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Academic Science SNC 1Da > Sustainable Ecosystems > Flashcards

Sustainable Ecosystems Flashcards

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1
Q

Atmosphere

A

the layers of gases that surround earth.
78% nitrogen
21% oxygen
1% argon, water vapour, carbon dioxide and other gases.

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2
Q

Lithosphere

A

Earths outer layer.
rocky shell of earth.
mountains and ocean floors etc.

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3
Q

Hydrosphere

A

all the water on earth.

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4
Q

Biosphere

A

the zone around earth where life can exist.

  • most can be found on land or water.
  • some micro-organisms can live several kms below earths surface.
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5
Q

Ecosystem

A

all the living organisms and their physical and chemical environment.

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6
Q

community

A

population of different plants/animals in a given community.

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7
Q

population

A

the number of a given species in a given area

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8
Q

Biotic Factor

A

living things and their remains in the environment. (plants, animals etc.)

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9
Q

Abiotic factor

A

non-living factors in an environment. (sunlight,wind,chemicals in soil etc.)

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10
Q

Sustainability

A

the ability to maintain an ecological balance.

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11
Q

Sustainability of ecosystems

A

most natural ecosystems can remain constant over a long period of time on their own. this makes them sustainable.

  • human activity can interfere with the ability of an ecosystems to survive.
  • humans have made artificial ecosystems. they are unsustainable.
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12
Q

radiant energy

A

radiant energy comes from the sun.

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13
Q

thermal energy

A

energy transferred during heating and cooling.

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14
Q

photosynthesis

A

the process in which the suns energy is converted into chemical energy.
carbon dioxide & water-Sugar & oxygen.
*light energy is required in this process.

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15
Q

Cellular respiration

A

the process by which consumers break down sugars to make energy.
opposite of photosynthesis.
sugar+oxygen-carbon dioxide+water.
plants and energy work together to cycle the nutrients needed to survive.

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16
Q

complementary processes

A

photosynthesis and cellular respiration are complementary, they both consume and produce the same substances but in different ways.

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17
Q

producer

A

(first trophic level) an organism that makes their own food/energy. usually plants.

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18
Q

Primary consumers

A

(second trophic level) herbivores.

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19
Q

secondary consumers

A

(third trophic level) omnivores and small carnivores

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20
Q

tertiary consumers

A

(fourth trophic level) larger carnivores.

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21
Q

Scavengers

A

any level. feeds on the remains of other organisms.

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22
Q

ecological niches

A

the function a species serves in an ecosystem. including what it eats and how it behaves.

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23
Q

ecological pyramids.

A

shows the relationship between the trophic levels in ecosystems.
(the amount of energy, number or biomass.)
tertiary
secondary
primary
producers

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24
Q

cycles

A

matter, like energy is always moving through our ecosystems.

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25
Q

biogeochemical cycle

A

the cycle of matter through biotic and abiotic environment.

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26
Q

Water cycle

A

water evaporates from the surface, travels to the clouds (condensation), water the falls back o the ground by way of precipitation.
water can also move from the roots to the leaves then leave a plant based on way of transpiration.

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27
Q

carbon cycle

A
  • most exchange happens by way of photosynthesis.
  • respiration of animals and humans and other organisms break down sugar and put CO2 back into the atmosphere.
  • also from burning fossil fuels in factories.
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28
Q

limiting factor

A

the factor that restricts the size of a population.

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29
Q

key limiting abiotic factors

A

temperatures, global warming, decreasing habitats

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30
Q

competition

A

when two species fight.

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31
Q

predation

A

one species feeds of another

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32
Q

mutualism

A

2 species/individuals benefit of each other.

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33
Q

parasitism

A

one individual lives inside another.

34
Q

commensalism

A

one benefits while the other neither benefits or doesn’t benefit.

35
Q

tolerance range

A

the abiotic conditions within which a species can survive.
some have wide range others do not.
optimal range is where organisms grow best.

36
Q

carrying capacity

A

the maximum population size of a particular species that a given ecosystem can sustain.
can be altered through human and natural activity.

37
Q

Biomes

A

a biome is a large geographic area that has similar biotic and abiotic features.
broken down into 2 main types.
-terrestrial-biomes found on land
aquatic-biomes that are found in water.

38
Q

Equilibrium

A

the state of an ecosystem with relatively constant conditions.

  • abiotic conditions are stable
  • energy flows through the system(food webs)
  • nutrients are cycles(photosynthesis&cellular respiration).
39
Q

ecological succession

A

the gradual and usually predictable changes in the composition of a community and the biotic factors following a disturbance.

40
Q

primary succession

A

occurs on soil or dry rock where no live previously existed. (volcanic eruption)

41
Q

secondary succession

A

succession in a partially disturbed ecosystem. (after a forest fire)

42
Q

Biodiversity

A

the variety of life in an ecosystem

43
Q

species richness

A

the number of species in an area. (used to measure biodiversity)

44
Q

Extinct

A

a species that no longer exist.

45
Q

extirpated

A

a species that no longer exist in a certain area.

46
Q

endangered

A

a species that in facing imminent extirpation or extiction

47
Q

threatened

A

a species that is likely to become endangered.

48
Q

special concern

A

a species that may become threatened or endangered.

49
Q

what causes loss to species?

A
  • loss of terrestrial ecosystems-using land for agriculture and urban developments.
  • loss of aquatic ecosystems-dredging, overfishing
  • fragmentation-when large ecosystems are broken up/become fragmented.
50
Q

Native species

A

a species that have been present in a given location prior to human development.

51
Q

non-native species

A

species that have been transported to a given location/are not originally from there.
-often don’t have natural enemies.

52
Q

invasive species

A

a non-native species whose presents negatively impacts the natural ecosystem.

53
Q

ecological

A

when invasive species compete with native species or feed on them.
change ecosystem dynamics.

54
Q

economic

A

when an invasive species causes damage to forests and agriculture crops.

  • causes financial loss.
  • competes with invasive plants lowers crop yields.
55
Q

tourism

A

when invasive species cause species loss and reduced water quality, and it has a negative impact on wildlife viewing, fishing, and water based recreation.

56
Q

health

A

when a invasive species is a disease causing organism, such as the west nile virus, are introduced.

57
Q

chemical control

A

the use of pesticides.

58
Q

mechanical control

A

physical barriers or removal of species

59
Q

biological control

A

intentionally introducing a species that will control the invasive one.

60
Q

acid precipitation

A

when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides mix in the atmosphere causing the precipitation to be acidic.
(caused by burning fossil fuels)

61
Q

effects of acid precipitation

A

raises the acidity of the surface water.
-causes death to many species.
-can kill tress.
-irritates the respiratory system of many humans.
some lakes and rivers have minerals that can dilute the acid.

62
Q

pollution in our waterways

A

oil spills-seabirds cant regulate their body temperature when covered in oil.
skimming,vacuuming,burning,dispersal agent, bioremediation-breakdown.

63
Q

surface runoff

A

fertilizers-causes plant life to increase
pesticides-can kill non-target organisms
road salts-can raise salinity of the water. can also be outside the tolerance range of other organisms.

64
Q

clear cutting

A

the removal off all or most trees in a area.

the cheapest method.

65
Q

shelterwood cutting

A

cutting down the mature trees, leaves some trees to provide shelter for regeneration.

66
Q

selective cutting

A

when the trees cut down are selected by a professional.

-most expensive method.

67
Q

ecological issues in forest management.

A

it is very important that forests are managed properly.

  • use sustainable processes.
  • FSC=forestry stewardship council.
68
Q

wildlife management

A

wildlife is renewable as long as hunting is done in a responsible way.
-controlled hunts are a way to control population.

69
Q

overfishing

A

the method and amount of fishing done in the oceans have drastic effects on populations and ecosystems.
Bycatch-when non-target fish are caught and often but not eaten.

70
Q

managing soil nutrients

A

the nutrients plants require are found in the soil.
-potassium
-nitrogen
-phosphorus
as plants grow they take in these nutrients.

71
Q

fertilizers

A

there are 2 types of fertilizers.
natural-compost-manure-waste
synthetic-chemicals

72
Q

environmental impacts of fertilizers

A

synthetic fertilizers are very concentrated so they change the community of soil organisms.
can leach out of the soil and enter water systems.

73
Q

algal blooms

A

fertilizers in water systems causes an increase in algae which then dies and decomposes.
the bacteria involved up decomposition use up alot of dissolved oxygen which kills fish and other orgaisms.

74
Q

water in the soil

A

farmers often use irrigation to add water to crops, if there is to much water then drainage must be added

75
Q

soil compaction

A

if soil is compacted it has decreased oxygen levels and eater will have difficulty moving through.

76
Q

pests

A

pests are species that are unwanted.

in agriculture they are species that damage crops.

77
Q

pesticides

A

a substance sued to kill pests.
insecticides-used to kill insects
rodenticides-used to kill rodents.
herbicides-used to kill plants.

78
Q

spectrums

A

large spectrum-effective against many types of pests

narrow spectrum-effective against a few types of pests.

79
Q

bioaccumulation

A

the concentration of a substance in the body of a organism.(build up of pesticides)

80
Q

bioamplification

A

the increase of the concentration of a substance as it moves up the food chain. (chemical from pesticides in higher species)

81
Q

pesticide resistance

A

when pesticides are used for a long period of time they are no longer able to control the pest

82
Q

non-target species

A

when pesticides kill species that were not meant to be killed.
reduces biodiversity.

Academic Science SNC 1Da (3 decks)

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