L4 Energy Flow, Food Chains, and Pollutants Flashcards
What is Lindeman;s Progressive energy transfer Efficiency
-ratio of assimilation of energy of E in 2 adjacent trophic levels (kcal/m^2/yr
e.g I₃/I₂
What the two principal types of systems from an energy standpoint
Basic solar powered system - using entirely direct sun energy and indirect wind energy
Subsidized solar - powered systems - receive energy other than direct solar energy (human subsidized are not sustainable, consuming more energy than renewably captured)
what is an organism?
self-contained biological unit that can reproduce and metabolize
what are the 4 main parts of the cell and what do they do
cell membrane - boundary system, double layer of phospholipids = impermeable
genetic material - stores info for cell, (blueprints for the operation manual)
cytoplasm:
1) Everything else inside the cell that is not genetic material or some other organelle
2) Typically the water/salt solution in the cell + other chemical compounds that have been taken in and concentrated
Proteins -
1) forms structural components (eg. hair, horns, spider webs)
2) energy/material storage
3) transportation (eg hemoglobin carries O2)
4) cell movement
5) chemical catalysis
what is Anabolism
Anabolism: chemical reactions to build cell components (synthesis); needs raw materials, e- and energy
What is Catabolism and where does the energy come from
Catabolism: chemical reactions to generate energy and electrons (e-) to maintain cell repair and movement and synthesize new compounds and cells
- generated by-products.
what is acute toxicity and chronic toxicity
Acute: Develops quickly as a result of exposure to highly toxic substances or large doses of less toxic substances.
Chronic: Develops gradually over time, often caused by exposure to carcinogens or human-made chemicals that mimic hormones.
bioaccumulation vs biomagnification
accumulation: toxins gradually taken up by single organism over its lifetime
magnification: toxins get more concentrated as they move from organism to organism
which types of chemicals bioaccumulate
- Resistant to biodegradation:
- Pesticides
- Heavy metals - Fat-soluble (lipophilic):
- These tend to accumulate in fatty tissues.
- Note: Most water-soluble chemicals do not bioaccumulate to a significant extent.
What is DDT & Global distillation, and how do they connect?
DDT - chemical used for pesticides, but thinned animal’s eggshells, disrupting ecosystems
- not banned worldwide, so can still find in animals
Global Distillation - when compounds evaporate from warmer climate, travel, condense and precipitate to colder temps
relates to DDT bc transports contaminants around the world
Estimate Biomagnification
Max contaminant level in predator = Mass of prey consumed *(conc of contaminant in prey/body mass of predator)
What is the difference between ecological & physical processes?
Ecological processes such as food
chains move and concentrate
contaminants through organisms.
Physical processes like global
distillation transport contaminants
around the world
