mwtga 2

Question 1

largest reservoirs of c

Answer 1

carbonate (CO3)2- rocks first, oceans second

Question 2

sustainability

Answer 2

the ability to meet the current needs of humanity without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs

Question 3

tragedy of commons

Answer 3

1968 paper by ecologist garret hardin. “freedom to breed” is ruining everything. global commons such as atmosphere and oceans are used by all and owned by none. when no individual has ownership, no one takes responsibility. ex: overfishing oceans, over pumping ogallala aquifer

Question 4

natural selection

Answer 4

organisms that possess favorable adaptations survive and pass them on to next generation

Question 5

energy flow in food webs or chains, through tropic systems

Answer 5

only 10% of the usable energy is transferred because usable energy lost as heat (second law); not all biomass is digested and absorbed; predators expend energy to catch prey

Question 6

biotic and abiotic

Answer 6

living and nonliving components of an ecosystem

Question 7

competition

Answer 7

a type of population interaction, usually over a limited resources. may be intraspecific or interspecific

Question 8

producer/autotroph

Answer 8

photosynthetic or chemosynthetic life; chemotroph–organism undergoing chemosynthesis (usually carried out by sulfur bacteria in aphotic zones in ocean)

Question 9

primary succession

Answer 9

development of communities in a lifeless area not previously inhabited by life or those in which the soil profile is totally destroyed (lava flows); no soil substrate present; begins with lichen action

Question 10

secondary succession

Answer 10

life progresses where soil remains (clear cut forest, fire, disturbed areas)

Question 11

mutualism

Answer 11

symbiotic relationship where both partners benefit and both participate

Question 12

commensalism

Answer 12

symbiotic relationship where one partner benefits and the other is unaffected or may benefit

Question 13

parasitism

Answer 13

relationship in which one partner obtains nutrients at the expense of the host

Question 14

biome

Answer 14

large distinct terrestrial region having similar climate, soil, plants and animals; terrestrial biomes determining factors are temperature and precipitation

Question 15

carrying capacity

Answer 15

the number of individuals (size of pop) that can be sustained in an area (supported by available resources in the environment)

Question 16

R strategist

Answer 16

reproduce early in life; many small unprotected offspring; tend to be generalists, short lifespan

Question 17

K strategist

Answer 17

reproduce late in life; few offspring; care for offspring; tend to be specialists

Question 18

positive feedback

Answer 18

when a change in some conditions triggers a response that intensifies the changing condition (warmer earth–snow melts–less sunlight is reflected and more is absorbed, therefore warmer earth)

Question 19

negative feedback

Answer 19

when a changing in some condition triggers a response that counteracts the changed condition (warmer earth–more ocean evaporation–more stratus clouds–less sunlight reaches the ground–therefore cooler earth)

Question 20

malthus

Answer 20

said human population increases exponentially, while food supplies increase arithmetically; factors that keep population in check include war, famine, disease

Question 21

doubling time

Answer 21

rule of 70; 70 divided by the percent growth rate

Question 22

transpiration

Answer 22

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