EXAM #3 Flashcards
Stewardship
shared responsibility for the sustainable care of our planet.
Sustainable development:
Brundtland report that economic development that meets the need of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
In order to achieve sustainable development you need 3 factors
Environmentally sound decisions, Economically viable decisions and Socially equitable decisions
Ecology
The branch of biology that studies interrelationship between organisms and their environment –> a basic tool of environmental science
Ecosystem
A natural system consisting of community of organisms and its physical environments
Negative feedback system
a change in some conditions trigger a response that counter (reverses) the change condition
Positive Feedback system
a change in some condition triggers a response that intensifies the changing condition –> leads to greater change from the original condition
The factors in an experiment are
Variable, experimental group, control group, theory
variable
factors that influences a process
experimental group
alter the chosen variable in known way during experimenting
Control group
the variable is not altered during the experiment for this group
theory
explains scientific laws, is an integrated explanation of numerous hypothesis, each of which is supported by a large body of observations conclusions and evaluated by peer review process
what are the 5 stages of environmental problems
Scientific assessment, Risk analysis, public education and involvement, political action, and long term evaluation
scientific assessment
addressing any environment problems (gathering info, defying the problem, data is collected, experiments are performed)
Risk Analysis
using the results and analyzing the potential effects of doing nothing or of intervening
public education and involvement
public participation is needed and essential part of addressing the problems in the environment. People are willing to work together to solve a problem if they have the opportunity to participate from the start
political action
affected parties select and implement a course of action –> ideally science will help but politics does not usually help in this process
Long term evolution
The results of any action taken should be closely monitored
Biotic
living environment and includes all organisms
Abiotic
nonliving/physical and includes living space, temperature, sunlight, soil, wind and precipitation
species
a group of similar organisms whose members freely interbreed with one another in the wild to produce fertile offspring
population
a group of organisms of the same species that live in the same area at the same time
Community
a natural association that consists of all the populations of different species that live and interact within an area at the same time
biosphere
the parts of Earth’s atmosphere ocean, land surface, and soil that contain all living organisms
atmosphere
gaseous envelope surrounding Earth
Hydrosphere
earths supply of water- liquid and frozen, fresh and salty, ground water and surface water
lithosphere
the soil and rock of earths crust
energy
capacity or ability to do work
thermal energy is heat
that flows from an object with a higher temperature (heat source) to an object with a lower temperature (heat sink)
mechanical energy
is energy involved in the movement of matter
solar energy
the energy from the sun and includes ultraviolet radiation, visible light and infrared radiation
thermodynamics
the study of energy and its transformation
closed system
is self contained and it does not exchange energy and its surrounding
open system
exchange energy with its surroundings
first law of thermodynamics
energy can not be created or destroyed, although it can change from form to another
second law of thermodynamics
when energy is converted from one form to another, some of it is degraded into heat, a less usable form that disperses into the environment
organisms are divided into three categories
producers, consumers and decomposers
producers
(autotrophs) create organic molecules from simple inorganic substances such as CO2 and water usually use sunlight as energy
consumers
use bodies of other organism as their source of food energy (heterotrophs)
decomposers
are heterotrophs that break down organic material and use the decomposition products to supply energy
trophic level
an organisms position in a food chain, which is determined by its feeding relationships
a food web
a representation of the interlocking food chains that connect all organism in an ecosystem
Ecological pyramids
graphically represents the relative energy values of each trophic level. There are three main types of pyramids number, biomass, and energy
pyramids of numbers
shows the number of organisms at each trophic level in a given ecosystem, with greater numbers illustrated by a larger area for that section of the pyramid
pyramid of biomass
illustrates the total biomass at each successive level in an ecosystem
Pyramid of energy
illustrates the energy content, often expressed as kilocalories per square meter per year
Fields within ecology
ethology- study of animal behavior
population ecology- study of populations
community ecology- study of communities
ecosystem ecology-study of ecosystems
clumped dispersal
probably means organisms is social in some way
uniform dispersal
probably means organism is territorial
random dispersal
probably means organism is not social or territorial
Important characteristics of ecology population
Population size: how many individuals
Population density: how “packed in” indiv. are
Population dispersal: how indiv. are spread out
population growth
how quickly is the population growing (two kinds)
Exponential growth
Occurs when there is no competition for resources (invasive species) (curves graph goes up)
Logistic growth
occurs when a population reaches a size that is too big for habitat to handle (carrying capacity) (graph curves in then out) (dotted line at top of graph)
Density Independence (chance)
affect all pop. in similar ways, regardless of the pop. size
-unusual weather
-natural disasters
-certain human activities-such as damming rivers and clear cutting forests
Density dependent
A limiting factor that depends on pop. size
-competition
-predation (predator-prey relationship)
-parasitism
-disease
predator-prey relationship
prey adapt to predation –> predators adapting to get prey better –> further adaptation to predation –> repeat
Symbiosis
Presence of one species in an environment can impact the survival of another species (3 major types: parasitism, mutualism, commensalism)
Parasitism
One organisms is harmed by the presence of another. Parasites are classified by where they are found ectoparasites: outside, endoparasites: inside
Mutualism
When two organisms impact each other positively. Coevolution: evolution of one species impacted by another (ex. pollinators and flowers)
Commensalism
One species is impacted positively while another organism with no impact on the other organism
A correlation between structure and function
-Obtaining Nutrients
-Oxygen consumption
-Fight infection
-Excrete waste
-Reproduce
-Sense/respond
Anatomy vs Physiology
Study of form of organism’s structure vs. study of function of organism’s structure
Cellular Level
Muscle cell
Tissue Level
muscle tissue
Organ level
heart
Organ system level
Circulatory system
Organism level
Many organ systems functioning together
Epithelial Tissue
Covers body surface and lines internal organs/cavities
Nervous tissue
Senses and transmits information received from external and internal stimuli (brain, spinal cord, nerves in body)
connective tissues
sparse population of cells scattered throughout a fibrous matrix they secrete (supports/binds tissues, 6 types)
Organ
they are higher level structure that consists of various tissues to perform a function (multiple tissues)
muscle tissue
long muscle fiber cells and contractile proteins (3 types, most abundant tissue in most animals)
Organ System
2 or more organs coordinating to accomplish a specific biological goal/function (circulatory, integumentary, urinary, digestive, and muscular system)
Homeostasis
Regulation of constant conditions within an animals internal environment
Can relate to:
pH, temperature, salinity
-Internal environment can fluctuate slightly
-Require to be maintained for metabolic processes
Analogy
The immune system works like a prison security system when a prisoner tries to escape from their cell
Pathogen
something that is trying to enter the body and cause an illness through the cells (are like prisoners)
Macrophages
are meant to locate foreign bodies and “eat them”. They are like the guards
Inflammatory Response
it is the immune system that functions to react to pathogens. (guard beak out and try to catch prisoners)
1st line of defense
Skin, mucus, lysozymes
Skin
a waterproof barrier meant to keep pathogens from entering the body.
Mucous
the mucous in the nose serves as a trap for particles that enter through the nose. The nose hairs trap them in a thick layer of mucous
Lysozymes
can be in the form of tears and saliva. when pathogens enter the mouth, saliva washes the pathogens off the teeth. Tears are able to wash away pathogens.
Histamine Response
when blood flow (blood pressure) is increases and phagocytes are attracted.
Humoral Response
response in the immune system denotes immunologic responses that are mediated by antibodies
Cell- Mediated Response
the cell mediated response in the immune system is when killer T-cells attack any cell that contains a pathogen.
Helper T and B cells
the helper T-cells activate both B-cells and killer T-cells
Memory B cells
function is to remember any previous infection so that when the infection comes back the immune system is able to stop it easier
Killer T cells
function to attack and destroy the infected cells
Evolution
change in gene frequency in a population over time
Natural Selection
Organisms that are best adapted to an environment survive and reproduce more than others. Natural Selection is the Survival of the Fittest
4 steps of Darwin’s Theory of Evolution
- Overproduction
2.Variation
3.Competition - Selection
James Hutton
1795 Theory of Geological change
Charles Lyell
Book: Principle of Geography
Geographical features can be built up or torn down
Lamarck’s Theory of Evolution
Inheritance of Acquired traits
Thomas Malthus
Population growth= insufficient living space and food runs out
Natural Selection
differences among individuals of a species
Artificial Selection
Nature provide the variation among different organisms, and humans select those variations they find useful
Descent with Modification
Each living organism has descended, with changes from other species over time
Common Descent
were derived from common ancestors
The shared responsibility for the sustainable care of our planet is
Stewardship
What defined sustainable development?
Brundtland report
In order to achieve sustainable development which of these answer choices is necessary?
Environmentally sound decisions, economically viable decisions and socially equitable decisions
The interdisciplinary study of humanity’s relationship with other organisms and the non living physical environment is
Environmental science
The natural system consisting of a community of organisms and its physical environment is
Ecosystem
In an experiment, what is the variable that’s is not aletered during the experiment?
The control group
In order to address environmental problems which of these answer choices would be necessary?
Long term evaluation, political action, and public education
The ocean is considered
Abiotic
When addressing environmental problems, looking at results and analyzing the potential effects of doing nothing would be considered
Risk analysis
A single tiger and a single lion would be considered
Individual organisms
If you were to study the ecology of Yellowstone national park and noticed wolves,buffalo, and rabbits in the same environment at the same time,they would be considered a
Community
The biosphere consists of
Atmosphere, lithosphere and hydrosphere
What is the Earth’s soil, rock and crust titled
Lithosphere
Energy can not be created nor destroyed.Which law of thermodynamics is this?
First
When energy is converted from one form to another, some of it will be degraded into heat. Which law of thermodynamics is this?
Second
For trophic levels, the organisms that creates energy is the
Producer
A graphical representation of trophic levels that shows total biomass at each successive level is an ecosystem
Pyramid of biomass
A graphical representation of trophic levels that shows energy content in kilocalories is
Pyramid of energy
If a population is social in some way there dispersal is most likely
Clumped
If a population is not social or territorial is most likely
Random
A characteristic of population ecology that involves how “packed in” individual are
Population density
A characteristic of population ecology that involves how spread out the individuals is
Population dispersal
When there is no competition for resources there will be
Exponential growth
During logistic growth, a ____ will hinder the growth of the population
Carrying capacity
Which of these answer choices are a type of symbiosis?
Parasitism, mutualism, and commensalism
When one species is impacted positively while another has no impact on it, it is
Commensalism
When two organisms impact each other positively it is
Mutualism
When an organism, is harmed by the presence of another is
Parasitism
The study of form an organism’s structure is
Anatomy
The study of function of an organism’s structure is
Physiology
The third level of organization of an organism is
Organ level
The tissue that covers body surface and lines is
Epithelial
Tissues that sense and transmits information received from external and internal stimuli is
Nervous
