many ways to go apes

Question 1

preservation

Answer 1

setting aside areas and protecting them from human activities

Question 2

keystone species

Answer 2

species whose role in an ecosystem are more important than others (sea otters, sea stars, grizzly bears, prairie dogs)

Question 3

indicator species

Answer 3

species that serve as early warnings that an ecosystem is being damaged (ex. trout)

Question 4

characteristics of endangered species

Answer 4

small range, large territory, or live on an island

Question 5

endangered species

Answer 5

a group of organisms in danger of becoming extinct if the situation is not improved; population numbers have dropped below the critical number of organisms. north spotted owl (loss of old growth forest), bald eagle (thinning of eggs caused by DDT), piping plover (nesting areas threatened by development)

Question 6

invasive/alien/exotic species

Answer 6

non-native species to an area; often thrive and disrupt the ecosystem balance; examples: kudzu vine, purple loosestrife, african “killer bee,” water hyacinth, fire ant, zebra mussel, gypsy moth, asian long horned beetle

Question 7

parts of the hydrologic cycle

Answer 7

evaporation, transpiration, runoff, condensation, precipitation, infiltration

Question 8

nitrogen fixing

Answer 8

because atmosphere N2 cannot be used directly by plants, it must first be converted into ammonia (NH3) by bacteria (rhizobium or cyanobacteria)

Question 9

ammonification

Answer 9

nitrogen is converted into ammonia by ammonifying bacteria; may occur when nitrogen in organic wastes in the soil are converted to ammonia or when atmospheric nitrogen N2 is converted to NH3

Question 10

nitrification

Answer 10

ammonia NH3 is converted to nitrate ions NO3

Question 11

assimilation

Answer 11

inorganic N2 is converted into organic molecules such as DNA/amino acids & proteins - plants assimilate nitrogen as NH4+ or NO3 through their roots; animals (herbivores) assimilate organic nitrogen compounds by eating plants

Question 12

dentrification

Answer 12

bacteria convert nitrate NO3- and nitrate NO2- back into N2 gas; bacteria convert ammonia NH3 back into N2 or N2O — typically accomplished by anaerobic bacteria

Question 13

phosphorus does not circulate as easy as nitrogen because

Answer 13

it does not exist as a gas, but is released by weathering of phosphorus (PO4)3- rocks; this is a SEDIMENTARY CYCLE — it is never found as a gas

Question 14

how excess phosphorus is added to aquatic ecosystems

Answer 14

runoff of animal wastes, fertilizer, discharge of sewage; limiting factor in freshwater ecosystems; excess P leads to eutrophication

Question 15

photosynthesis

Answer 15

plants convert atmospheric carbon CO2 into complex carbohydrates (glucose C6H12O6); energy is consumed and oxygen is released as a waste product

Question 16

aerobic respiration

Answer 16

O2- consuming producers, consumers, and decomposers break down complex organic compounds and convert C back into CO2; energy is released and oxygen is consumed in the process

Question 17

anaerobic respiration

Answer 17

break down of carbohydrates without oxygen — products are methane (CH4), alcohols, and other organics

Question 18

transpiration

Answer 18

process where water is absorbed by plant roots, moves up through plants, passes through pores (stomata) in leaves or other parts, evaporates into atmosphere as water vapor

Question 19

largest reservoirs of C

Answer 19

carbonate (CO3)2- rocks first, oceans second

Question 20

conservation

Answer 20

allowing the use of resources in a responsible manner