Exam III Flashcards

1
Q

ecosystem ecology

A

link between biological and physiological

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2
Q

ecosystem

A

organisms in a community and their physical environment, with each influencing the other through time

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3
Q

carbon cycle

A

-intricately linked network of biological and physical processes that shuttle carbon among rocks, soil, oceans, air, and organisms
-the carbon cycle traces the transfer of energy through ecosystems

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4
Q

inputs of the C cycle

A
  1. Geologic: volcanoes, mid-ocean ridges
  2. Biological: respiration
  3. Human activities: deforestation, burning of fossil fuels
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5
Q

outputs of the C cycle

A
  1. Geological removal: chemical weathering, CO2 in rainwater reacts with exposed rocks
  2. Biological removal: photosynthesis
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6
Q

photosynthesis rxn

A

6CO2+ 6 H2O+ sunlight —> C6H12O6 +6O2

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7
Q

aerobic respiration rxn

A

6 O2+ C6H12O6–> 6 CO2+ 6 H2O

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8
Q

isotope

A

varying levels of atomic mass due to different numbers of neutrons

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9
Q

A _____________________ consists of the organisms in a community and their physical environment, which each influencing the other through time.

A

ecosystem

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10
Q

T/F: The Keeling curve indicates that summertime removal of CO2 from the atmosphere balances winter atmospheric CO2 increase.

A

false

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11
Q

the chemical equation for respiration

A

C6H12O6+6O2—->6CO2 +6H2O

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12
Q

Over the last 400,000 years, Antarctic temperature has oscillated between peaks of a few degrees warmer than today and temperatures as much as ______________ degrees Celsius colder than present.

A

6 to 8

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13
Q

In the Long-Term Carbon Cycle, in essence carbon moves from the _______________ to the________________ where it can be stored for millions of years before returning to the surface environment through physical processes of volcanism and seafloor formation.

A

Atmosphere, sediments

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14
Q

reservoirs

A

-places on earth where C is stored
-organisms, atmosphere, soil, oceans, sedimentary rock

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15
Q

fluxes

A

rates at which carbon flows from one reservoir to another; biological and physical process

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16
Q

biogeochemical processes

A

pathways in which biologically important elements move between Earth and Life (The Carbon Cycle)

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17
Q

what percentage of human generated CO2 does NOT end up in the atmosphere?

A

50%
The rest ends up in oceans, vegetation or soil

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18
Q

long-term carbon cycle

A

time frame of thousands-millions of years, driven by volcanic activity + climate change

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19
Q

chemical weathering

A

-chemical reactions involving air, water, and exposed rocks, produces CaCO3
-plate tectonic activity drives C stored in CaCO3 into the Earth’s mantel to be expelled into CO2 through volcanic activity

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20
Q

carbon originally fixed by photosynthesis is returned to the atmosphere by the respiration of ______

A

fungi and bacteria
decomposers

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21
Q

approximately _____kg of grass and herb biomass will support approximately _____ kg of mice

A

1000, 100

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22
Q

The formula for ammonia is:

A

NH3

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23
Q

The molecule known as the “currency of life” is ________ and is produced in the _________

A

ATP, mitochondria

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24
Q

nitrogen is found largely in the _____ while phosphorus is mostly present in _______.

A

Atmosphere, rocks

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25
Q

an estimated _______ species of photosynthetic organisms lie at the base of the trophic pyramid while approximately ____ species help to transfer energy cycle carbon through food webs

A

500,000; 10 million

26
Q

2 billion years ago, the _____ included mostly photosynthetic bacteria

A

carbon cycle

27
Q

primary producers

A

-fix inorganic carbon into organic molecules that feed other organisms
-autotrophs that photosynthesize; inorganic C from CO2 and turn it into organic C (C6H12O6)
-take up P and N from the environment to synthesize amino acids, nucleic acids and membranes

28
Q

consumers

A

-heterotrophs which obtain carbon from the food they consume
-consume primary producers as a source of C, P and N. The elements are passed back into the environment as metabolic waste

29
Q

primary consumers

A

consume primary producers
herbivores, grazers, etc

30
Q

secondary consumers

A

predators or scavengers that consume primary consumers

31
Q

decomposers

A

fungi, bacteria; break down dead tissues

32
Q

respiration

A

Carbon is returned to the atmosphere as CO2

33
Q

food webs

A

the complexity of biological interactions within the Carbon Cycle

34
Q

trophic level

A

organisms’ place in the food web

35
Q

trophic pyramid

A

-shows biomass supported at each level by biomass in lower levels
-communities always require more energy to be available at lower trophic levels to support higher trophic levels

36
Q

Assimilation (N cycle)

A

process where Primary producers uptake N found in NO3- or NH3 from soil or water

37
Q

ammonification (N cycle)

A

process where decomposers return N to the environment

38
Q

denitrification (N cycle)

A

a form of anaerobic respiration in which N2 is introduced back into the atmosphere

39
Q

nitrogen fixation (N cycle)

A

bacteria reduce N2 to ammonia NH3 which can be used by plants and reintroduce N to the food web

40
Q

phosphorous cycle

A

-phosphorous found in rocks
-enters food web as a PO4^3- released from rocks via chemical weathering
-phosphorous-containing sediments uplifted by tectonic plate activity; forms mountains, available for release by chemical weathering

41
Q

biodiversity

A

also a function of ecology, and the evolution of biodiversity is tied to the biogeochemical cycles

42
Q

The human population had _______________ since 1970 and as of 2018 exceeds _______________.

A

doubled, 7.6 billion

43
Q

According to Fig. 48.2, the country which uses the most Kilowatt hours per person per day is:

A

Canada

44
Q

The Ecological Footprint of the United States is approximately _________________ hectares land per person.

A

7

45
Q

Nitrogen-fixing bacteria convert N2 to biologically available forms of nitrogen consisting of

A

Ammonia; NH3

46
Q

The increase in primary production by algae and cyanobacteria leading to 02 depletion in lakes and oceans is known as:

A

eutrophication

47
Q

An estimated _______________ of food grown in the United States is never eaten due to spoilage.

A

1/3

48
Q

Anthropocene epoch

A

era we live in, emphasized the dominant impact of humans on present day earth

49
Q

ecological footprint

A

how much land is required to provide energy, food, materials, services

50
Q

human development index

A

measures the standard of living

51
Q

greenhouse gas

A

-a gas that absorbs heat energy and emits it out in all directions
-CO2 in atmosphere absorbs reflected IR (heat) and prevents it from going back out into space
-CO2 acts like the glass in a greenhouse, allows sunlight to enter by prevents heat from leaving

52
Q

methane (greenhouse gas)

A

hydrocarbon, key component of natural gas

53
Q

intergovernmental panel on climate change

A

greenhouse gasses cause an increase in temperature; temp rise will increase as atmospheric CO2 increases; due to human activity

54
Q

climate

A

average weather over a long time interval

55
Q

ocean acidification

A

abundance of CO2 in ocean water causing pH to decrease

56
Q

fracking

A

a relatively new extraction technique which involves injecting fluid and sand into shale rock

57
Q

Eutrophication

A

increase in production of algae and cyanobacteria due to increased N levels

58
Q

invasive species

A

non-native species that become established in a new ecosystem

59
Q

atrazine

A

herbicide to kill weeds; causes developmental impairment in frogs, may affect human reproduction

60
Q

Humans make up what percentage of the entire photosynthetic output on land?

A

25%

61
Q

It is estimated that ______________ non-native species have been introduced into the United States.

A

48,000

62
Q

T/F: Some estimates state that Malaria has killed nearly half of all humans who have existed.

A

true