains?

A

shows the many possible routes which energy can take

26
Q

How does energy flow through ecosystems?

A

passes from one trophic level to another

27
Q

First trophic level

A

producers

28
Q

Efficiency of transfers between trophic levels

A

not very efficient, considerable energy losses during each transfer

29
Q

What is most of the energy loss between trophic levels due to?

A

loss of heat

30
Q

In most cases, outputs of heat energy more or less equal…

A

inputs of solar energy

31
Q

All energy that enters an ecosystem…

A

eventually leaves

32
Q

Photosynthesis equation

A

6H2O + 6CO2 + solar radiation -> C6H12O6 + 6O2

33
Q

By-product of photosynthsis

A

oxygen

34
Q

Which type of organism carries out photosynthesis?

A

autotrophs, convert solar energy into chemical energy

35
Q

Respiration equation

A

C6H12O6 + 6O2 -> 6H2O + 6CO2 + energy

36
Q

Respiration

A

Heterotrophs released stored chemical energy

37
Q

Energy is used to…

2

A

produce compounds needed for growth (tissues)

do some form of work (eg: movement)

38
Q

Percentage of total energy passed on to next trophic level

A

<10%

39
Q

Trophic pyramid

A

eg: number of herbivores is lower than the number of plants that support them

40
Q

Maximum number of trophic levels generally and why?

A

five,

because only a fraction of energy is passed between trophic levels

41
Q

Main five important nutrients

A 
carbon,
oxygen,
nitrogen,
phosphorus,
potassium
42
Q

Three examples of inputs of nutrients into ecosystems

A
  1. rock weathering
  2. rainfall
  3. from the atmosphere
43
Q

Two main routes nutrients can pass through the ecosystem

A

grazing and decomposers/detritus systems

44
Q

Nutrient molecules can …

A

be used over and over again by organisms

Environmental processes and systems, LEC 103 (10 decks)

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