environmental science exam 2 -3-4-6 Flashcards

1
Q

lithosphere

A

earths mantle and crust ground beneath our feet
is the rock and sediment breath our feet the plants uppermost mantle and crust

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2
Q

atmosphere

A

air surrounding the planet and it is compassed of the air surrounding the planets

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3
Q

hydrosphere

A

all water including salt and fresh underground frozen vapor .Encompasses all the water salt or fresh liquid ice or vapor

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4
Q

biosphere

A

all the planets organisms and the abiotic non living components they interact with
these sphere in reality are not isolated but instead are interconnected and have blurred lines

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5
Q

homeostasis

A

tendency for natural systems in balance to remain stable and constant . The tendency of a system to maintain relatively constant or stable internal conditions

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6
Q

dynamic equilibrium

A

when negative feedback loop creates equal and opposing directions or forces. The state reached when processes within a system are moving in opposing directions at equivalent rate so their effects can balance out

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7
Q

negative feedback loop

A

Output pushing the natural system in one direction creates an input that pushes in the opposite direction (increase in prey species population provides more food to predators that will in turn reduce prey population)
output that results from a system moving in one direction and acts as input that moves the system in the other direction

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8
Q

positive feedback loop

A

Output pushing a natural system in one direction creates input that also pushes in the same direction (global warming melts reflective ice and reveals more heat-absorbing land, which melts more ice)
which the output of one type acts as input that moves the system in the same direction

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9
Q

runoff

A

Precipitation that runs over land and into water bodies
the precipitation that flows over land and enters waterways and the flow of water and sediments or pollutants it may make the most sense to define the bays watershed as a system

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10
Q

airshed

A

Surrounding geographic area that produces air pollutants that can end up in water bodies
the geographic area that produces air pollutants likely to end up in a waterway then we want to define the boundaries of the system to include both the watershed and the airshed of the bay

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11
Q

Eutrophication

A

Nutrient over-enrichment from runoff leads to over-production of organic matter, leading to ecosystem degradation
Phytoplankton boom due to increased organic matter
Boom is followed by mass die-offs as plankton run out of food
Fall to bottom and are decomposed by bacteria, process consumes oxygen

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12
Q

matter

A

All material in the universe. Solids, liquids, gases, etc
all material in the universe that has mass and occupies space

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13
Q

Law of conservation of Matter

A

Matter is neither created nor destroyed, but rather transformed.
be transformed from one type of substance to other but to cannot be created or destroyed

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14
Q

element

A

Fundamental types of matter with specific properties that cannot be broken down into other substances
is a fundamental type of matter a chemical substance with a given set of properties that cannot be chemically broken down into substance with other properties

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15
Q

atom

A

Smallest unit that maintains properties of element. Made up of protons, neutrons, and electrons
is the smallest unit that maintains the chemical properties of the element

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16
Q

protons

A

Positive (+) charge, reside in nucleus

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17
Q

neutrons

A

Neutral, no charge, reside in nucleus

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18
Q

electrons

A

Negative charge (-), orbit the nucleus

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19
Q

energy

A

Capacity to change the composition, temperature, or position of matter

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20
Q

potential energy

A

Energy of position
example raised object ,drawn bow ,rock sitting on the edge of the cliff

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21
Q

kinetic energy

A

Energy of motion
walking or flying an airplane

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22
Q

chemical energy

A

Energy stored in chemical bonds
examples- battery ,gasoline ,food ,natural gas

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23
Q

First Law of Thermodynamics:

A

Energy is neither created nor destroyed

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24
Q

second law of thermodynamics

A

Energy will tend to change from a more ordered state to a more chaotic state, unless otherwise acted upon or influenced by outside forces. Energy is typically transformed into less useable forms

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25
Q

third law of thermodynamics

A

All molecular movement stops at a temperature of absolute zero (0 Kelvin or -273 C). At this temperature, no disorder (aka molecular movement)

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26
Q

autotrophs

A

Organisms that can use the sun’s energy directly to produce food
Green plants, algae, and cyanobacteria
producers

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27
Q

photosynthesis

A

The process of autotrophs utilizing sunlight in order to power a series of chemical reactions
Conversion of sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into oxygen and glucose (sugar)

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28
Q

the sun

A

is primarily what supports Earth’s biological systems

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29
Q

heterotrophs

A

Organisms that gain energy by consuming other organisms
consumers - animals ,fungi ,most protozoa ,most bacteria

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30
Q

ecosystem

A

All organisms and nonliving entities that exist and interact in a particular area

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31
Q

primary production

A

Conversion of solar energy into plant material (autotrophs)

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32
Q

secondary production

A

Herbivores consume plant material in order to grow and/or maintain their own bodies
Then herbivores get consumed by predators above them on the food chain, then those predators get consumed by predators above them, etc.

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33
Q

modeling

A

aids in understanding these systems and their interactions
Interactions within and between ecosystems are complex

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34
Q

model

A

simplified representation of a complicated process, designed to aid in understanding

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35
Q

ecological modeling

A

Models designed to aid in understanding ecological processes

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36
Q

water cycle (hydrologic cycle)

A

How water flows through the environment in all its forms (liquid, gas, and solid)
summarizes how water in liquid gaseous and solid forms that flows through our environment

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37
Q

evaporation

A

Movement of water from bodies (lakes, ocean, etc) into atmosphere
Liquid > Gas

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38
Q

precipitation

A

When water vapor condenses in the atmosphere and falls
Gas > Liquid

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39
Q

groundwater

A

Water held under ground

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40
Q

aquifer

A

porous regions of rock that hold groundwater

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41
Q

water table

A

Upper limit of water held in an aquifer

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42
Q

carbon

A

The defining component of all organic molecules and beings
Autotrophs pull carbon out of the air (CO2) and from water to grow

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43
Q

cellular respiration

A

occurs when autotrophs or prey organisms are consumed, releasing carbon back into the air in the form of CO2
Process above also occurs when decomposers break down waste and dead organisms
Humans are releasing excess CO2 into the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels (decomposed organic material trapped in the Earth), deforestation (release of stored carbon), etc

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44
Q

nitrogen is

A

potent fertilizer

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45
Q

nitrogen must be fixed

A

Nitrogen is not available for uptake until it is “fixed” or combined with hydrogen to become water soluble

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46
Q

nitrogen -fixing bacteria

A

Live in the soil and make nitrogen bioavailable to plants

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47
Q

nitrification

A

Bacteria convert ammonium (NH4) into nitrite ions (NO2), then nitrate ions (NO3). Plants can then take up ions
Overuse of nitrogen-based fertilizers by humans has been outpacing nature’s denitrifying abilities

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48
Q

phosphorous

A

is naturally stored within rocks and is typically released slowly over time through weathering
Dissolved into lakes, oceans, etc and settle to bottom to form sediments

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49
Q

plants absorb phosphorous through

A

through soil > herbivores eat plants and absorb > predators eat herbivores and absorb > continues through food chain

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50
Q

humans have increased phosphorous

A

through runoff from fertilizers. Can promote hypoxia (oxygen depleted water) and phytoplankton blooms

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51
Q

species

A

Population whose members share characteristics and can produce viable offspring

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52
Q

population

A

Group of individuals of a species that live in an area at the same time

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53
Q

evolution

A

Change in populations of organisms from generation to generation, typically through genes

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54
Q

natural selection

A

Inherited characteristics that increase survival and reproduction are passed on more frequently to future generations, transforming populations over time
interaction between genes and the environment, over time

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55
Q

adaptation

A

Traits that promote reproductive success

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56
Q

mutations

A

Accidental changes in DNA. Can be beneficial, harmful, or deadly

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57
Q

convergent evolution

A

Unrelated species living in similar conditions, but in different locations, acquire similar traits due to similar selective pressures

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58
Q

artificial selection

A

Breeding and selection of traits in species directed by human beings aka

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59
Q

bioversity

A

Life’s complexity, including the variety in genes, species, populations, communities, and ecosystems

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60
Q

speciation

A

The process by which new species are generated

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61
Q

allopatric speciation

A

Where speciation occurs through physical separation of a population
Over time, genetic mutations and variations will create changes in the isolated populations
May reach a point where even if the populations are re-introduced, breeding cannot occur.

62
Q

phylogenetic tree

A

Diagrams that track and connect divergence in species over time
Points where branches split are last common ancestor and traits are acquired or lost between those points

63
Q

fossil

A

are vital in connecting organisms ,their evolved traits and common ancestors

64
Q

extincition

A

Disappearance of an entire species
Typically due to environmental changes that are too fast for natural selection to occur and/or populations are too small and lack genetic variation

65
Q

endemic

A

Species that are only found in a particular area
More prone to extinction because genetic variation is typically lower and gene pool is smaller

66
Q

background extinction rate

A

Extinctions that occur at a gradual and relatively constant rate

67
Q

mass extinction events

A

Events that kill off mass amounts of species over short time spans

68
Q

ecology

A

Study of the interactions between organisms and their relationships with environments
Organisms, populations, communities, ecosystems, landscapes, biosphere

69
Q

population ecology

A

Examines abundance, distribution, and changes in composition (increase or decline) of populations over time

70
Q

community ecology

A

Examines species diversity and interactions among species

71
Q

ecosystem ecology

A

Study of biological entities and non-living factors and their interactions

72
Q

landscape ecology

A

examines how populations communities and ecosystems are distributed

73
Q

population size

A

Number of individual organisms at a given time

74
Q

population density

A

Number of individuals per unit area

75
Q

population distribution

A

Spatial arrangement of individuals in an area

76
Q

sex ratio

A

Proportion of males to females

77
Q

age structure

A

Age distribution of population

78
Q

exponential growth

A

When a population increases by a fixed percentage each year

79
Q

limiting factors

A

Factors that constrain population growth. Can be physical, chemical, or biological constraints of the environment

80
Q

carrying capacity

A

The maximum population size an environment can sustain

81
Q

competition

A

When multiple organisms seek the same, limited resource(s)
Resources like water, food, land, shelter, mates, sunlight, etc

82
Q

intraspecific

A

Within same species

83
Q

interspecific

A

Between different species

84
Q

resource planning

A

Species divide resources by specializing in different ways
Example: Natural selection may push birds to have different beaks in order to exploit different resources or same resources in different ways

85
Q

predation

A

One species (Predator) hunts, captures, kills, and consumes another (Prey)

86
Q

parasitism

A

One organism (Parasite) exploits another (Host) for nourishment or other benefits

87
Q

herbivory

A

Animals feeding on plant tissues for energy

88
Q

mutualism

A

Two or more species benefit from interacting with one another

89
Q

community

A

Populations of organisms living in the same area at the same time

90
Q

trophic level

A

Rank in feeding hierarchy
Energy decreases at each higher trophic level. Most is lost as respiration, heat, and waste
move from primary producers (autotrophs) > primary consumers (herbivores) > secondary consumers > tertiary consumers

91
Q

food chain

A

Linear series of feeding relationships

92
Q

food web

A

Feeding interactions

93
Q

detritivores (decomposers)

A

Consume non-living, organic matter
Fungi, bacteria, worms, etc

94
Q

keystone species

A

A species that holds strong and/or wide-reaching impacts on greater community/ecosystem.

95
Q

trophic cascade

A

Powerful, indirect interactions that can control and shape entire ecosystems
Loss of keystone species can lead to loss of these important interactions

96
Q

disturbance

A

Event that has drastic impacts on environmental conditions, leading to changes in ecosystem. Can cause succession.

97
Q

sucession

A

When a severe disturbance eliminates many species from a site and a process of establishing new species occurs

98
Q

primary sucession

A

Built from scratch. No vegetation, soil life, or species remain after disturbance. Entirely new ecosystem must be established.

99
Q

pioneer species

A

Species that arrive first and colonize new area

100
Q

secondary sucession

A

Some life remains after disturbance, act as building blocks to help shape process of regrowth

101
Q

regime shift

A

The character of an ecosystem fundamentally changing
Could be due to climatic shift, loss of keystone species, or invasive species

102
Q

novel communities

A

Communities, or combinations of species, that have previously not existed
Typically resulting from human disturbance and/or invasive species
More novel communities expected as climate change progresses along with human developments and expansion

103
Q

invasive species

A

Introduced species that do exceptionally well in new environment
Spread quickly and widely, out-compete or dominate native species, and become pervasive in ecosystem

104
Q

3 responses

A

Prevention, control, eradication

105
Q

restoration ecology

A

The attempt to restore ecosystems to their previous condition
In many cases, trying to restore functionality (air and water filtration, for example)
And/or return ecosystem to natural state, before human disturbance
Could involve removal (invasive) or addition (natives species) of factors, including process like fires or flooding.

106
Q

biome

A

Classification of large regions based upon common flora (plants), fauna (animals), and general habitat characteristics

107
Q

Abiotic factors considered:

A

Temperature, precipitation, soil conditions, air circulation, topography, etc.

108
Q

climate diagrams

A

Map temperatures and precipitation over given time (typically a year). Helps define biomes
Aquatic biomes exist as well

109
Q

population growth

A

Technological innovation, improved sanitation, medical advances, and increased agricultural output allowed for greater growth
growing fastest in poorer nations and populations are beginning to decrease in some richer nations

110
Q

china’s one child policy

A

1970s: Birth rate of 5.8 children per woman, 2.8% growth annually
Due to extremely fast population growth, soils and water were depleting, and air was becoming polluted. Today, breathing air in Beijing is equivalent to smoking 40 cigarettes a day
“One-Child” program began, limiting families to one child only
Chinese women now have only 1.6 children and growth rate has dwindled to 0.5%

111
Q

repercussions

A

Population with shrinking labor force, increased percentage of older population, and too few women (because in culture, boys are preferred, many female fetuses aborted)

112
Q

IPAT model

A

Used to (roughly) measure human impact on the environment.

113
Q

impact

A

Population x Affluence x Technology
Higher Population (P) means more people consuming resources
Greater Affluence (A) typically means greater per capita (per person) resource consumption
Advancements in Technology (T) typically results in more resource, habitat, and species exploitation, although technology can also reduce impacts

114
Q

demography

A

Study of populations: Size, density, distribution, age structure, sex ratios, birth rates, death rates, immigration, and emigration
Estimated that population size will surpass 9.8 billion by 2050

115
Q

density and distribution

A

Clustered in more moderate climates and around coasts and water bodies

116
Q

age structure

A

Some nations have more stabilized populations while others are growing

117
Q

sex ratio

A

In humans, slight favoring of males at birth (106 males per 100 females) because males are more prone to death

118
Q

population pyramids

A

using a paired bar chart-type graphic, shows the numbers or percentages of males and females in each age group. T

119
Q

infant mortality rate

A

Frequency of children dying in infancy. Has dropped significantly over time.

120
Q

global growth rate

A

Has declined in recent years due to falling birth rates in some parts of the world. Population continues to grow however, because growth rate is still positive

121
Q

total fertility rate

A

Average number of children born per woman

122
Q

replacement fertility

A

Total fertility rate that stabilizes population

123
Q

rate of natural increases

A

Natural rate of population change, due to birth and death rates alone.

124
Q

demographic transition

A

Model of economic and societal changes, resulting from industrialization, where birth and death rates fall while life expectancy rises

125
Q

pre industrial

A

Birth and death rates high. Low or no population growth

126
Q

transitional

A

Industrialization begins. Death rates drop, while birth rates remain high. Strong population growth

127
Q

industrial

A

Birth rates fall. Death rates continue to decline. Population growth slows

128
Q

post industrial

A

Birth and Death rates low. Population stabilizes

129
Q

family planning

A

Effort to plan the number and spacing of children

130
Q

birth control

A

An effort to control number of children born.

131
Q

contraceptives

A

Attempt to prevent pregnancy despite sexual intercourse. Include condoms, spermicide, hormonal treatments, intrauterine devices (IUDs), and permanent sterilization (tubal ligation or vasectomy)

132
Q

wealth and environmental impact

A

Richest 1/5th of nations consume 85% of world’s resources. Most wealthy nations are in ecological deficit
Affluent societies have much larger per capita ecological footprints
Globally, we are now in a deficit, where the resources extracted, wastes produced, and overall ecological impacts surpasses that of Earth’s capacity

133
Q

example of natural selection

A

evolving long necks has enabled giraffes to feed on leaves that others can’t reach, giving them a competitive advantage. Thanks to a better food source, those with longer necks were able to survive to reproduce and so pass on the characteristic to the succeeding generation.

134
Q

thermal energy

A

boiling water on a stove -is produced when the atoms and molecules in a substance vibrate faster due to a rise in temperature.

135
Q

Which of the following is false in regards to Earth’s spheres?

A

b- The biosphere includes all the planet’s living organisms but not the abiotic (soils, rivers, mountains, etc) they live in and interact with

136
Q

Select the pairing that is correct in regards to feedback loops

A

c -The process of eutrophication causes death, leading to the further proliferation of bacteria, depleting oxygen from waters and causing more death

137
Q

True or false? The law of conservation of matter states that matter cannot be transformed unless energy input is greater than output

A

false - matter is either created or destroyed but only transformed

138
Q

Which of the following is false in regards to the laws of thermodynamics?

A

d- none all of the above are true

139
Q

True or false? All energy and life on Earth starts with the sun, whose energy is absorbed by heterotrophs, and then moves up the food chain through autotrophs

A

false - the sun relies on autotrophs which is a producer

140
Q

Which of the following is false in regards to the carbon cycle?

A

Autotrophs emit carbon into the air when they photosynthesize
Animal respiration emits oxygen into the atmosphere
Deforestation doesn’t contribute much to greenhouse gas emissions because the only downside is the small amounts of carbon emitted when trees are cut down

all of the above

141
Q

Which statement is false in regards to the nitrogen cycle?

A

Free nitrogen (N2) can be readily absorbed from the air by plants

142
Q

Which statement is true in regards to the phosphorous cycle

A

Plants absorb phosphorous through water and soil and then the mineral moves up the food chain through consumption
Humans promote hypoxic dead zones in water bodies through the overuse of phosphorous -based fertilizers
Phosphorous is released naturally and slowly through the weathering of rocks

all of the above

143
Q

Which statement is true in regards to evolution and selection

A

d - none of the above

144
Q

Which statement is true regarding extinctions

A

Endemic species are more vulnerable to extinctions
Mass extinction events are times where there are many more extinctions over a short time period when compared to background extinction rates
We are currently in the 6th mass extinction because we’re greedy and want to be the only lifeforms left on the planet (except for our pets and the animals we eat)

all of the above

145
Q

True or false? Humanity’s advancements that have allowed us to surpass many of our limiting factors and carrying capacities are leading us into other limiting factors / carrying capacities

A

We don’t know. We cannot determine this right now. From the data available, this would seem likely, but nothing is set in stone. We still have time to make changes and for black swan events (random, significant discoveries or changes) to occur. It’s largely going to be up to us and our actions that will determine.

146
Q

True or false? The primary reason why vegetarian and vegan diets are more efficient and sustainable than animal-based ones is because of the inherent inefficiency of energy being lost when moving up trophic levels / the food chain.

A

true

147
Q

Which of the following is false in regards to disturbances and succession?

A

In both primary and secondary succession, pioneer species arrive and colonize the open spaces
When primary succession occurs, the soils are typically too degraded for mature, more complex species to take root and establish themselves
The difference between primary and secondary succession is that primary is where no species remain (or very very few) after a disturbance while secondary is when a decent number of species remain

all of this is true

148
Q

true or false Restoration ecology could involve the removal of invasive species and/or the addition of natives to an area?

A

true

149
Q

Which of the following is false in regards to the demographic transition?

A

Stage 3 is when birth and death rates are both low, and the population stabilizes

150
Q

Create your own example of how competition can lead to resource partitioning

A

organism - animals
chose your competition - animals compete in order to see where they would go in habitation
adaption - include the long necks of giraffes for feeding in the tops of trees, the streamlined bodies of aquatic fish and mammals, the light bones of flying birds and mammals, and the long daggerlike canine teeth of carnivores

151
Q

Allopatric Speciation Pick Your Own Adventure Game!

A

choose animal - The northern spotted owl and the Mexican spotted owl
choose location - along the west coast or the south
choose disturbance-along the west coast of the United States, two separate sub-species of spotted owls exist. The northern spotted owl has genetic and phenotypic differences from its close relative, the Mexican spotted owl, which lives in the south.
This seems logical because as the distance increases, the various environmental factors would generally have less in common than locations in close proximity. Consider the two owls: in the north, the climate is cooler than in the south causing the types of organisms in each ecosystem differ, as do their behaviors and habits. Also, the hunting habits and prey choices of the southern owls vary from the northern owls. These variances can lead to evolved differences in the owls, resulting in speciation.