Exam Two: Learning Objectives Flashcards
Water is a __ solvent
universal
Water content of organisms must stay between __ and __ of body mass
60, 90
What is the medium in which all biochemical reactions necessary for life occur?
water
Water moves __ concentration gradients from __ to __ water pressure
DOWN
higher; lower
Water moves down a concentration gradient between terrestrial organisms and air via __ __ __
vapor pressure deficit
Water moves down a concentration gradient between aquatic organisms and the water they are in via __ __ __
osmotic pressure gradients
Water moves down a concentration gradient along the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum via __ __
water potential
Water will flow from an __ to __ via evaporative water loss
organism; air
Define vapor pressure deficit?
difference in the amount of water vapor air could hold (given its temperature) and the amount it is actually holding
Evaporative water loss is determine in party by an organism’s __ __ adaptations
water-retaining
Air is always __ than the inside of an organism, and water always flows __ a concentration gradient, so water will flow from an __ to the __ via __ __ __
drier; down
organism; air
evaporative water loss
Describe the VPD in warm and cold air
warm air can potentially hold lots of water as vapor,
cold air cannot hold a lot of water
VPD will be high if the air is _ and __ but low if air is __ or humidity is __
warm; dyr
cool, high
Why is the VPD low if humidity is high?
humid air already has lots of moisture and cannot hold much more
Evaporative water loss is influenced by _ __ __
vapor pressure deficit
Discuss the consequences of vapor pressure deficit if VPD is high (warm, dry air)
water will evaporate from terrestrial organisms
water loss (bad)
evaporative cooling (good)
Discuss the consequences if VPD is low (cool, humid air)
less water will evaporate from terrestrial organisms
minimal water loss (good)
little possibility for evaporative cooling (bad)
Water moves between aquatic organisms and the water they are in via __ __ __
osmotic pressure gradients
Water and solutes move __ concentration gradients
down
How does water transport from the soil through the plant to the atmosphere takes place in?
the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum
Soil, plant, and atmosphere are interconnected by?
a continuous film of liquid water
Water flows to a more __ water potential
negative
Define water potential
the gradient from which water moves from the soil through the plant to the atmosphere
What factors determine water potential in a plant?
solutes, matric, and pressure
What factors determine water potential in a soil?
matric
A free standing body of pure water has a water potential of _, while in nature, water potentials have a __ (__) value
zero
lower; negative
What are three factors that reduce water potential in soil-plant systems (make water potential more negative)
solutes
matric forces
negative pressure
Discuss the water potential in solutes
water is drawn toward areas with a lot of solutes
Discuss the water potential in matric forces
thin films of water are attracted to (hard to pull off of) the surface of soil particles, cells, or walls of narrow vessels in plants
__ films are held more tightly, and __ soil particles provide more surfaces for water films to adhere to
thinner; finer
Discuss the water potential of negative pressure
water is drawn ttowards areas of low pressure (water evaportation into dry air imposes a ‘sucking’ action on wetter plant tissues)
How do plants get water through roots from soil?
water potential of roots is lower (more negative) than water potential of soil
Terrestrial animals gain water through __ and __
absorption; consumption(eating and drinking)
What are the two forms of food water?
moisture content of food and metabolic water
metabolic water generated during __ __ - water is produced by the __ as it breaks down __ __
cellular respiration
consumer
organic matter
Individuals who originated from the __ location showed the lowest evaporative water loss
dry
Discuss evaporative water loss and the trade off of skin adaptations
skin thickness and composition can be adaptations to regulate evaporative water loss and thus water balance
there’s a tradeoff with ability to evaporatively cool and exchange gases
How do desert scorpions manage heat and water budgets?
burrowing during the day reduces heat gain and reduces evaporative water loss
low metabolism and cuticle covering
How do desert cicadas regulate heat and water budgets?
dump lots of body heat through evaporation
adaptation for high water gain through drinking, pierce mesquite trees and drink plant fluids
What are two ways plants compensate for variation in water availability?
drop leaves and increase gain with deeper roots
Dropping leaves in response to water stress can be an __ way to lose water. Instead they shut off __
expensive; stomate
In response to soil drying, some plants send a hormonal __ to the guard cells that closes the __ to prevent __ loss
signal
stomata
water
Define stomata
gas-exchange pores on the underside of leaves
Adaptations revealed in __ __ responses to environmental change
short-term
The ability to acclimatize is an _
adaptation
In marine environments, water tends to diffuse __ of organisms, via __ and __
out
concentrated urine
drinking water
In freshwater environments, water tends to move __ to the organisms via methods of?
into
large volumes of dilute water
What are two adaptations to maintain osmotic balance in water that is saltier than inside the organism ?
drink water and dump solutes
Isosmotic organisms have internal __ and __ concentrations that match those of their environment, but must selectively control __ of specific solutes
water; salt
exchhange
Define trophic
feeding and nutrition
What is the purpose of feeding?
to grow, heal, move, reproduce, achieve homeostasis, and maintain cellular order
What are the three trophic categories
photosynthetic autotrophs
chemosynthetic autotrophs
hetertrophs
Discuss the carbon and energy source of photosynthetic autotrophs
CO2
sunlight
What organisms are photoautotrophs ?
organisms with light-harvesting pigments (usually chlorphyll)
vascular plants
microalgae
phytoplankton
bacteria
eukaryotic algae
Where does photosynthesis occur?
chloroplasts
Define chloroplasts
organelles in plant cells that have sunlight-capturing pigments (chlorophyll a)
Cyanobacteria are photosynthetic __, the cell is essentially a __
prokaryotes; chloroplast
What are the three components of photosynthesis?
light reactions, carbon fixation, and biosynthesis
Discuss the light reaction component of photosynthesis
absorb light; transfer energy to ATP and electrongs
Discuss the carbon fixation component of photosynthesis
C from CO2 is captured
Discuss the biosynthesis component of photosynthesis
organic biomolecules are synthesized
What is C3 photosynthesis?
found in most plants and algae
Discuss the synthesis of C3 photosynthesis
C from CO2 combines with a 5-carbon compound called ribulose bisphosphate (RuBP)
Rubisco catalyzes the combination of RuBP and C
creating two, three carbon molecules which are then used to make glucose
Water loss is a __ on C3 photosynthesis
limitation
Water loss = closing of __, plant can’t take in __, with stomata closed, __ combines with O2 in __ instead of with __. Reduces the __ capture and thus reduces the __ of organic C
stomata
CO2
RuBP
photorespiration
CO2
synthesis
What are the three photosynthetic pathways?
C3, C4, and CAM
What is the purpose of C4 and CAM pathways?
perform carbon fixation at a different time or location when and where light reactions and biosynthesis can occur
CAM and C4 are __ of C3
elaborations
CAM and C4 pathways initially fix C with __ instead of Rubisco, because it is better at catching __
PEP C
CO2
How do CAM and C4 pathways enable photosynthesis without light?
C fixation requires open stomata, but light reactions and biosynthesis do not
CAM: PEPC catches __ during the night, then delivers it to __ during the day, at which point the normal __ pathways occurs
CO2
Rubisco
C3
C4: PEPC catches __ in the __ cells, then delivers it to __ in the bundle sheath cells, which reside __ in the leaf tissue and then the normal __ pathway occurs
CO2
mesophyll
deeper
C3
What is the advantage of C4 and CAM pathways?
Plants can open stomata less and still get needed CO2, resulting in less photorespiration and less water loss
PEP C just __ the CO2-derived C __
holds; temporarily
CAM performs C fixation at a different __ and C4 performs C fixation at a different __
time
location
CAM; C fixation at night when __ can safely open with low __ loss
stomata
H2O
C4 plants perform better in high __ and __, and low __ availability
light; temperature
water
C4 plants includes half the __ and found prominently in __ and __ grasses, contributes to 20% of __ __ __ and includes many species of commercial importance (corn)
grasses
tropical; subtropical
terrestrial plant production
Temperature predicts balance of __ and __ plants
C4, C3
In locations that are warmer, a __ percentage of grass and shrub species are __
higher; C4
__ species dominate in grasslands and shrublands of __ regions
C3
cooler
CAM plants have the best __ __ _
water use efficency
CAM plants are found in __ and __-__ environments, including many families including __, __, __, and __
arid; semi-arid
succulents, cactuses, bromeliads, orchids
CAM plants have slower __ but great __-__ __
photosynthesis; water-use efficency
Describe water use efficency
use (and loss) very little water per gram of biomass added; even better than C4
What is the carbon and energy source of chemosynthetic autotrophs
CO2
reduced inorganic compounds
Chemosynthetic autotrophy: reduced __ provide _ for eTC, sets up __ __, which leads to __ and __ of organic carbon, needs a terminal electron __ (can be _)
molecules, e-
proton gradient
ATP synthesis, biosynthesis
acceptor, O2
Compare and contrast chemo and photo autotrophs?
both synthesize ATP and fix C, but get e from reduced inorganic molecule rather than sunlight splitting water
What are two examples of reduced molecules in chemosynthetic autotrophy?
H2S and NH4+
What is an important example of chemosynthetic autotrophy
nitrifying bacteria play a very important role in the nitrogen cycle
What is the carbon and energy source for heterotrophs?
organic C and organic C
What are the three major categories of heterotrophs?
herbivores, carnivores, and detritivores
What are three challenges of herbivores (heterotrophs)?
chemical defenses, stoichiometric constraints, and physical defenses
Define a nutrient
chemical element required for the development, maintenance, and reproduction of an organism
What is an example of a nutrient?
Nitrogen
What are the five primary nutrient requirements?
C, O, H, N, and P
Why are nutrients important?
to maintain chemical composition, i.e. obtain nutrients in the proper ratios