quiz #5

Question 1

define a condition and resource. what are factors?

Answer 1

condition: any factor that varies in space and time but is not used up (temperature, wind, pH, salinity)
resource: any factor consumed by organisms (water, nutrients, light, oxygen, food, space)

factors can be both a condition and resource (plants use water as a resource but pond water is a condition). they determine if a species occupies an area

Question 2

explain optimum range, range of tolerance, limits of tolerance, zones of stress. think of the plant diagram

Answer 2

survival depends on the optimum level for a certain factor. for every factor there is an optimum range which is where organisms grow or survive the best. the range of tolerance is the entire range allowing any growth. limits of tolerance are the highs/lows ends of the range of tolerance and the zones of stress are between the optimal range and high/low limit of tolerance

Question 3

whats the law of limiting factors? what is a limiting factor? define synergistic effects

Answer 3

law of limiting factors: any factor outside the optimal range will cause stress and limit growth/reproduction/survival
limiting factor: any factor that limits growth
synergistic effects: factors that interact to cause a greater effect than expected. ex: pollution may increase vulnerability to disease

Question 4

define habitat and niche. how do species interact with each?

Answer 4

habitat: place where a species is adapted to live. defined by plant community.
niche: sum of all conditions/resources under which a species can live. ex: what the animal eats, where it feeds/lives

species coexist in an area but have separate niches

Question 5

define matter, atoms and elements

Answer 5

matter: anything that occupies space and has a mass
atoms: the building blocks of matter
elements: 94 naturally occurring kinds of atoms

Question 6

what’s the law of conservation of matter?

Answer 6

atoms do not change: they are neither created nor destroyed

Question 7

explain some interactions between the spheres

Question 8

draw the carbon cycle

Answer 8

organic sinks: photosynthesis, burial of organic carbon, atmosphere-ocean exchange
organic sources: respiration, decomposition, combustion

just draw it plz

Question 9

how is energy quantified?

Answer 9

calorie: amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water 1 degree C
temperature: mesures the molecular motion in a substance

Question 10

energy input into a system increases ______, but energy leaves the system _______

Answer 10

potential energy, spontaneously

Question 10

what are the first two laws of thermodynamics? entropy?

Answer 10

1) energy is neither created nor destroyed
2) some usable energy is lost in any energy conversion
entropy: measures the degree of disorder in a system

Question 11

what do producers do?

Answer 11

convert low-potential-energy raw materials into high-potential-energy organic molecules. (photosynthesis)

Question 12

what is oxidation?

Answer 12

chemical reaction that loses electrons, normally via the addition of oxygen (burning)

Question 13

differentiate the three types of energy

Answer 13

kinetic: E in action
potential: E in storage
chemical: potential E contained in chemicals/fuels

Question 14

define organic, inorganic, natural organic and synthetic organic compounds

Answer 14

organic compounds: make up tissues of living organisms
inorganic compounds: no C-C nor C-H bonds ex: plastics
natural organic compounds: make up living organisms
synthetic organic compounds: human-made