Smarty Pants EnviSci Flashcards
What are living systems organized into?
Specis - composed of organisms healthy enough to reproduce
Population - consists of members of a species that live in the same area for a progression of time
Community - All populations living an interacting in an area
Ecosystem- A community and the physical environment made up of biotic (living) and abiotic (nonliving)
Biosphere - The total of all ecosystems on a planet
First Law of Thermodynamics
Energy is conserved
Second Rule of Thermodynamics
Each transfer of energy yields less usable energy
Productivity
The amount of biomass produced in a given area over a given time
Primary Productivity
The amount of productivity by plants through photosynthesis
Secondary Productivity
The rate at which CONSUMERS in an ecosystem store energy.
Food Chain
A linear chart showing the flow of energy in an ecosystem
Trophic Level
The organims feeding position in a food chain
Primary Producers
Plants that support the food chain through photosynthesis
Herbivore
Primary consumerwho eats primary producers aka plants
Carnivores
Secondary … Tertiary … ect. those that eat secondary consumers
Omnivores
Those who eat both primary producers and herbivores and carnivores
Detritivores
worms, millipedes, woodlice, dung flies, and slugs are a specific type of decomposer. Actually eat shit and dead things
Decomposers
Fungi and bacteria which break down organic matter to return nutrients to the soil. They do not consume they decompose
Detritivores & Decomposers act on which trophic level?
All trophic levels
Food Webs
Interconnected food chain where organisms can occupy more than one trophic level
Ten percent rule
That only 10% of available energy is transfered to the next trophic level. Therefore there are a shit load of primary producers supporting primary consumers, which in a shit load support secondary consumers
Biogeochemical cycles
The cycles that endlessly recycle mass through the enviroment
Sink
Takes in and stores the element or compound in a biogeochemical cycle
Source
Realeses element or compound in a biogeochemical cycle
Transpiration
The process by which plants release water through their leaves (persperation)
Water travels on land by which two methods
Runoff (on the surface) or percolates (goes down through the soil and into aquifers
Aquifers
Underground water supply
Hydrologic Cycle
aka the water cycle. Water in the group is transpired through plants to restart the cycle
Describe the Nitrogen Cycle
Plants can not use nitrogen from the atmosphere, because the N2 bonds are too strong. First the nitrogen is fixed by either lightning or nitrogenfixing bacteria found in the root of legumes. Lighting or nitrogen fixing bacteria produce ammonia (NH3) or ammonium (NH4+). Ammonia and ammonium are oxidized in the soil by other bacteria to produce nitrite (NO2-) or nitrate (NO3-). Now these nitrite and nitrate can be assimilated by plants and pass up the food chain. Denitrifying bacteria convert ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate back into nitrogen gas (N2)
Describe the Phosphorous Cycle
Phosphorous does not have an atmospheric form, so it is slow to travel. Phosphorous compounds leach from rocks over time. Plants take the inorganic phosphorous and assimilate it into organic molecules. A sink of phosphorous is found within sendiments deep in the ocean
Desribe the Sulfur Cycle
The source for inorganic sulfur is weathering, volcanic eruptions, and emissions from deep sea floor vents. Also another source of sulfur is the biogenic deposit of phytoplankton. Plants take in this inorganic sulfur then the sulfur is a passed to primary consumers through the food chain.
Human effect on Sulfur Cycle
Humans increase the amount of sulfur by burning fossil fuels which result in a greater incidence of acid percipitation which increases the ph level in habitats
Human Effect on Phosphorus Cycle
Humans put phosphorus in fertilizes thus increasing the amount of phosphorous. This excess of phosphorous runs off into lakers and oceans causing algal blooms and eutrophications
Human effect on the nitrogen cycle
Humans have increased the amount of nitrogen by including ammonia in fertilizers
Cause of Biodiversity
Evolution, the idea that genetic changes in populations are due to the effect of natural selection, “survival of the fittest”
Divergent and Convergent Evolution
Divergent Evolution - species divergefrom branchConvergent Evolution- species develop similar traits due to their common environment
Threat to Habitat
Habitat Destruction Hunting and Fishing Commercial Products Introduced Exotic Species (these predators quickly use up resourcecs) Genetic Assimilation (cross breeding)
Coevolution
Species exert pressure on each other (e.g. predator and prey)
Predator
Feeds on living organisms thus scavengers, detrivores, and decomposers are not predators
Symbiosis
When two species live together
Symbios: Mutualism, define commensalism
One member benefits and the other is not harmed
Batesian Mimicry
Harmless species adapt the color and body shape of poisenous species
Mullerian Mimicry
Poisenous species adapts the body type and color of another poisenous species so that predators can learn quicker not to fuck with them
Fundamental and Realized Niche
Fundamental Niche - the ecological niche the species can biologically occupy
Realized Niche - The part of its fundamental niche that a species occupies
Law of Competitive Exclusion
No two similar species can occupy the same ecological niche. If competition is too high, then the species will migrate or become extinct
Limiting Factor
The most in demandwhich determines species distribution
Tolerance Limits
The maximum levels (temperature, moisture, ect.) a species can survive under. The ideal place in a bell curve that represents tolerance limits is in the middle. This middle region is neutral and is called the “optimal range” To the left of the optimal range is the “zone of intolerance” you can not tolerate things that are low. Therefore the zone of intolerance represents the lower limits of tolerance limits. Upper limit of tolerance is called the “Zone of stress” You get stressed if there is too much, this zone of stress is to the right of the optimal range.
Genetically modified Organisms are used for which type of remediation
bioremediation
Reclamation
Chemical and physical cleanup and reconstruction of severely degraded areas
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act
Calls for better reclamation techniques after land has been mined
Exponential growth
When a population increases by constant rate every year. Occurs when there is no limit to the resources
J-curve represents which type of growth
Exponential growth
Biotic Potential
The maximim productive rate of a species in ideal circumstances.The maximum slope of a J-curve, which represents exponential growth
Biotic Potential is represented as the maximum slope of which growth
exponential growth
Environmental Resistance
Limiting factors in a population such as disease, food supply, and limited space
Density-dependent limiting factor
These limiting factors have a higher impact based on population (e.g. predation, competition, stress)
Density-independent limiting factors
These limiting factors have the same effect regardless of population size (e.g. climate)
Carrying Capacity
The maximim number of organisms an ecosystem can support
Logistic Growth
Takes into account environmental resistance (limiting factors) and carry capacity.
Logistic Growth is represented by
S-curve
Irruptive Growth
Also called Maltusian growth. Population explosion and then dieback. Overshoots carrying capacity and then dies down
Irruptive Growth is also referred to as
Malthusian growth
r-selected species
Experience high reproductive rates and exponential growth pattern such as dandelinons, rats, and cockroaches. Their population fluctuates above and bellow carrying capacity
K-selected species
Experience population that follows a logistic growth pattern. Include humans. The population stays around carrying capacity
Doubling Time formula
70/% annual growth (do not turn annual growth into a decimal)
Natality
the number of births per 1000 (birth rate)
Mortality
number of deaths per 1000 individuals (crude death rate)
Immigration
the number of organisms moving into an area
Fertility
number of offspring produced per female in population
Fecundity
physical ability to reproduce
Life Span
maximum number of years a species survive
Life expectancy
Maximum number of years a species can survive
Population growth rate % =
birth rate - death + immigration rate - emigration rate
Thomas Malthus wrote … predicting …
“Essay on the Principle of Population” predicting that humans will reach their carrying capacity and this will result in war, famine, and disease to reduce population.
Neo-Malthusians
advocate birth control as a means of stabilizing the population
Carl Marx
Believed exploitation of lower classes are causes of pollution, famine, and resource depletion
Neo-Marxists
Believe population will stabilize through social justice, the distribution of wealth and resources
Brandt Line
An imaginary line that divides the developed and developing worlds 20% of the population above the brandt line uses … percent of the Earth’s resources 80.00%
Malnourishment
imbalance in vitamins and nutrients
Undernourishment
not taking enough calories
Age-structured histograms represent …
The growth of a population http://www.algebralab.org/img/fba2228e-1ba1-47a7-b6a2-8e9399ad21c5.gif
Wider bases in a age-structure histogram represent
Rapid growth
Zero growth histograms have what types of rectangles
the same length
Replaement level fertility
Having only enough children to replace the parents
Negativee growth histogram
The base of the histogram is smaller than the top
Demographic Transition
When a nation gradually improves its living conditions
The demographic transition model is based off of
Once the birth and death rate decrease then a country becomes developed economocically
How can a country make a demographic transition
Decreasing death rate through healthcare and medicine and decreasing birth rate since parents know that their offspring will survive
Urbanization
The growth of cities cause problems such as food shortage less adequate infastructure
Urban Sprawl
ulimited outward expansion of city boundries that lowers population density, leads to decay of central cities
Pathogeons
Disease causing organisms such as bactaria, viruses, and parasites
Morbility
a measure of the rate of illness
Keystone species
the impact that this species has on the community is much greater than its biomass indicates. If this species is removied, the ecosystem might fall appart
Keystone species
the impact that this species has on the community is much greater than its biomass indicates. If this species is removied, the ecosystem might fall appart
Complexity
the number of species in each trophic level
Stability
constancy in community, resistence to catastrophe
The more complex and diverse a community is, the more … it is
Resilient since another species can take the role
Ecotone
the boundary between two different communities
Open Ecosystem
when one ecosystem merges into another
Ecological succssion
The sequence of changes through which a community passes
Primary Succesion
Occurs when a community begins to develop on a site previously unoccupied
Secondary Succession
Develop life on a destroyed ecosystem where life existed
Pioneer species
Species that undergo primary succession lichen and mosses
Seral Community
Replace primary community
Climax Community
reached when the community reaches a stable state
Equilibrium Community
areas that experience periodic disruption
Biomes
ecosystem characterized by distinct climate, soil conditions, and biolgical communities
these two factores effect the determining of distribuion of biomes
rain and temperature
Desert
characterized by low moisture levels and infrequent percipitation along with poor-quality soil and temperature fluctuates. Home to kangaroos, rates, mice
Grassland
temperature and percipitation are moderate enough to support grass (prairies and savannas) best for farming. The plants have deep roots, so they can surive fires. Home to migratory grazers like bison.
Tundra
treeless biome found at high altitudes or mountain tops. Damage heels slowly. Vegetation includes low-growing perennial plants, mosses, and lichens. Animals hibernate in Tundra.
High Altitude tundra
alpine tundra
Mountaintop tundra
arctic thundra
Coniferous forest
dominated by cone-bearing trees, low moisture soil and cool temperatures. Plants have evolved thin, needle-like leaves with thick waxy coating to reduce water loss
Boreal Forest
A broad band of mixed coniferous and deciduous trees that stretches across northern North America (and also Europe and Asia). Low moisture and cool temperatures. The northern edge is called Taiga.
Taiga
the northern most edge of the boreal forest characterized by harsh, cold temperature
Deciduous forest
The biome characterized by warmer temperatures than the boreal forest and plenty of precipitation thats huge forests of broadleaf trees; covers regions in southeastern Canada, and eastern United States. Dense canopy that protects sping flowers. Have both warm and frozen season. The main threat is deforestation.
Chaparral
Occur in areas with a mediterranean climate (hot, dry summers, cooler winters, low percipitation) thick growth of thorny evergreen. Frequent fires. Plants have wax coating to withstand fire. Home to jackrabbits, chipmunks.
Tropical moist forest
all have rainfall and uniform temperature. Most biologically diverse biomes in the world, slow to recover from disruption
Cloud forests
found on mountaintops where fog and mist always keeps vegetation moist
Tropical rainforests
occur near the equator where rainfall is abundant and temperatures are warm year round
3 freshwater biomes
lakes, streams, rivers
Thermostratification
a categorization of fresh water lakes that is based off of temperature
Epilimnion
Thermostractification of freshwater biome, warmer layer on the surface
Hypolimnion
Thermostratification of freshwater biome At the bottom and cooler
thermocline
in the middle of epilimnion and hypolimnion. There is a rapid decrease in termperature
benthos
lake bottom, little oxygen but rich organic matter from the detritus that sinks to the bottom
Seasonal turnover
water mixes freely to replenish nutrients and oxygen, there is no thermocline
littoral zone
shallow region near the shore
limnetic zone
deeper region further from shore
riparian
ecosystem around a river
difference between lakes and river
rivers move down stream
vertical statification
marine biome categorization
marine biomes
oceans and seas
photic zone
Layer in the vertical stratifcation of marine biomes. This layer is closer to top of water, gets enough sunlight to support photosynthesis for algae and phytoplankton
aphotic zone
do not have enough sun light to support photosynthesis (ocean stratofication)
abyssal zone
deepest part od ocean
interidal zone
area closest to the shore where tides come in
pelagic zone
open oceannear the surface. Under the pelagic zone is the photic zone.
wetland
land that remains flooded with fresh or salt water throughout the year
wetland benefits (4)
support a high degree of biodiversity, replenish aquifers, prevent flooding by acting like sponges and filter pollutants
estuary
a bay where river empties into sea, mixing fresh water with salt water, where birds nes and fish lay plants
rehabilitation
rebuilding curtain elements of ecosystem in order to make it usable by humans
remediation
poluted area is cleaned by removing contaminent
bioremediation
living organisms clean environment
Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs)
a health measure assessing the total burden of disease on productivity and quality of life
Emergent Diseases
those that were not previously known or had not showed up for 20 years
Problem with antibiotics in terms of bacteria
Bacteria gradually become resistent, because the bacteria that have the resistence trait survive and pass this trait on
Toxins
Chemicals that kill cells or alter growth
Allergens
substance that trigger the immune system. Ex formaldehyde, when you become hypersensitive to chemicals
LD50
a measurement system for the toxicity of chemicals, the lower the more toxic (kinda like a ph scale where the lower, the more acidic, just a connection to help u remeber)
4 Categories of toxins
NeurotoxinsMutagensCarcinogensTeratogens
Neurotoxins like mercury, lead, and other heavy metals do what
kill neurons in the nervous system
Mutagens
cause mutations by altering DNA
Carcinogens
Cause cancer
Delaney Clause of US Food and Drug Act
States that no carcinogens causing reasonable harm can be added to food or drugs
Teratogens (name example and effect)
toxins such as alcohol, cause abnormal embryonic cell division, which results in birth defects
Antagonistic Toxins
Interfere with the effects of other chemicals
Additive Toxins
Increase the level of toxity when many chemicals are mixed together
Synergistic Toxins
Toxin exacerbates the effect of another, basically making the combined toxin more toxic than if it were alone
Bioaccumulation of a toxin occurs when
an organism absorbs and stores the toxin in its tissues
Biomagnification
When a toxin enters the food chain through a low trophic level and becomes more concentrated as the toxin moves up the food chain
Racheal Carson
Wrote Silent Spring, which exposed the biomagnification occuring due to the use of DDT insecteside. Silent Spring spear headed the environmental movement
Ecological Economis
asserts that certain resources can not be replaced like biodiversity.