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APES > IV - Ecology, Ecosystems, & Food Webs > Flashcards

IV - Ecology, Ecosystems, & Food Webs Flashcards

1
Q

Characteristics of Life

A 
Composed of CELLS
Contain DNA
Capture & transform MATTER & ENERGY
GROWTH, SURVIVAL & REPRODUCTION
HOMEOSTASIS
EVOLUTION
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2
Q

Levels of organization in ecology includes

A 
Organism
population
Community
Ecosystem
Biosphere
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3
Q

Organism

A

any form of life

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4
Q

Species

A

groups of organisms that RESEMBLE each other, &, in cases of SEXUALLY REPRODUCING organisms, can potentially interbreed

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5
Q

How many species exist/ are discovered??

A

estimates of 5 to 100 million species, most are insects &

microorganisms; so far only about 1.8 million named;

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6
Q

Wild/native species

A

population that exists in its natural habitat

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7
Q

Domesticated/ introduced species

A

population

introduced by humans

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8
Q

Population

A

group of interacting INDIVIDUALS of the

SAME species

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9
Q

Population examples

A

sunfish in a pond, white oak trees in a

forest, people in a city

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10
Q

Habitat

A

place where a population usually lives

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11
Q

Genetic diversity

A

in natural populations individuals VARY in their genetic makeup

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12
Q

Community

A

populations of all species living together in a given area

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13
Q

Community examples

A

redwood forest community, consisting of
populations of redwoods & other trees, shrubs &
herbaceous species, animals, & microorganisms.

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14
Q

Biological community

A

complex interacting

network of plants, animals, & microorganisms.

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15
Q

Ecosystem

A

community of different species
interacting with one another (*biotic) & with their non–
living (**abiotic) environment of matter & energy

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16
Q

Ecosystem examples

A

a patch of woods, a lake or pond, a farm field, an entire

watershed in a tropical rain forest.

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17
Q

Biotic factors

A

Living components/ biota

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18
Q

Abiotic factors

A

Non-living components

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19
Q

Biotic factors example

A

plants,

animals, & microorganisms

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20
Q

Abiotic factors examples

A

water,

air, nutrients, & solar energy

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21
Q

Biome

A

large regions characterized by a distinct climate &
specific life–forms, especially vegetation, adapted to the
region.

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22
Q

Major biomes include

A

temperate grassland, temperate
deciduous forest, desert, tropical rain forest, tropical
deciduous forest, tropical savannah, coniferous forest,
tundra

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23
Q

Aquatic life zone

A

major marine or freshwater areas

containing numerous ecosystems.

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24
Q

Major aquatic life zones include

A

akes, streams, estuaries,

coastlines, coral reefs, & the deep ocean

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25
Q

Ecosphere/biosphere

A

all of Earth’s ecosystems

together

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26
Q

What Sustains Life?

A

Energy from Sun
Cycling of matter
Gravity

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27
Q

Energy from Sun

A

one–way flow of usable energy from sun, through

feeding interactions, to low–quality forms (heat)

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28
Q

Cycling of matter

A

the continual flow of matter between the nonliving

environment & living organisms;

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29
Q

Gravity

A

enables Earth to hold its atmosphere; causes

downward movement of matter in nutrient cycles

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30
Q

The ultimate source of energy in most ecosystems is …

A

the sun

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31
Q

Incoming solar radiation goes to …

A 
Heating of atmosphere & earth's surface
Evaporating water
Generating wind
Photosynthesis
Reflected by clouds, dusts, surface
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32
Q

Outgoing radiation consists of

A

Reflected incoming radiation

Degraded heat

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33
Q

Nutrient cycles include

A 
Carbon
Phosphorus
Nitrogen
Water
Oxygen
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34
Q

Nutrient

A

any atom, ion, or molecule an organism

needs to live, grow, or reproduce

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35
Q

Macronutrients

A

needed in relatively large amounts

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36
Q

Macronutrients examples

A

C, O, H, N, P, S, K, Ca, Mg, Fe

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37
Q

Micronutrients

A

needed in relatively small amounts

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38
Q

Micronutrients examples

A

Na, Zn, Cu, Cl, I

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39
Q

Nutrient cycles

A

involve
continual flow of nutrients from nonliving (air, water,
soil, rock) to living organisms (biota) & back again.

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40
Q

All nutrient cycles are driven by

A

Solar radiation

gravity

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41
Q

Closed System

A

a system in which energy, but not

matter, is exchanged between the system & its environment.

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42
Q

Closed System example

A

Earth -> minimal matter lost

Energy freely flow

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43
Q

Open System

A

a system in which both energy & matter

are exchanged between the system & its environment.

44
Q

Open System example

A

Organisms

45
Q

Earth major components

A

Lithosphere
Hydrosphere
Atmosphere
Biosphere

46
Q

Earth made up of

A

Crust
Mantle
Core

47
Q

Living organisms fall into two main categories

A

producers/autotrophs

consumers/ heterotrophs

48
Q

Producers

A

make their own food from compounds obtained in the

environment.

49
Q

Producers includes

A

Plants

Bacteria

50
Q

Green plants make food through

A

Photosynthesis

51
Q

Bacterias make food through

A

Chemosynthesis

52
Q

Consumers

A

get their energy & nutrients by feeding on other organisms

or their remains.

53
Q

Consumers includes

A

herbivores, carnivores, decomposers, etc.

54
Q

Photosynthesis

A

complex chemical reaction in plants, in which solar radiation is captured by chlorophyll (& other pigments) &
used to combine carbon dioxide & water to produce carbohydrates
(e.g., glucose), other organic compounds, & oxygen.

55
Q

Photosynthesis equation

A

carbon dioxide water + solar energy -> glucose + oxygen

56
Q

aerobic respiration

A

complex process that occurs in the cells
of organisms, in which organic molecules (e.g., glucose) are
combined with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide, water, & energy.

57
Q

aerobic respiration equation

A

glucose + oxygen -> carbon dioxide + water + energy

58
Q

Major kinds of consumers

A 
Primary
Secondary
Tertiary
Omnivores
scavengers
Decomposers
Detritivores
59
Q

Primary consumers

A

(=herbivores) feed directly on producers

60
Q

Secondary consumers

A

=carnivores) feed on primary

consumers

61
Q

Tertiary consumers

A

feed only on carnivores

62
Q

Omnivores

A

consumers that feed on both plants & animals

63
Q

Scavenger

A

feed on dead organisms

64
Q

Decomposers

A

consumers that complete the breakdown &
recycling of organic materials from the remains & wastes of other
organisms

65
Q

Detritivores

A

feed on detritus (partially decomposed organic

matter, such as leaf litter & animal dung)

66
Q

Detritus feeders includes

A

Long-horned beetle
Bark beetle
Carpenter ant
Termite & carpenter ant

67
Q

Decomposers includes

A

Dry rot fungus

Mushroom

68
Q

Limiting factor

A

an environmental factor that is more important

than other factors in regulating survival, growth, or reproduction.

69
Q

Law of tolerance

A

the existence, abundance, & distribution of a
species in an ecosystem is determined by whether the levels of
one or more physical or chemical factors fall within the range
tolerated by that species.

70
Q

Limiting factor principle

A

too much or too little of any abiotic
factor can limit or prevent growth of a population, even if all
other factors are at or near the optimum range of tolerance

71
Q

The survival, growth, & reproduction of organisms is

determined, in part, by

A

maximum & minimum tolerance

72
Q

food chains

A

Sequence of organisms, each of which is the food for the next

73
Q

First trophic level

A

Producers

Plants

74
Q

Second trophic level

A

Primary consumers

Herbivores

75
Q

Third trophic level

A

Secondary consumers

Carnivores

76
Q

Fourth trophic level

A

Tertiary consumers

carnivores

77
Q 
In nature,
ecological
efficiency varies
from 5% to 20%
energy available
between
successive
trophic levels
(95% to 80%
loss).
A

About 10%
efficiency is a
general rule

78
Q

Silver Springs, FL Energy Flow

Producers

A

20810 Cal/sq. meter/ yr

79
Q

Silver Springs, FL Energy Flow

Herbivores

A

3368 Cal/sq. meter/ yr

80
Q

Silver Springs, FL Energy Flow

Carnivores

A

383 Cal/sq. meter/ yr

81
Q

Silver Springs, FL Energy Flow

Top carnivores

A

21 Cal/sq. meter/ yr

82
Q

Silver Springs, FL Energy Flow

Decomposers

A

5060 Cal/sq. meter/ yr

83
Q

Biomass Pyramids

A

commonly measured as dry weight per
square meter for each trophic level, can either MIRROR the
energy pyramid or be INVERTED

84
Q

Biomass pyramids mirroring energy pyramid example

A

abandoned field

85
Q

Biomass pyramids inverting energy pyramid example

A

ocean

86
Q

Inverted biomass pyramids result because

A

producers are eaten by consumers.

87
Q

Pyramids of Numbers

A

depend upon both the size of organisms & the biomass pyramid.

88
Q

Pyramids of Numbers mirroring energy pyramid example

A

Grassland

89
Q

Pyramids of Numbers inverting energy pyramid example

A

Temperate Forest

90
Q

Why is temperate forest inverted?

A

forests have smaller numbers of large

producers than do grassland

91
Q

Gross primary productivity

A

rate at which
an ecosystem’s producers convert solar energy into
chemical energy as biomass

92
Q

Net primary productivity

A

rate at which

energy for use by consumers is stored in new biomass.

93
Q

NNP can be calculated by …

A

GPP - [rate at which producers use biomass]

94
Q

Estimated annual net primary productivity of major biomes & aquatic life zones

A 
Estuaries
Swamps & marshes
Tropical rain forest
...
Tundra
Desert Scrub
Extreme desert
95
Q

Estimated annual contribution of the various types of

biomes & aquatic life zones to Earth’s overall net primary productivity

A 
Open ocean
Tropical forest
Temperate forest
...
Lakes & streams
Tundra
Extreme desert
96
Q

Ecosystem services

A

natural benefits that support life on
the earth & are essential to the quality of human life &
the functioning of the world’s economies.

97
Q

Ecosystem services examples

A
  • control & moderate climate
  • recycle vital nutrients
  • provide energy & mineral resources
  • furnish food, fiber, medicine, timber, & paper
  • pollinate crops & useful native plants
  • absorb, dilute, or detoxify pollutants
  • control populations of pests & disease organisms
  • slow soil erosion & prevent flooding
  • provide biodiversity of genes & species
98
Q

Why is biodiversity an important ecosystem

service?

A

The rich variety of organisms provides material benefits
(food, raw materials, energy, & medicine), ecosystem
services (purification of air & water, natural pest
control…), & aesthetic benefits.

99
Q

What are two principles of ecosystem

sustainability?

A

Almost all natural ecosystems achieve sustainability by
1) using renewable solar energy as the energy source; &
2) recycling nutrients needed for survival, growth, &
reproduction.

100
Q

Ecologists learn about ecosystems through a combination

of methods:

A

field research

systems analysis

101
Q

Systems analysis includes

A
  • system measurement
  • data analysis
  • systems modeling
  • systems simulation
  • systems optimization
102
Q

New technologies enables scientists to

A

collect field

information more effectively across broad geographic scales.

103
Q

New technologies example

A

Remote sensing

Geographic Information Systems

104
Q

Remote sensing involves

A

use of
sensors to collect information about a
system from a distance.

105
Q

GIS provide

A

the computer
technology for organizing, storing,
and analyzing complex map data

APES (26 decks)

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