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Biology 20 > Energy and Matter Exchange in the Biosphere > Flashcards

Energy and Matter Exchange in the Biosphere Flashcards

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1
Q

Biosphere:

A

All of the areas on Earth that support living organisms.

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2
Q

Biotic:

A

Living organisms.

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3
Q

Abiotic:

A

Non-living chemical and physical factors.

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4
Q

Atmosphere:

A

The mixture of gases surrounding Earth; about 75% of the gas’s mass is concentrated within 10 km of Earth’s surface.

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5
Q

Lithosphere:

A

The solid outer layer of the Earth.

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6
Q

Hydrosphere:

A

All of the solid and liquid water that exists in the lithosphere.

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7
Q

Radiation:

A

The transmission of energy as electromagnetic waves.

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8
Q

Radiation can be _________ or ________ by particles.

A

reflected, absorbed

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9
Q

If radiation is absorbed, the kinetic energy of the particles will ________, resulting in an ________ in temperature.

A

increase, increase

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10
Q

Substances that are warmer than their surroundings will emit the energy as _______ energy.

A

thermal

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11
Q

Conduction:

A

The transfer of thermal energy through direct contact between particles.

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12
Q

Convection:

A

The transfer of thermal energy by the movement of particles from one location to another.

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13
Q

Convection occurs in _______ and ______.

A

liquids, gases

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14
Q

The Sun is the source of almost all ______ on Earth.

A

energy

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15
Q

Some of the incoming solar radiation is reflected back into space by the __________, ___________, and __________ components.

A

atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere

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16
Q

Some of the incoming solar radiation is absorbed by the atmosphere, lithosphere and hydrosphere, converted to heat and radiated back into ______.

A

space

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17
Q

A very small amount of incoming solar radiation is absorbed by ______ for use in photosynthesis.

A

plants

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18
Q

How would decreasing snow and ice cover on Earth affect the amount of solar radiation reflected and absorbed by the Earth’s surface?

A

There would be less snow reflection, meaning more sun absorption, leading to global warming.

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19
Q

Closed system:

A

A system in which energy is exchanged between the system and the surroundings, but the matter is not exchanged between the system and the surroundings.

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20
Q

Why is the Earth considered a closed system?

A

The Earth is considered to be a closed system because energy is exchanged between Earth and outer space, but the matter is not.

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21
Q

Photosynthesis:

A

The process in which photosynthetic organisms, called photoautotrophs, use solar energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and glucose.

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22
Q

Photoautotrophs:

A

Photosynthetic organisms.

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23
Q

What calculation is used in photosynthesis?

A

6 CO2 (g) + 6 H2 O(l) + light energy →C6 H12 O6 (s) + 6 O2 (g)

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24
Q

Chemosynthesis:

A

Chemosynthesis is the process in which some organisms, called chemoautotrophs, split inorganic molecules, such as H2 S(g), to release energy used to convert carbon-containing compounds, such as CH4 (g) or CO2 (g) into carbohydrates.

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25
Q

Chemoautotrophs:

A

Organisms that split inorganic molecules to release energy used to convert carbon-containing compounds into carbohydrates.

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26
Q

What is the benefit of chemosynthesis?

A

The benefit of chemosynthesis is that it does not require sunlight as the initial energy source.

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27
Q

Why is chemosynthesis not pollution?

A

Organisms suck it up down there.

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28
Q

What are nitrogen-fixing bacteria?

A

Nitrogen-fixing bacteria are chemoautotrophs that live in the soil.

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29
Q

Cellular Respiration:

A

The process in which organisms react glucose with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and water and energy.

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30
Q

What is the formula for cellular respiration?

A

C6 H12 O6 (s) + 6 O2 (g)→6 CO2 (g) + 6 H2 O(l) + ATP energy

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31
Q

ATP is the useable form of energy for _____.

A

cells

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32
Q

Autotrophs:

A

Organisms that are capable of making their own food.

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33
Q

Ecosystem:

A

An ecosystem consists of a community of living organisms and their physical environment.

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34
Q

Ecosystems are what type of systems?

A

Open systems.

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35
Q

Examples of autotrophs include _____________, _____________, and ______.

A

cyanobacteria, phytoplankton, plants

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36
Q

Heterotrophs:

A

Organisms that must consume autotrophs or other heterotrophs to obtain energy.

37
Q

Examples of heterotrophs include ____, _______, and _____.

A

deer, spiders, foxes

38
Q

List the order of consumers from bottom to top:

A

Autotrophs, primary consumers, secondary consumers, tertiary consumers, quaternary consumers, decomposers.

39
Q

Detritus

A

Dead matter and waste.

40
Q

Trophic Level:

A

A feeding level in an ecosystem, in which matter and energy are transferred.

41
Q

The first trophic level contains __________.

A

autotrophs

42
Q

The second trophic level contains _______ _________.

A

primary consumers

43
Q

The third trophic level contains _________ __________.

A

secondary consumers

44
Q

The fourth trophic level contains _________ __________.

A

tertiary consumers

45
Q

The fifth trophic level contains _________ __________.

A

quaternary consumers

46
Q

___________ feed on all trophic levels.

A

Decomposers

47
Q

The number of trophic levels in an ecosystem is usually limited to three or four due to…

A

abiotic limiting factors and the 10% rule.

48
Q

Only about _% of the solar energy that reaches the Earth’s surface is absorbed by producers for photosynthesis.

A

1

49
Q

What is the 10% rule?

A

The 10% rule states that only about 10% of the energy in one trophic level will be passed to the next level.

50
Q

Where does 90% of energy in a trophic level go?

A

90% is used for various life processes and released as thermal energy.

51
Q

Food Chain:

A

A model that shows a simple, linear pathway of energy transfer through the trophic levels.

52
Q

Food Web:

A

A complex model of trophic levels that shows the connections between food chains.

53
Q

The more complex an ecosystem’s food web is the greater the ecosystem _________.

A

stability

54
Q

Ecological Pyramid:

A

Models that quantitatively show the flow of energy and matter in ecosystems.

55
Q

Pyramids of Biomass:

A

Graphical representations of the total amount of biomass (dry mass of living or once-living organisms per unit area) at each trophic level.

56
Q

Pyramids of Numbers:

A

Graphical representations of the total number of organisms at each trophic level.

57
Q

Pyramids of Energy:

A

Graphical representations of the total amount of energy that is transferred between trophic levels; measured in the amount of energy per unit area, per unit of time.

58
Q

Which pyramid is the most appropriate for predicting ecosystem stability?

A

Pyramids of energy.

59
Q

What type of molecule is water?

A

A polar molecule that exhibits hydrogen bonding between molecules.

60
Q

What is a universal solvent?

A

Water is the universal solvent because it dissolves more substances than any other liquid.

61
Q

Biogeochemical Cycle

A

When matter is cycled through the biotic and abiotic components of the biosphere.

62
Q

Biogeochemical cycling of matter occurs in which ecosystem(s)?

A

Both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.

63
Q

Carbon Sources:

A

Reservoirs or processes that release more carbon than they absorb.

64
Q

Carbon Sinks:

A

Reservoirs or processes that absorb more carbon than they release.

65
Q

What is the human impact of the carbon cycle?

A

Fossil fuels have moved large amounts of carbon from the slow cycle into the rapid cycle. Increased atmospheric carbon dioxide levels contribute to the enhanced greenhouse effect. Global warming has increased ocean temperatures, resulting in even more CO2 being released from the ocean into the atmosphere. Deforestation is rapidly destroying carbon sinks.

66
Q

________ is an essential component of living organisms and is the most abundant element in the atmosphere.

A

Nitrogen

67
Q

Atmospheric nitrogen (is/is not) a useable form of nitrogen for living organisms.

A

is not

68
Q

Most plants can only use the _______ ___, NO 3 -(aq), as a nitrogen source. Some plants can use the ________ ___, NH 4 + (aq), as a nitrogen source. _________ must eat plants or other consumers to obtain nitrogen from their tissues.

A

nitrate ion, ammonium ion, Consumers

69
Q

Nitrogen Fixation:

A

The process by which soil and aquatic bacteria convert nitrogen gas, N 2 (g), into ammonium ions, NH 4 + (aq).

70
Q

Nitrification:

A

The process by which nitrifying bacteria convert ammonium ions, NH 4 + (aq), into nitrite ions, NO 2 -(aq), then into nitrate ions, NO 3 -(aq).

71
Q

Ammonification:

A

The process by which decomposers chemically break down organic matter, producing ammonium ions, NH 4 + (aq).

72
Q

Denitrification:

A

The process by which bacteria convert nitrate or nitrite back into nitrogen gas.

73
Q

High nitrogen levels result in an overgrowth of algae called an _____ _____.

A

algal bloom

74
Q

How do algal blooms cause the death of animals and fish?

A

When the algae die, decomposers rapidly consume oxygen to break down the organic matter, resulting in the death of fish and other animals.

75
Q

_________ _________ is the usable form of phosphorous for producers.

A

Dissolved phosphate

76
Q

Producers in terrestrial ecosystems absorb _________ _________ from the soil and producers in aquatic ecosystems absorb _________ _________ from the water. _________ obtain phosphorus from eating the tissues of plants or other consumers. ___________ obtain phosphorus by breaking down waste and dead plant and animal matter. The phosphate is then made available to producers again.

A

dissolved phosphate, dissolved phosphate, Consumers, Decomposers

77
Q

What is the slow cycle of phosphorous?

A

The slow cycling of phosphorus involves the formation and weathering of rocks. Remains from the bones and shells of living organisms form deposits in the ocean that, over millions of years, become rock. The weathering of these rocks dissolves the phosphate ion in water making it available to producers in the rapid cycle.

78
Q

Is phosphorous in our atmosphere? Why or why not?

A

Phosphorus does not exist naturally in gaseous form, so it does not cycle through the atmosphere.

79
Q

Why is phosphorous a limiting abiotic factor?

A

When plants are harvested, the organic matter is removed and the phosphorus is not available for decomposers to return to the soil.

80
Q

High phosphorus levels in a body of water can result in an _____ _____

A

algal bloom

81
Q

Productivity:

A

a measure of the rate at which producers capture and store solar energy as biomass.

82
Q

The Gaia hypothesis:

A

The Gaia hypothesis states that the Earth acts like a living organism, responding to changes and making minor adjustments to maintain environmental conditions within certain limits.

83
Q

Stromatolites:

A

Limestone rocks that contain once-living marine bacteria.

84
Q

Species:

A

A group of living organisms capable of breeding with one another to produce fertile offspring.

85
Q

Population:

A

A group of individuals of the same species occupying a given area at the same time.

86
Q

Community:

A

The collection of populations of different species occupying a given area at the same time.

87
Q

Intraspecific competition:

A

Competition between members of a species.

88
Q

Interspecific competition:

A

Competition between members of different species.

Biology 20 (5 decks)

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