Nutrient Acquisition Flashcards
What is photosynthetically active radiation (PAR)?
The light that is actually used for photosynthesis. Green is reflected and red and blue are absorbed the best.
What affects the light quality and quantity?
Latitude, seasons, weather, time of day, landscape, water, organisms present
What are the 3 photosynthesis pathways?
C3, C4, and CAM
What is the C3 photosynthesis pathway? How common is it?
85% of plants use it. CO2 goes directly into the Calvin cycle
What is the C4 photosynthesis pathway? How common is it?
About 5% of plants use it, is common in prairie grasses. CO2 capture is separated from the usage to reduce water loss
What is the CAM photosynthesis pathway? How common is it?
About 10% of plants, common in desert plants. Not a lot of photosynthesis occurs, CO2 capture occurs during the night and photosynthesis occurs during the day.
Which 5 elements make up 93-97% of an organism’s biomass?
Carbon, Nitrogen, Hydrogen, Oxygen, and Phosphorus
How is the carbon-nitrogen ratio different in plants, animals, fungi, and bacteria?
High in plants. Animals and bacteria are about the same, fungi are a little higher, but still low
How is dentition different for different diets?
Carnivores have sharp, pointy teeth. Herbivores have flat, broad teeth. Invertebrates have variations in mouthparts
What do herbivores eat?
Living plant tissue
Why is there a problem with being herbivorous as a vertebrate? What are the solutions?
Vertebrates can’t directly digest cellulose. Solutions are to eat seeds, fruits, and nectar, which have less cellulose. Can also have a specialized gut microbiome, and a larger organism is less focused on a certain part of the plant
Which is a concern for herbivores, quality or quantity?
Quality
What are 5 adaptations that herbivores have to improve digestion?
- ruminant stomach
- long intestines with an enlarged cecum
- coprophagy (eating your own feces)
- presence of a crop, or swallowing rocks to grind up food
- Variations in mouth parts
What do carnivores eat?
Herbivorous animals
Which is a concern for carnivores, quality or quantity?
Quantity
How does the digestive system of a carnivore differ from that of an herbivore?
Shorter intestines, no need to worry about trying to digest cellulose, expandable stomach to eat a lot of food when it’s available
Why are predators selective?
They eat what is around, and what they have the ability to catch and how efficient it is to catch it
How are predators selection agents for prey defence?
The predators pick off the weaker members of the population, leaving the stronger ones to pass down their traits
What does an omnivore eat?
Both plant and animal matter, but food habits often vary with the seasons
When is being an omnivore an effective strategy?
When resources are limited
What is the main challenge for omnivores?
Being efficient
What do detritivores eat?
Dead organic matter, mostly plant material
How are detritivores classified?
By size. Their size influences what they do
Which is a challenge for detritivores, quality or quantity?
Quality
