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Ecology and Environment I > Final Exam Notes (Whole Semester) > Flashcards

Final Exam Notes (Whole Semester) Flashcards

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1
Q

Ecology encompasses: (4 points)

A
  1. Ecosystem
  2. Community
  3. Population
  4. Organisms
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2
Q

Ecosystems are composed of abiotic (5 points) and biotic factors (3 points)

A

Abiotic: non-living
o Water
o Air
o Nutrients
o Solar energy
o Geology

Biotic: living
o Plants
o Animals
o Microbes

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3
Q

Two types of cycles within an ecosytem: Energy Cycle (3 steps) Nutrient Cycle (3 steps)

A

Energy = Solar→ Chemical→ Mechanical→ Infrared Nutrient = Carbon→ Nitrogen→ Phosphorus

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4
Q

The 6 Principle Ecosystem Building blocks:

A
  1. Bedrock Geology
  2. Soil
  3. Water
  4. Plants
  5. Animals
  6. Climate
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5
Q

Layers of the Earth: (5 points)

A

Inner core: solid mass, alloy composed mainly of iron
Outer core: molten state, alloy composed of iron and nickel
Mantle: Surrounds the core and makes up about 83% of the earth’s total volume (primarily composed of iron and magnesium) and has 3 distinct zones:
Solid lower mantle - Asthenosphere (“plastic”)
Upper mantle: this plus the overlying crust creates the lithosphere)
Crust: Outer most layer of the earth, consists of two types:
Oceanic Crust: thin, makes up the ocean floor
Continental Crust: thick (up to 75km), low density
Lithosphere: Rigid outer shell of the planet Comprised of upper mantle, continental, and oceanic crust

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6
Q

Petrology: Rock: Minerals: Bedrock: Surficial deposits: (Five points)

A

Petrology: study of rocks
Rock: solid naturally occurring aggregate of one or more types of mineral
Minerals: naturally occurring, inorganic, solid substances with a regular crystal structure and a fixed chemical composition
Bedrock: material that underlies the surficial deposits
Surficial deposits: unconsolidated (loose material) sediments ad soils

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7
Q

Name of rock is dependent on:

A
  1. Classification
  2. Mineral content
  3. Texture (mineral or grain size)
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8
Q

Igneous rocks: (3 points) Sedimentary Rocks: (3 points) Metamorphic Rocks: (1 points)

A

Igneous rocks: Form from the cooling and crystallization of molten material Rocks that form from magma are known as intrusive (plutonic) igneous rocks (large particles) Rocks which form from lava are known as extrusive (volcanic) igneous rocks (fine minerals)
Sedimentary Rocks: Formed when existing rocks are weathered into fragments or dissolved into water Minerals are precipitated out of the water and undergo lithification Occurs when pressure compacts and cements the fragments to form new sedimentary rocks
Metamorphic Rocks: Metamorphic rocks are created when existing rocks (igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic) are subjected to heat and/or pressure

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9
Q

Zone of Accumulation: (1 point) Zone of Wasting: (1 point)

A

Zone of Accumulation: That part of a glacier where the mean annual gain of ice, and snow is greater than the mean annual loss.
Zone of Wasting: The thinning of a glacier due to the melting of ice. This loss of thickness may occur in both moving and stagnant ice. Also called Ablation.

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10
Q

Glaciers can only ever be Stationary, Advance, or Retreat Stationary: (1 point) Advance: (1 point) Retreat: (1 point)

A

Stationary: Neither advancing or retreating Input of new snow and ice in the accumulation zone equals the rate of melting in the ablation zone
Advance: If rate of accumulation is greater than melting, glacier will advance
Retreat: The glacier retreats if the rate of melting in the south exceeds the input of new snow and ice in the north

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11
Q

Drift can be evaluated by: 1. Grading (2 points) 2. Sorting (2 points) 3. Stratification (2 points)

A
  1. Grading Well graded: There is a complete range of grain sizes (large boulders- fine clays) Poorly graded: there is only a very small range of grain sizes present (e.g. only sand)
  2. Sorting Well-sorted: There has been a sorting process whereby there is only a small range of grain sizes present (e.g. only sand) Poorly sorted: there is a complete range of grain sizes (large boulders- fine clays)
  3. Stratification Stratified: There is noticeable layering of the materials Non-stratified: there is no evident layering
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12
Q

Till Deposits: Typified by non-stratified, well graded, poorly sorted composition deposited directly from glacial ice 1. Moraines: (2 points) 2. Glacial Erratic: (1 point) 3. Drumlin: (3 points)

A
  1. Moraines: Ground Moraine (Till Plain): Large sheet-like masses of till that the depositing glacier rode over and compacted End Moraine (Terminal): Large, broad, and irregularly shaped ridge of till pushed up and deposited by a glacier at its ends and sides
  2. Glacial Erratic: A large boulder of rock type that differs from the local geology. Boulders are carried within the glacier far from the glacier’s source
  3. Drumlin: A mass of till moulded by glacial ice movement to a hill, which is round in cross section and in profile, has one end gently sloping (lee) and the other end relatively steep (stoss). This landform was formed during glacier advance
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13
Q

Glaciofluvial Deposits: Typified by stratified, poorly graded, well sorted composition accumulated by meltwater 1. Esker: (2 points) 2. Kame: (1 point) 3. Glaciolacustrine deposits (Schomberg pond): (2 points)

A
  1. Esker: A narrow, serpentine ridge of stratified drift deposited inside a meltwater tunnel within or under a glacier Acts as ground water recharge area because of the highly permeable stratified sands and gravels
  2. Kame: An irregular conical hill of glaciofluvium formed where glacial streams are suddenly terminated (e.g. glacial stream flowing across a glacier and pools in a crevasse which fills with sediment deposits)
  3. Glaciolacustrine deposits (Schomberg pond): Formed in a low energy environment where the motion of the water wasn’t strong enough to carry away the silt and clay particles in suspension. Fine grained soils with low permeability and high porosity are excellent for farming when tile drained (Schomberg Ponds)
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14
Q

Physiographic Region: (1 point)

A

An area which has broad-scale consistent bedrock geology, soils, slope and morphology

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15
Q

Ontario Physiographic Regions: (3 points)

A
  1. Precambrian Shield
  2. St Lawrence Lowlands
  3. Hudson Bay Lowlands
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16
Q

Rules of Stratigraphy: (4 points)

A
  1. Law of Superposition: Any sequence of sediments of rocks that has not been overturned, the youngest sediments or rocks are at the top and oldest are at the bottom
  2. Law of Original Horizontality: All sedimentary rocks are originally deposited horizontally. Sedimentary rocks that are no longer horizontal have been tilted from their original position (folding)
  3. Law of Cross-cutting Relativity: Any body or discontinuity that cuts across a stratum must have formed after that stratum
  4. Law of Inclusion: Rock fragments in another rock must be older than the rock they are included in
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17
Q

Ecological Land Classification (ELC) is based on: (4 points)

A
  1. Bedrock
  2. Climate (temperature and precipitation)
  3. Physiography (soils, slope, aspect)
  4. Corresponding vegetation
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18
Q

Ecological units are defined as three upper level units: (3 points) Two finer scale units: (2 points)

A
  1. Ecozones*
  2. Ecoregions
  3. Ecodistricts
  4. Ecosites
  5. Ecoelements
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19
Q

Three Ontario Ecozones are:

A
  1. Hudson Bay Lowlands
  2. Ontario Shield
  3. Mixedwood Plains
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20
Q

Water Table: (2 points)

A

Water Table: the surface separating the unsaturated (vadose) zone from the saturated zone

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21
Q

Aquifer: Recharge Area: Aquitards/Aquicludes: Perched Aquifer: Unconfined Aquifer: Confined Aquifer:

A

Aquifer: A geologic layer of porous and permeable material through which water flows and is stored (e.g. Drumlin)
Recharge Area: Area on the surface of the earth having a permeability that allow for easy infiltration of water into the subsurface (E.g. Esker)
Aquitards/Aquicludes: Impermeable (relatively) materials that slow the downward flow of water by gravity (E.g. Igneous rocks, clay)
Perched Aquifer: Occurs when there is an aquidtard/aquicide above the main water table but below the surface of the land.
Unconfined Aquifer: An aquifer which is not bound by impermeable layers (aquitards) of soil or rock
Confined Aquifer: An aquifer that is sandwiched between two impermeable layers of soil

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22
Q

Inputs of nutrients in the Ecosystem: (6 points)

A
  1. Rock weathering**: weathering of rocks provide nutrients such as Ca, Mg, K, Na, Si, Fe
  2. Atmospheric Precipitation Respiration Lightening (fertilizer)
  3. Biological Fixation: Species able to “fix” or extract inert elements and form usable molecules Photosynthesis or Nitrogen Fixation Immigration
23
Q

Outputs of nutrients into the ecosystem: (4 points)

A 
Soil Erosion (most critical) Leaching Important nutrients are lost when the downward movement of water through the coil transports dissolved nutrients with the water 
Gaseous Losses: In wet anaerobic (saturated soil conditions, compounds are chemically reduced to a gas from a soil Emigration and Harvesting
24
Q

Four inputs required for photosynthesis and growth: (4 points) Two major outputs of photosynthesis: (6 points)

A

Four inputs required for photosynthesis and growth?

  1. Sunlight
  2. CO2
  3. H2O
  4. Mineral nutrients

Two major outputs of photosynthesis

  1. O2
  2. Sucrose
25
Q

Local environmental factors affecting plants: (5 points)

A
  1. Climate
  2. Nutrient access
  3. Water access and soil texture
  4. Light availability/absorption
  5. Herbivory
26
Q

Types of Deforestation: Silviculture: Clear-cutting: Seed Trees: Shelterwood: Group selection: Single Tree Selection:

A

Silviculture: the application of the principles of forest ecology to a stand of trees to help meet specified objectives
Clear-cutting: 90% of all trees removed. No size of breeding criteria used
Seed Trees: 90% of all trees removed but large, mature breeders are specifically left for natural regeneration using seed base
Shelterwood: 70-80% trees per acre are removed on site to provide some shelter for seedlings for the first few years
Group selection: 20% of trees removed in group selection harvests are basically small clear-cuts
Single Tree Selection: Only single trees are removed (less than 10% of tree stand) This creates only small gaps with minimal additional light reaching ground level

27
Q

Water Hardness: St Lawrence Lowlands: (6 points) Precambrian (6 points)

A

St Lawrence Lowlands: High conductivity High TDS Sedimentary bedrock Limestone and dolomite Hard water
Mineral component: calcium carbonate
Precambrian Conductivity: low
TDS: low Bedrock: igneous metamorphic Granites and Gneiss Soft water Silicates

28
Q

Alkalinity: (4 points)

A

Alkalinity •
Buffering capacity, ability neutralize acid •
Measured in mg/L •
Water alkalinity is 156.6 mg/L •
Carbonates bind with excess hydrogen which reduces acidity and neutralizes water

29
Q

Fresh Water Ecosystems requirements: (6 points)

A
  1. Water
  2. Nutrients
  3. Solar energy
  4. Oxygen
  5. CO2
  6. Growing temperature
30
Q

Types of Freshwater: (2 points)

A

Lotic: moving water, high elevation, cold, high O2, trout, streamlined plants
Lentic: standing water, lower elevations, warmer, less 02, bass, amphibious cattails, rushes

31
Q

Stream Organisms: 1. Shredders: 2. Collectors: 3. Grazers: 4. Predators:

A

Stream Organisms:

  1. Shredders: e.g. Caddisflies, feed on coarse organic matter (leaves)
  2. Collectors: e.g. black fly and midge larvae, fine organic matter (digested coarse organic matter) collected on the stream bottom
  3. Grazers: e.g. beetle larvae and water penny, algal coating stones and rubble
  4. Predators: e.g. Fish, feed on all other organisms
32
Q

Riparian Zone: an important and productive vegetated area near a stream which helps shade and protect a stream from erosion and flood damage 1. Zone One: 2. Zone Two: 3. Zone Three: 4. Streambed Zone:

A
  1. Zone One: Large Native trees provide shade and bank stabilization
  2. Zone Two: Native shrubs, this zone provides habitat for wildlife. Absorbs contaminants
  3. Zone Three: First line of defense against contaminants. Mostly native grasses, slows water runoff
  4. Streambed Zone: Fallen limbs, trees, and tree roots, slows water flow, reduces erosion. Woody debris increases habitat and cover aquatic species
33
Q

Stream Types: (3 points)

A

Headwater Stream (1-3) Swift, cold, forested, shaded Primary productivity (photosynthesis) is low Organic input is acquired from surrounding terrestrial area (dead leaves) Mostly shredders and collectors Predators are small, cold water fish: trout, sculpins, daters

Midorder Stream (4-6) Stream increases in width and more surface water is exposed to sunlight Elevation declines, current slows Water temperature increases (more sunlight, less current) Increase in primary production by algae and rooted aquatic plants Mostly collectors and grazers Shift to warmer water predator species (bass, pickerel, sunfish)

Highorder Stream (6-10) Channel is wide and deep with increased volume Current becomes slow and sediments accumulate on the bottom Productivity declines Mostly collectors Fish community shifts to bottom feeders suckers, catfish, shad

34
Q

Water Zones: 1. Photic: 2. Euphotic zone: 3. Aphotic: 4. Littoral: 5. Limnetic: 6. Profundal 7. Benthic

A
  1. Photic: surface layer, receives sunlight
  2. Euphotic zone: layer that permits photosynthesis via phytoplankton and plants
  3. Aphotic:
  4. Littoral: a. Shallow water zone b. Light reaches the bottom, stimulating growth of rooted plants
  5. Limnetic: a. Open water too deep for rooted plants to secure to the bottom b. Floating plants c. Light penetration throughout d. Plankton (phyto/zoo) e. Fish
  6. Profundal a. Open water, light does not penetrate b. Depends on organic nutrients from limnetic zone
  7. Benthic a. Very bottom of the water column, extends from bottom of the littoral zone to profundal zone b. Nutrients accumulate by gravity, anaerobic (no light) c. Decomposers
35
Q

Water Zones: 1. Epilimnion 2. Thermocline 3. Hypolimnion

A
  1. Epilimnion Upper layer of warm water high light and O2 Low Co2 Low free nutrients Water striders, phyto/zoo plankton, algae Area of photosynthesis
  2. Thermocline Middle layer medium light and O2 temperature falls rapidly prevents waters from mixing
  3. Hypolimnion Lower layer of cold water lower light and O2 high CO2 high free nutrients area of decomposition
36
Q

Two Lake Types:

A

Oligotrophic
• infertile soils with limited phosphorus and nitrogen availability
• low productivity
• clear water
• high oxygen content
Eutrophic
• abundant nutrient runoff from surrounding areas
• high productivity
• high decomposition
• murky waters due to high algae
• low oxygen content

37
Q

TDS: Conductivity: Alkalinity: Hardness:

A

TDS: Total Dissolved Solids
Conductivity: Ability for electricity to pass through
Alkalinity: Buffering capacity (acidification)
Hardness: calcium levels

38
Q

Water Facts Precambrian: 11 points St Lawrence Lowlands: 11 points

A

Precambrian:
• Igneous intrusive, metamorphic gneiss
• Low weathering
• Low conductivity
• Low TDS
• High Water Clarity
• Low Productivity
• Acidic pH
• Low Hardness
• Low free carbonates (Ca2,Mg2)
• Low Alkalinity
• High risk of acidification

St Lawrence Lowlands:

  • Sedimentary Limestone
  • High weathering
  • High conductivity
  • High TDS
  • Low water clarity
  • High Productivity
  • Neutral (slightly basic)
  • Extremely high hardness
  • High Ca2 Mg2
  • High Alkalinity
  • Low risk of Acidification
39
Q

Water Cycle

A
  1. Atmospheric gases are dissolved in water vapour clouds
  2. Rain falls on soil surface
  3. Water infiltrates and permeates the soil layers
  4. Soil organisms (animals, fungi, bacteria, etc.) use oxygen and excrete carbon dioxide
  5. Carbon dioxide dissolved in water becomes carbonic acid which increases in concentration over millennia within the aquifer
  6. Carbonic acid (among others) begins to dissolve metal bearing rocks, forcing metals (Ca, Fe, Mg) into solution
  7. End result is that groundwater in metal-bearing rock aquifer will contain greater amounts of dissolved metals
40
Q

Characteristics of animal:

A
  1. Must obtain food
  2. Eukaryotic (cellular organization)
  3. Multicellular
  4. Sexual reproduction
  5. Have nervous system organization
41
Q

Herbivores – feed primarily on plant matter Types:

A

Types:
• Grazers (leafy materials of grasses)
• Browsers (woody plants/shrubs)
• Granivores (seeds)
• Frugivores (fruit)

42
Q

Natural Selection: New alleles arise from random mutation in DNA. Usually harmless and can: (3 points)

A
  1. Improve quality
  2. Decrease quality
  3. Quality remains the same
43
Q

Species Interaction Resource partitioning: Interspecific competition: Commensalism: Parasitism: Mutualism: Types: Symbiosis

A

Resource partitioning: Reduce niche overlap Species with similar requirements use resources in different ways, at different times, or different places
Interspecific competition: parts of the niches overlap Both compete for resources (waste energy) Law of complete exclusion
Commensalism: Relationship between 2 species where one organism benefits but the other is unaffected
Parasitism: Relationship between 2 species in which one benefits (parasite) while the other is harmed (host)
Mutualism: Relationship between 2 species in which both benefit

Types:
• Food for food
• Food for sex
• Sex for sex
• Protection for home and food
• Protection for food
Symbiosis: the intimate association between 2+ organisms of different species

44
Q

Abiotic Components: Biotic Components:

A

Abiotic Components:

  1. Solar energy – energy provides practically all the energy for surface ecosystems
  2. Inorganic substances (sulphur, nitrogen, carbon)
  3. Organic – compounds, such as proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, complex molecules

Biotic Components:

  1. Autotroph is self nourishing (primary producer) Produces organic compounds; photosynthesis = inorganic materials becoming complex organic compounds (sugars)
  2. Heterotroph cannot produce own food (consumer or decomposers) Consume energy stored by autotrophs
45
Q

Energy Flow in Ecosystems: 4 points

A
  1. Producers (e.g. plants, algae, cyanobacteria – capture energy, produce complex organic compounds)
  2. Primary Consumers (e.g. herbivores – feed on producers)
  3. Secondary Consumers (carnivores – feed on primary)
  4. Tertiary Consumers (decomposers/detritivores – feed on secondary)
46
Q

Carrying Capacity: Biotic Potential:

A

Carrying Capacity – max population size of species that the environment can sustain indefinitely (given the food, habitat, water, and other necessities available in the environment)
Biotic Potential – maximum reproductive rate of an organism (given unlimited resources and freedom from limiting factors)

47
Q

Strategies of Population Growth R Strategist – Designed for environmental instability K Strategist – Designed for environmental stability

A

Strategies of Population Growth R Strategist – Designed for environmental instability
• High fecundity
• Small body size
• Early maturity
• Short generation time
• Wide offspring dispersion
• Short life expectancy
• Adapted to unstable or unpredictable environments
• Make use of temporary habitats
• Respond rapidly to disturbance K Strategist – Designed for environmental stability
• Large body size
• Long life expectancy
• Production of fewer offspring which often require extensive parental care until they mature
• Designed for competitive situations
• Adapted to physical and biotic pressures with both repeated and delayed reproduction
• Environmental specialists and efficient user of a particular environment

48
Q

5 factors of population control/decline:

A
  1. Disease
  2. Nutrients
  3. Energy availability
  4. Predators
  5. Water supply
49
Q

Factors that Increase or Decrease Populations:

A

Natality + immigration = population increase
Natality – production of new individuals by birth, hatchling, germination or cloning
Fecundity – the physical ability to reproduce
Fertility – the actual number of offspring produced
Life span – longest period of life reached by a given type of organism Mortality + emigration = population decrease
Mortality – death rate (number dead/number alive at start)
Nutrient Availability – as population increases access to resources controlled by establishment and control of territories by members of a population

50
Q
A

Fen

Minerpthropic peatlands

-high groundwater level, occupy a relief or basin

Ombrotrpohic peatlands

  • developed peat layers higher than their surroundings
51
Q
A

Bog

  • raised peat hummocks
  • wetland ombrotrophic (dependent on atmospheric moisture)
  • low plant diveristy
  • no fen indicator species
  • few to no tamaracks or cedars
52
Q
A

SWAMP

  • Wooded wetland, over 25% tree/tall shrub cover
  • Seasonal standing-gently flowing water
  • Abundance of pools indicates subsurface waterflow
  • Little oxygen deficiency
  • Little deficiency of mineral nutrients
  • Coniferous: white cedar, eastern hemlock, tamarack, black spruce
  • Deciduous: silver maple, white elm, black/green ash, yellow birch
  • Tall shrub: willow species, red-osier dogwood, buttonbush, speckled alder
  • Herbs and mosses
53
Q
A

Marsh:

  • Water remains within root zone
  • High oxygen saturation
  • Open expanses of standing/flowing water
  • Robust emergent
  • Anchored floating plants
  • Submergents
  • Cattails, rushes, bulrushes, sedges, grasses and herbs
  • Low shrubs: sweet gale, water willow
  • Open areas: stonewort, pondweed, water-milfoils waterweeds, waterlilies, duckweed
54
Q
A

Ecology and Environment I (5 decks)

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