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Ecosystems > Unit 2 Notes > Flashcards

Unit 2 Notes Flashcards

1
Q

How are Biotic and Abiotic components linked together?

A

Through nutrient cycles and energy flow.

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2
Q

How are nutrient cycling and energy flows independent?

A

The rate of nutrient uptake is a function of energy production. The ability for plants to photosynthesise can be limited, if essential macronutrients are absent.

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3
Q

What are nutrients?

A

The chemical elements and compounds needed for organisms to grow and function.

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4
Q

What are the most important macronutrients for ecoystems?

A

Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium.

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5
Q

How does climate control the cycling of nutrient and energy flows?

A

Water availability, rates of photosynthesis, rates of decomposition, rates and types of weathering, rates of runoff.

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6
Q

What is the relationship between climate and biomass?

A

As temperature increases and precipitation increases, the size of the biomass store increases. The size of the arrow between litter and soil increases.

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7
Q

What is the relationship between climate and rates of litter decomposition?

A

Size of the arrow between litter and soil increases, as more litter decomposes.

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8
Q

Which key processes play a role in nutrients stored in soils?

A

Weathering, leaching, decomposition of litter, plant uptake.

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9
Q

What is Chemical weathering?

A

Decomposition of rock minerals into new minerals. Chemical weathering processes such as carbonation, operating in the presence of water.

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10
Q

What is Mechanical Weathering?

A

The disintegration of rocks into small fragments. Physical weathering processes operate most rapidly where temperature fluctuates daily, where water is present.

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11
Q

Which type of weathering is present in Tropical rainforests?

A

Strong, chemical weathering.

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12
Q

Which type of weathering is present in Temperate Grasslands?

A

Very slight weathering.

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13
Q

Which type of weathering is present in Tundras?

A

Slight mechanical weathering.

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14
Q

How is soil inputted from weathering into Tropical Rainforests?

A

Input into soil from nutrients on forest floor, weathered material from rock is high due to constant rainfall throughout the year.

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15
Q

How is soil inputted from weathering into Temperate Grasslands?

A

Input into soil is low due to very low precipitation, average temperature, very slight moderate chemical weathering. Weathering occurs in summer - convectional rainfall.

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16
Q

How is soil inputted from weathering in Tundra biomes?

A

Low inputs due to very slight weathering, slight mechanical weathering. Freeze thaw weathering in summer due to temperature variation, low precipitation in the rest of the year.

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17
Q

What is Leaching?

A

The removal of soluble nutrients from the soil by percolating water.

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18
Q

Where are rates of leaching the greatest?

A

Precipitation levels are higher than evapotranspiration rates, soil is porous or permeable allowing precipitation to occur. Percolating water is acidic - carbonic acid in precipitation.

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19
Q

Why do Tropical rainforests have higher levels of leaching than Tundra?

A

Because precipitation levels are higher than evapotranspiration, and soil isn’t permeable in the Tundra. No leaching in Tundra.

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20
Q

Which producers appear on the first Trophic level?

A

Primary Producers.

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21
Q

Which consumers appear on the second trophic level?

A

Primary consumers.

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22
Q

Which consumers appear on the third trophic level?

A

Secondary consumers.

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23
Q

Which consumers appear on the fourth trophic level?

A

Tertiary consumers.

24
Q

What are Autotrophs?

A

Plants that produce energy from photosynthesis.

25
Q

What are Heterotrophs?

A

Organisms which obtain energy from the consumption of other organisms.

26
Q

What are the different types of Heterotrophs?

A

Herbivores, Carnivores, Omnivores.

27
Q

What are Saprotrophs?

A

Organisms which obtain energy from dead organic matter.

28
Q

What are food webs?

A

More complex than a simple food chain, consumers feed on many different organisms.

29
Q

Which species do we see on the first trophic level?

A

Plants.

30
Q

Which species do we see on the second trophic level?

A

Grasshoppers, Zebras.

31
Q

Which species do we see on the third trophic level?

A

Foxes, snakes, sharks.

32
Q

Which species do we see on the fourth trophic level?

A

Fungi, earthworms.

33
Q

Why do food chains rarely contain more than 5 trophic levels?

A

Energy decreases as you move up trophic levels, as food chains run out of energy.

34
Q

How do organisms use energy through trophic levels?

A

90% of energy is lost, as heat from respiration which happens in all plant and animal leaves.

35
Q

What % of energy produced by primary producers are available for tertiary consumers?

A

0.01%.

36
Q

Why are Apex predators rare?

A

Because they need a larger area to gain enough energy.

37
Q

What is the energy pyramid?

A

The change in energy between trophic levels.

38
Q

What is Biomass?

A

The total amount of organic matter in a given area.

39
Q

What happens as organisms become more sparse at each trophic level?

A

The amount of biomass also decreases.

40
Q

What are the measurements of primary productivity?

A

Gross primary productivity, net primary productivity.

41
Q

What is gross primary productivity?

A

A measure of all the photosynthesis that occurs within a given area of an ecosystem.

42
Q

What is Net Primary Productivity?

A

The energy fixed by photosynthesis minus the energy lost by respiration.

43
Q

How is NPP measured?

A

Biomass - kg or g of organic matter per sq. metre per year. Carbon - G of carbon per sq. m per year.

44
Q

What are the limiting factors of productivity?

A

Temperature, moisture, light, nutrient availability.

45
Q

What temperature needs to be reached for ecosystems to function?

A

0-50 degrees. 15-25 degrees optimum rate.

46
Q

What is productivity in Tropical Rainforests?

A

2-3kg m-2 yr-1 or higher.

47
Q

What are the reasons for high productivity in Tropical Rainforests?

A

Moist, warm conditions. Litter decomposes rapidly, dense vegetation. Poor soil, heavily leached. Rapid nutrient uptake, high insolation, limiting factors.

48
Q

What is productivity in Temperate grasslands?

A

400g m-2 yr-1 or higher.

49
Q

What are the reasons for productivity in Temperate Grasslands?

A

Low precipitation, large seasonal variation, fires stimulate productivity by germinating fire resistant seeds. Recurring fire, periodic drought, grazing.

50
Q

What is Productivity in Tundra biomes?

A

100-200g m-2 yr-1.

51
Q

What are the reasons for low productivity in Tundra biomes?

A

Low temperatures, short growing seasons, low biodiversity, no nutrients, dominated by mosses, lichens, low growing shrubs.

52
Q

Why is the soil layer small in Tropical rainforests?

A

Leaching means nutrients are rapidly taken out of soil.

53
Q

Why is the litter layer small in Tropical rainforests?

A

Precipitation runoff occurs due to waxy layer of leaves. Release of carbon as litter decomposes.

54
Q

Why is the biomass layer so large in Tropical rainforests?

A

2-3kg degrees per year fixed in ecosystem. Very high levels of photosynthesis. High carbon storage.

55
Q

Why is the litter layer small in Tundras?

A

Plant material decomposes more slowly, accumulates over time. Consists mostly of moss, lichens. Lower availability of nutrients in soil.

56
Q

Why is the soil layer small in Tundras?

A

Waterlogged in summer, only active layer is subject to plant growth. Rich in organic matter, low in nutrients. Under composed organic matter.

57
Q

Why is the Biomass layer small in Tundras?

A

Harsh conditions limit plant growth, slow decomposition of organic matter. Short growing season, permafrost.

Ecosystems (4 decks)

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