Grade 9; Ecology Test Flashcards
what are the four spheres and how are they related?
biosphere, lithosphere , hydrosphere and atmosphere
bc the dead animals are descomposed, and the nutrients now form part of the lithosphere.
The animal breathing changes the atmosphere.
The animal blood or waste can change the hydrosphere
A change in the biosphere, litosphere, atmosphere or hydrosphere can make another change in biosphere
A change in atmosphere (higher temperature) can evaporate the water, kill the animals and plants and changes in temperature (heat and cold) can break stones (lithosphere)
Define atmosphere
the layer of gases extending upward for hundreds of kilometers.
Define lithosphere
rocky outer shell of the earth, contains rocksand minerals that make up mountains, ocean floors and solid landscapes
define biosphere
location in which life can exist within the other 3 spheres
define hydrosphere
contains all the water on, above or below Earths surface
What is the atmosphere made out of
78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and the remaining 1% is argon, water vapour, helium, carbon dioxide and other gases
how thick is the lithosphere
50-150km
where is nearly all of the earths water contained?
oceans (97%)
Thinest sphere?
biosphere
What is the Gaia Hypothesis
suggest that the Earth behaves like a living organism and responds to changes in its environment.
What did james lovelock propose
that the earth could maintain CONSISTENT INTERNAL CONDITIONS over long time periods
why is the atmosphere critical to life on earth
atmosphere protects us from sun/radiation/objects
so we can breathe
affects gravitiy
5 locations that are included in the Hydrosphere
rivers, lakes, oceans, ponds, ice caps
define abiotic factor
non-living components of a system
define biotic factor
anything considered living
define food chain
energy transfer from one organism to another in a line
define food web
energy transfer from one organism to multiple other, more complex and realistic then a food chain
define tropic level
any class of organisms that occupy the same position in a food chain, as primary consumers, secondary consumers, and tertiary consumers
define bioaccumilation
the build up of persistent toxins in a food chain
define ecology
the relationships between a group of living things and their environment
define ecosystem
a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.
whats the word equations for photosythesis
energy (sun) + water + carbon dioxide = gloucose and oxygen
what process allows light energy to be converted into chemical energy?
cellular resperation (ATP)
what is an ecological niche?
the function a species serves in its environment, including what is eats, what eats it and how It behaves
where does all the energy from the earth come from
THE SUN!
what is a species tolerance range
the ABIOTIC conditions which a speices can survive
give examples of predation
lion eats a antelope
give examples of commensalism
shark and jack, jack uses shark as a blind to attack its prey, shark get nothing
give examples of mutalism
alligator and egypatian plover
give examples of competition
fisherman and shark, both want fish
examples of parasitism
fleas on dogs
what is carrying capacity
maximum population size of a particular species that an ecosystem can sustain
what are 2 aquatic ecosystems broken down into
fresh water and marine
Fresh water systems can be…
oligotrophic (low in nutrients) eutrophic (high in nutrients)
Define biodiversity
the variety of life in a particular ecosystem, measured by a species richness
What is species richness?
the number of a species in an area
a diverse ecosystem has a _____ species richness
high
Define invasive species
a non-native species whos international or accidental introduction NEGATIVLY impacts the natural enviorment (kane toads, silver carp)
what are the three types of control mechanisms
chemical; using chemicals
Mechanical; physical barriers
biological; intro new species
special parts of the organism used to perform the process
p; chlorophyll cr; mitochondria
final products by other organisms
p: food cr; co2 for plants and energy growth
how does nitrogen gas go back into the soil
nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria, x rays and ultraviolet lights.
how does nitrogen get from soil to animals
its absorbed by plants which are then eaten by animals and then passed down the food chain and go back into the soil in forms for urea or ammonia
define limiting factor
any factor that restricts the size of a population
what are Canada’s 5 main forest biome
tundra, boreal forest, grassland, temperate deciduous forest, mountain forest
what is a watershed
the land area drained by a particular river, also called a drainage basin
