Science ecology quiz lesson 1-4 Flashcards
Why is cycling of matter important?
Because there are only limited amounts of resources available on Earth , matter must be recycled to ensure sustainability.
What are the 4 spheres where matter is cycled
Lithosphere (The hard part of Earth’s surface), hydrosphere (all the water found in earth), atmosphere (The layer of gases above Earth’s surface) and the biosphere (The regions of Earth where living organisms exist)
What is the order of the water cycle?
evaporation, transpiration, condesation, precipatation, runoff, percolation
What is the order of the carbon cycle?
Photosynthesis, eaten, cellular respiration, Waste/death, decomposition with oxygen, Decomposition without Oxygen, Extraction and burning fossil fuel
What is photosynthesis?
Converts carbon dioxide into sugar
Cellular Respiration
Converts sugar into carbon dioxide
Decomposition
break down components of dead organisms and waste
Extraction
Mining for fossil fuels
What is the combination of elements for photosynthesis?
Carbon dioxide + water → sugar + oxygen
Why is photosynthesis and cellular respiration called complementary processes?
Because they are the opposite processes of each other in the cycle
What 2 human activities have impacts on the carbon cycle?
Burning fossil fuels
Deforestation (reducing forest area)
What effect do human activities have on the carbon cycle?
Increase carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
What is the order of the processes in the nitrogen cycle
1.Eaten
2.Waste/Death
3.Decomposition
4a.Nitrification
4b.Nitrifying Bacteria
5.Absorb
6.Denitrification
6a.Denitrifying bacteria
7a.Nitrogen Fixation
7b.Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria (Cyanobacteria)
8.Run off from factory and fertilizer
What is Nitrogen fixation
The process of converting nitrogen gas into ammonium ion
Nitrogen fixing bacteria
Organsims that convert nitrogen gas in the atmosphere into ammonium ions
Nitrification
The provess of converting ammonium ions into nitrites then nitrates
Nitrifying Bacteria
Organsims that convert ammonium ions into nitrites then nitrates
Denitrification
The process of converting nitrates back into nitrogen gas
Denitrifying Bacteria
Organisms that convert nitrates back into nitrogen gas
Decomposition in nitrogen cycle
The process of converting the nitrogen from organic compounds (dead animals, waste) into ammonium
What problems does human activity lead to in the carbon cycle?
Eutrophication can lead to a dramatic increase in algae population.
When algae die, decomposition occurs and all oxygen is used up.
Organisms such as fish die because of the lack of oxygen.
What changes does human activity introduce to the nitrogen cycle?
Added extra nitrate (in fertilizers)
What effect(s) will human activity have on the nitrogen cycle?
Eutrophication
(Extra nutrients leads to increase in the number of producers)
Sustainable Ecosystems
A set of ecosystem conditions (e.g. resources, environment, biodiversity) in which balance is maintained over time
Ecosystem
A system formed by the interaction of a group of organisms (biotic factors) with their environment (abiotic factors)
Biotic
Living
Abiotic
Non living
Species
A group of similar organisms in an ecosystem that can reproduce with each other, and their offspring can reproduce
Organism
An individual form of life (the smallest unit of an ecosystem)
Population
Members of the same species that live in the same ecosystem.
Community
Population of different species, that live in the same ecosystem
Food Web
A pictorial representation of a predator-prey relationships among organisms in an ecosystem
Ecosystem
A community (living organisms) interact with its non-living environment.
Producer
Organism that makes its own food (use photosynthesis)
Consumer
Organism that eats other organisms because it cannot make its own food
Primary Consumer
organisms that eat producers
Tertiary Consumer
Consumer that eats secondary consumers
Secondary Consumer
Consumer that eats primary consumers
Decomposers
Breaks down organic matter and waste into its components.
(They generally absorb some of the components)
Scavengers
Carnivores that eat the remains of dead animals
Trophic Level
Describes the level or position of an organism on the food chain
trophic level energy splits and flow
Rabbits eat the grass, but need 90% of that energy to do rabbit things- like run from cats, foxes, etc. dig warrens or borrows and have baby rabbits etc.
When the snake finally catches the rabbit, 90% of the energy of the grass has been spent- so 10% makes it to the snake.
Then the snake does snake things using 90% of that rabbit energy until the hawk catches up to it.
So the hawk walks off with 0.01% of the energy of the grass.
