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CSE > Environment And Ecology > Flashcards

Environment And Ecology Flashcards

1
Q

Non-degradable pollutants

A

which cannot be metabolized by the living organisms. Example: chlorinated hydrocarbons

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2
Q

Movement of these pollutants involves two main processes

A
  1. Bio-accumulation

2. Bio-magnification

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3
Q

Bioaccumulation

A

increase in concentration of a pollutant in an organism.

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4
Q

When does bioaccumulation occur ?

A

when an organism ingests a particular substance at a faster rate than it can metabolize or excrete.

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5
Q

what is bioconcentration?

A

Process in which aquatic species absorb contaminants directly from the water

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6
Q

Eg of bioconcentration

A

phytoplankton and other microscopic organisms absorbing pollutants like DDT, lead, and mercury, and storing it in their tissues

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7
Q

Biomagnification is also called

A

Bioamplification.

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8
Q

Which compounds biomagnify ?

A

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs)

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9
Q

Examples of POPs

A

pesticides (such as DDT)

industrial chemicals (such as polychlorinated biphenyls, PCBs)

unintentional by-products of industrial processes (such as dioxins and furans).

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10
Q

Example of biomagnifiation

A

when small fish eat contaminated microscopic organisms, and big fish eat the small fish

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11
Q

Conditions for biomagnification to occur

A
  • The pollutant must be long-lived
  • Mobile, soluble in fats
  • Biologically active.
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12
Q

intraspecific interaction

A

occurs among different individuals of the same species

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13
Q

interspecific interaction

A

among individuals of different species in a community

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14
Q

Individuals of population may compete for

A

food, space and mates

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15
Q

Negative interactions

A

Amensalism, predation, parasitism, competition

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16
Q

Positive interaction

A

Commensalism , mutualism

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17
Q

Neutral interaction

A

Neutralism

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18
Q

Amensalism

A

one species harms or restricts the other species without itself being adversely affected or harmed by the presence of the other species.

Eg bread mould fungi Penicillium produce penicillin an antibiotic substance which inhibits the growth of a variety of bacteria.

Penicillium benefits apparently because bacteria is removed

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19
Q

Predation

A

predator captures, kills and eats an animal of another species called the prey
Eg. leopards, tigers and cheetahs

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20
Q

Parasitism

A

one species is harmed, other benefits.

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21
Q

parasite

A

usually a small size organism

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22
Q

host

A

from which the parasite gets its nourishment and often shelter
Eg. Plants like dodder plant (Cuscuta) and mistletoe (Loranthus) are parasites that live on flowering plants. Tape worm, round worm, malarial parasite,

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23
Q

Competition

A

both species are harmed to some extent. Occurs when two populations or species, both need a vital resource that is in short supply

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24
Q

vital resource could be

A

food, water, shelter, nesting site, mates or space.

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25
Q

interspecific competition

A

competition-occurring between individuals of two different species occurring in a habitat

26
Q

intraspecific competition

A

occurs between individuals of same species.

27
Q

Commensalism

A

one of the species benefits, other is neither harmed nor benefited.
Eg sucker fish, remora often attaches to a shark by means of its sucker which is present on the top side of its head, helps the remora get protection and food. Shark gets no benefit
Eg. trees and epiphytes plants

28
Q

Mutualism

A

both the species benefit.
Eg protocooperation the sea anemone

cnidarian gets attached to the shell of hermit crabs for benefit of transport and obtaining new food, anemone provides camouflage and protection

29
Q

symbiosis

A

close associations in which interacting species can no longer live without each other, depend totally on each other
Eg. termite and intestinal flagellates; bees and pollination of flowers

30
Q

Neutralism

A

two species which do interact but do not affect each other.

true neutralism is rare or non-existent, its usage is often extended to situations where interaction is merely insignificant or negligible

31
Q

Allelopathy

A

chemical inhibition of one species by another.
Eg. chemicals found in parts of plant
Like leaves, flowers, roots stems. Chemicals inhibit shoot/root growth, inhibit nutrient uptake etc

32
Q

Flow of energy is?

A

Linear

33
Q

Flow of nutrients is ?

A

Cyclical

34
Q

Why is flow of nutrients cyclical ?

A

Because energy flows downhill

35
Q

Describe biogeochemical cycle ?

A

nutrients locked in the dead remains of organisms, released back into the soil by detrivores and decomposers.

36
Q

two important components of a biogeochemical cycle

A

Reservoir pool and Cycling pool or compartments of cycle

37
Q

Reservoir pool

A

atmosphere or rock, which stores large amounts of nutrients.

38
Q

Cycling pool or compartments of cycle

A

relatively short storages of carbon in the form of plants and animals.

39
Q

Types of Nutrient Cycle

A

Perfect or Imperfect cycle

40
Q

perfect nutrient cycle

A

nutrients are replaced as fast as they are utilized

Eg most gaseous cycle

41
Q

imperfect cycles

A

some nutrients are lost from the cycle and get locked into sediments, become unavailable for immediate cycling.
Eg sedimentary cycles

42
Q

Gaseous Cycle

A

reservoir is the atmosphere or the hydrosphere

43
Q

Sedimentary Cycle

A

reservoir is the earth’s crust.

44
Q

Source of all carbon in atmosphere

A

Carbon dioxide

45
Q

Steps of global carbon cycle

A

Photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, combustion, impact of human activities

46
Q

Photosynthesis

A

Green plants in the presence of sunlight utilize CO2 and convert the inorganic carbon into organic matter (food) and release oxygen.

47
Q

Respiration

A

metabolic process where food is oxidized to liberate energy, CO2 and water. energy released used for carrying out life processes by living organism

48
Q

Decomposition

A

dead organic matter decomposed by microorganisms; CO2 is released into the atmosphere by decomposers

49
Q

Combustion

A

Burning of biomass releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere

50
Q

Impact of human activities

A

Large scale deforestation; ever-growing consumption of fossil fuels; industrialization, urbanization, increasing use of automobiles

51
Q

Nitrogen cycle steps

A

Nitrogen fixation; Nitrification; Assimilation; Ammonification; Denitrification

52
Q

Nitrogen fixation

A

involves conversion of gaseous nitrogen into Ammonia in which it can be used by plants

53
Q

Atmospheric nitrogen can be fixed by :

A

Atmospheric fixation: Lightening, combustion and volcanic activity

Industrial fixation: high temperature and high pressure, molecular nitrogen broken into atomic nitrogen which then combines with hydrogen to form ammonia.

Bacterial fixation: two types of bacteria:

Symbiotic-Rhizobium

Free-living or symbiotic- 1. Nostoc 2. Azobacter 3. Cyanobacteria

54
Q

Nitrification:

A

host of soil bacteria participate in turning ammonia into nitrate

55
Q

What is nitrate

A

form of nitrogen that can be used by plants and animals

56
Q

How many steps in nitrification?

A

2 steps

First, soil bacteria such as Nitrosomonas or Nitrococcus convert ammonia into nitrogen dioxide.

Then another type of soil bacterium, called Nitrobacter, adds a third oxygen atom to create nitrate.

57
Q

Which bacteria r responsible for nitrification?

A

Chemotrophs

obtain their energy from volatile chemicals. By metabolizing nitrogen along with oxygen

58
Q

End product of nitrification ?

A

Nitrates; main ingredient in many soil fertilisers, allow plants to grow large quickly

59
Q

How else can nitrification occur ?

A

lightning strikes and volcanic eruptions

60
Q

Assimilation

A

plants finally consume the nitrates made by soil bacteria; use them to make nucleotides, amino acids, and other vital chemicals for life

61
Q

How do plants and animals utilise nitrates ?

A

Plants take up nitrates through their roots, use them to make amino acids, nuclei acids; Animals that eat the plants are then able to use these amino acids and nucleic acids in their own cells.

62
Q

Ammonification:

A

performed by soil bacteria which decompose dead plants and animals. these decomposers break down amino acids and nucleic acids into nitrates and ammonia; release those compounds back into the soil.

CSE (6 decks)

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