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Sustainable Ecosystems Flashcards

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Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Ecology

A

The branch of biology that deals with relations of organisms to one another in their physical surroundings.

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2
Q

Atmosphere

A

The layer of gases surrounding the earth.

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3
Q

Lithosphere

A

The earth’s solid outer layer.

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4
Q

Hydrosphere

A

All of earth’s water in solid, liquid and gas form.

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5
Q

Biosphere

A

The zone around earth where life can exist.

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6
Q

Ecosystem

A

All the living organisms and their physical and chemical environment.

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7
Q

Community

A

A group of interdependent organisms of different species growing or living together in a specified habitat.

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8
Q

Population

A

A group of individuals of the same species inhabiting the same area.

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9
Q

Producer

A

An organism that makes its own energy - rich food compounds using the sun’s energy.

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10
Q

Consumer

A

An organism that obtains its energy from consuming other organisms.

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11
Q

Herbivore

A

An animal that feeds on plants.

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12
Q

Carnivore

A

An animals that feeds on other animals.

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13
Q

Omnivore

A

An animal that feeds on both plants and animals.

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14
Q

Biotic factor

A

An living thing, their remains and features such as nests associated with their activities

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15
Q

Abiotic factor

A

The non-living physical and chemical components of an ecosystem.

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16
Q

Sustainability

A

The ability to maintain an ecological balance.

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17
Q

Ecological niche

A

The function a species serves in its ecosystem, including what it eats, what eats it, and how it behaves.

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18
Q

Scavenger

A

An animal that feeds on dead animal and plant material present in its habitat (EX. vulture)

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19
Q

Decomposer

A

Organisms that break down dead or decaying organisms (EX. bacteria)

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20
Q

Terrestrial ecosystem

A

An ecosystem found only on land

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21
Q

Aquatic ecosystem

A

An ecosystem found in a body of water

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22
Q

Food chain

A

A hierarchial series of organisms each dependent on the next as a source of food.

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23
Q

Food web

A

A systems of interlocking and interdependent food chains

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24
Q

Biogeochemical cycles

A

The movement of matter through the biotic and abiotic environment (carbon, water and nitrogen cycle)

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25
Q

Limiting factor

A

Any factor that restricts the size of a population

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26
Q

Tolerance range

A

The abiotic conditions within which a species can survive

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27
Q

Carrying capacity

A

The maximum population size of a particular species that a given ecosystem can sustain

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28
Q

Radiant energy

A

Energy that travels through empty space

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29
Q

Light energy

A

Visible forms of radiant energy

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30
Q

Photosynthesis

A

The process in which the sun’s energy is converted into chemical energy

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31
Q

Cellular respiration

A

The process by which sugar and oxygen are converted into carbon dioxide and water, to provide energy for the cell.
- Chemical energy is used to carry out cellular processes and create thermal energy, kinetic energy and chemical synthesis

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32
Q

Extinct

A

Refers to species that has died out and no longer occurs on earth

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33
Q

Extirpated

A

A species that no longer exists in a specific area

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34
Q

Endangered

A

A species facing imminent extirpation or extinction

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35
Q

Threatened

A

A species that is likely to become endangered if factors reducing its survival are not changed.

36
Q

Non-native species

A

A species that have been introduced into new areas that have not historically been part of their native range

37
Q

Invasive species

A

A non-native species whose intentional or accidental introduction negatively impacts the natural environment.

38
Q

Broad-spectrum pesticide

A

A pesticide that is effective against many types of pests

39
Q

Narrow-spectrum pesticide

A

A pesticide that is effective only against a few types of pests

40
Q

Bioaccumulation

A

The concentration of a substance, such as a pesticide, in the body of an organism.

41
Q

Bioamplification

A

The increase in concentration of a substance, such as a pesticide, as it moves higher up the food web.

42
Q

Describe the atmosphere

A
  • layer of gases that extend from the surface upwards for hundreds of kilometres
  • gases are held close to the earth’s surface by the force of gravity
  • composed of: 78% nitrogen, 21 % oxygen, and less than 1% mixture of aragon, water, vapour, carbon dioxide and other gases
  • Moderates earth’s temperature (warmer at night, colder during the day)
43
Q

Describe the lithosphere

A
  • The crust of the earth
  • Consists of rocks and minerals
  • 50-150 km thick
44
Q

Describe the hydrosphere

A

-All of the water above, on and below the surface of the earth

45
Q

Describe the biosphere

A
  • where life can exist on earth
  • Most life exits on land and in water
  • Some microorganisms can live deep beneath the earth’s surface
  • All living things need space, water and nutrients
46
Q

How do the earth’s spheres overlap each other?

A
  • Animals (biosphere) live in oceans (hydrosphere)
  • Ocean waves (hydrosphere) not the beach (lithosphere)
  • People (biosphere) live on the lithosphere
  • People take airplanes (biosphere) that fly in the atmosphere
  • Clouds (hydrosphere) in the sky (atomosphere)
  • Rain (hydrosphere) falls on mountaintops (lithosphere)
  • Rivers (hydrosphere) flow on the crust (lithosphere)
  • Volcanic ash (lithospere) erupts into the atmosphere
  • Animals (biosphere) breath air (atmosphere) and drink water (hydrosphere)
47
Q

View all photos on ipad

A

drink coffee

48
Q

What are the starting and end materials of photosynthesis

A

Starting materials: carbon dioxide and water

Ending materials: sugar and oxygen

49
Q

What are the starting and ending materials of cellular respiration?

A

Starting materials: Sugar and oxygen

Ending materials: Carbon dioxide, water and energy

50
Q

Why are photosynthesis and celluar respiration considered complimentary processes?

A

The end products for one process are the starting materials for the other process

51
Q

Do food chains exist in nature?

A

No

52
Q

What do food chains illustrate?

A
  • Who eats who in an ecosystem

- Energy flow in an ecosystem

53
Q

Three types of ecological pyramids

A

Energy, Numbers, Biomass

54
Q

What does each ecological pyramid represent?

A

Energy: The amount of energy available at each trophic level (as you go up energy availability decreases)
Numbers: The number of individuals of all populations in each trophic level
Biomass: The total mass of all individuals combined in each trophic level

55
Q

Describe the carbon cycle and why is important

A

Plants and other producers extract gaseous carbon and using energy from the sun, convert it into glucose. Producers and consumers both use this glucose as a source of energy and a source of raw material for growth. As carbon moves through the food chain, much of it is released back into the atmosphere as CO 2 when consumers exhale. Whatever is not exhaled eventually accumulates in the ground when organisms die and decompose. Once in the ground it leaves carbon cycle forever except when humans extract it from fossil fuels and release it back into the atmosphere by burning it.

Carbon cycle is important because without carbon, producers would not have ways to use energy from the sun and no life would exist.

56
Q

Describe the nitrogen cycle and why it is important

A

Nitrogen is found in the atmosphere however most organisms on earth are completely unable to use atmospheric nitrogen directly. In order to use nitrogen it must be converted into a useable form by nitrogen fixing bacteria in the soil. These bacteria live close to plants an plants take this fixed nitrogen and incorporate into their proteins. Nitrogen moves through the community as organisms eat and are eaten. After organisms die and decompose their nitrogen is released back into the atmosphere by bacteria.

The nitrogen cycle is important because a lack of nitrogen would eradicate life on earth.

57
Q

Describe the water cycle and why it is important.

A

Water cycles through the atmosphere, soil, rivers, lakes, and oceans. Some water is stored deep in the earth and some on the surface.

The water cycle is important because it provides living organisms with what they need to grow and survive and its structures the physical habitat of an ecosystem and divides environments into different habitats.

58
Q

List and describe abiotic factors

A

These determine where a species can live.

Key abiotic factors in terrestrial ecosystems:

  • light availability
  • water availability
  • nutrient availability
  • temperature

Aquatic ecosystems:

  • light availability
  • nutrient availability
  • acidity
  • temperature
  • salinity
59
Q

What do biotic factors determine?

A

These determine the species success and often involve the interactions with other organisms within the population and within the ecosystem

60
Q

List the key biotic factors.

A

Competition, predation, mutualism, parasitism, commensalism

61
Q

Describe competition

A

Individuals fight for food, space, light, mates, shelter.

- EX. Cheetahs and lions both feed on gazelles

62
Q

Describe predation

A

One individual feeds on another

- EX. Bear feeds on salmon

63
Q

Describe mutualism

A

Two individuals benefitting one another

- EX Bees and flowers - Bee provides flower with pollination. Flower provides bee with nectar they need to make honey.

64
Q

Describe paratisiism

A

One individual lives/feeds on a host organism (the host is harmed)
- EX. Fleas on a parasite of cats and dogs

65
Q

Describe commensalism

A

one individual benefits from its association with another organism (the other organism is not harmed) but does not benefit either.
- EX. Barnacles benefit from living on whales. Whales are neither harmed or benefit.

66
Q

Describe several reasons why species may be at risk?

A

Pollution in their habitat, overfishing/overhunting, habitat destruction, introduction of exotic species, legal exploitation, natural causes, logging

67
Q

What is the Canadian organization that identifies and helps at risk species?

A

Committee on the status of endangered wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) Uses data to monitor species at risk in categorizes as extinct, extirpated, endangered, threatened or special concern.

Recovery of national endangered wildlife (RENEW) prepares an action plan to ensure recovery of species placed in the endangered or threatened category.

68
Q

List several impacts of introduced/invasive species

A

ecological, economic, tourism, health

69
Q

Describe ecological impacts of invasive species

A

Invasive species compete with or feed on native species, leading to population decline or extinction.

70
Q

Describe economic impact of invasive species

A

Damages to forest and agricultural crops causes financial loss, competition with invasive plants lowers crop yields, diseases and pests may destroy livestock and crops, kill trees, and harm important species such as honeybees

71
Q

Describe the impact to tourism caused by invasive species

A

Species lost and reduced water quality have negative impacts on wildlife viewing, fishing and water based recreation. Waterways can become choked with invasive aquatic plants, rendering them impassable to boats.

72
Q

Describe the health impact caused by invasive species

A

Disease causing organisms, such as the west nile virus, are introduced. Pesticides used to control invasive species cause pollution and are health risks.

73
Q

List 3 methods of control for non-native species

A
  • chemical, mechanical and biological
74
Q

Describe the chemical method control for non-native species

A

Most widely used control method is pesticides used mostly on forest and agricultural pests because trees and crops have significant economic value. Dramatically reduces crop damage, environmental risks include killing non target native species and polluting the air, water and soil.

75
Q

Describe the mechanical methods of control for non-native species.

A

Uses physical barriers or removal to control invasive species. Invasive plants can be cut down, burned, or even removed by hand. Invasive animals can be hunted or trapped.

76
Q

Describe the biological methods of control for non-native species.

A

A challenging but effective method of controlling invasive species. Uses intentionally introduced organisms to control the invasive species although biological control rarely eradicates an invasive species but may reduce population sizes to equally tolerable levels.

77
Q

Describe pests

A
  • compete with or damage crops, reducing crop yield, eliminated to maximize growth of desired crop. Pests are a human invention.
78
Q

What are the issues associated with pesticides?

A
  • Often sprayed, therefore some may carried away by wind, doesn’t reach the pest
  • a source of soil, air, water pollution
  • Often kills species that are intended to kill; victims may be beneficial to the ecosystem
  • may accumulate in the tissues or organisms
  • pests may become resistant

-

79
Q

Describe bioamplification

A

-Pesticides may not be broken down and eliminated with
no other waste.
-If they are not soluble in water but are in soluble in fat, they will accumulate in tissues and the concentration will increase over time; this is called bioaccumulation
-see diagram
-Concentrations may become toxic for top carnivores

80
Q

Describe bioaccumulation

A

If pesticides are not soluble in water but are soluble in fat, they will accumulate in tissues and the concentration will increase over time

81
Q

Distinguish between tolerance range and optimal range

A

Tolerance range is the abiotic conditions within which a species can live. The optimal range is within the tolerance range. This is where the species is best adapted. The largest and healthiest populations of the species will occur when the conditions are within the optimal range. Outside the optimal range, the population will be stressed. Species are able to live outside the optimal range but cannot live outside the tolerance range.

82
Q

Why do open oceans not support rich ecosystems and large numbers of fish?

A

They are nutrient poor and unable to support many photosynthesizing organisms therefore fish have no plants to eat.

83
Q

Explain what it means when we describe a ecosystem as being an equilibrium

A

It means that their abiotic and biotic features remain relatively constant over time.

84
Q

Distinguish between primary and secondary succession.

A

Primary succession is succession on newly exposed ground such as following a volcanic eruption while secondary succession is succession in a disturbed ecosystem such as following a forest fire

85
Q

Describe how the loss of non target organisms leads to even great pesticide use?

A

Those non target organisms could have been predators of the pests. Therefore, with one less predator, there will be a higher population of pests and more pesticides is needed.

86
Q

What is the importance of limiting factors?

A

Since limiting factor restricts the size of a population is stops the overpopulation of a particular species. This is important because if a species is overpopulated it has the ability to wipe out the species that it consumes. This can have a huge toll on the entire ecosystem.

87
Q

What is the importance carrying capacity?

A

The carrying capacity ensures that the maximum number of individuals in a population stays at low rate so it can be supported by the ecosystem and the ecosystem remains sustainable. If the population were to increase in size the demand for resources would also increase.

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