Unit 3: Climate & Ecosystems

Question 1

CD1.3

Sustainability

Answer 1

The ability to meet the needs of the present generation without comprocmising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

Question 2

CD1.4

Ecological Footprint

Answer 2

A measure of an individual’s or population’s impact on the environment.

Question 3

CD1.6

Human Impact

Answer 3

The impact on the environment from human lifestyle, scientific discoveries, and technological developments.

Question 4

CD3.1

System

Answer 4

A set of interrelated components.

Question 5

CD3.1

Ecosystem

Answer 5

The living and non-living components of a community and their interrelationships.

Question 6

CD3.1

Abiotic

Answer 6

NON-LIVING component of an ecosystem

Question 7

CD3.1

Biotic

Answer 7

LIVING component of an ecosystem.

Question 8

CD3.1

Organism

Answer 8

A living thing or recently living.

Question 9

CD3.1

Individual

Answer 9

One single, living, member of a population.

Question 10

CD3.1

Population

Answer 10

All the members of a species living together at the same time.

Question 11

CD3.1

Community

Answer 11

All of the living things (organisms) in an area.

Question 12

CD3.1

Biome

Answer 12

A large area with characteristic climate, vegetation & animal life. Reminder: Climate determines vegetation and vegetation dtermines animal life!

Question 13

CD3.1

Biosphere

Answer 13

The region around Earth where life exists.

Question 14

CD3.2

Biodiversity

Answer 14

A measure of the number and variety of species in an ecosystem.

Question 15

CD3.2

Biotic Potential

Answer 15

The maximum # of offspring that a species could produce if resources were unlimited.

Question 16

CD3.2

Carrying Capacity

Answer 16

The maximum # of individuals of a species that an ecosystem can support based on the available resources.

Question 17

CD3.2

Natality

Answer 17

BIRTH rate in a population.

Question 18

CD3.2

Mortality

Answer 18

DEATH rate in a population.

Question 19

CD3.2

Immigration

Answer 19

The movement of individuals INTO a population.

Question 20

CD3.2

Emigration

Answer 20

The movement of individuals LEAVING a population.

Question 21

CD3.2

Closed System

Answer 21

One in which individuals can NOT enter or leave.

Question 22

CD3.2

Open System

Answer 22

One in which individuals CAN enter or leave.

Question 23

CD3.2

Limiting Factors

Answer 23

Factors that regulate the size of populations.

Question 24

CD3.2

Density-Dependent Limiting Factors

Answer 24

Limiting factors that come into effect when population density rises.

Question 25

CD3.2

Density-Independent Limiting Factors

Answer 25

Limiting factors that do NOT depend on population density to come into affect.

Question 26

CD3.4

Autotroph

Answer 26

A producer.

Question 27

CD3.4

Heterotroph

Answer 27

A consumer.

Question 28

CD3.4

Producer

Answer 28

A type of organism that can make its own food (glucose sugar via photosynthesis).

Question 29

CD3.4

Consumer

Answer 29

A type of organism tha CAN’T make its own food.

Question 30

CD3.4

Trophic Level

Answer 30

The level (within food chains/webs & energy pyramids) that identifies its position in the energy flow of an ecosystem.

Question 31

CD3.4

Food Chain

Answer 31

Shows the movement of energy through a system by indicating the path of food from a producer to final consumer.

Question 32

CD3.4

Food Web

Answer 32

A pictorial representation of the feeding relationships between organisms in an ecosystem and consists of interlocking food chains.

Question 33

CD3.4

Food Chain and Food Web Arrows Represent…

Answer 33

the direction energy is flowing; a.k.a. where the energy is going or who is receiving the energy

Question 34

CD3.4

Biomass

Answer 34

A measure of the mass of dry matter contained in a group of living things; a.k.a. The remaining mass after dehydrating water out of organisms

Question 35

CD3.4

Pyramid of Energy

Answer 35

A graphical model that shows the amount of energy available at each trophic level of an ecosystem.

Question 36

CD3.4

Pyramid of Numbers

Answer 36

A graphical model that shows the number of organisms that exist at each trophic level in an ecosystem.

Question 37

CD3.4

Pyramid of Biomass

Answer 37

A graphical model that shows the dry mass of organisms that exists at each level of an ecosystem. Remember: Aquatic ecosystems have inverted Biomass Pyramids whereas Terrestrial ecosystems have regular Biomass Pyramids!

Question 38

CD4.1

Nutrient

Answer 38

Any substance needed by an organism for proper growth, repair, and function such as nitrogen, oxygen, carbon, water, phosphorous, sulphur, hydrogen.

Question 39

CD4.1

Biogeochemical or Nutrient Cycle

Answer 39

The path of a nutrient through a ecosystem.

Question 40

CD4.1

Bioaccumulation

Answer 40

The introduction or increase in concentration of a pollutant from the environment in the first organism in a food chain.

Question 41

CD4.1

Biomagnification

Answer 41

The tendency for pollutants to become concentrated in successive trophic levels.

Question 42

CD4.1

Cellular Respiration

Answer 42

Process where organisms take oxygen and releases energy stored in glucose fuel producing carbon dioxide and water.

Question 43

CD4.1

Photosynthesis

Answer 43

Process where plants take carbon dioxide and water to produce energy stored in glucose sugar and oxygen.

Question 44

CD4.1

Nitrogen Fixing

Answer 44

The process of plants converting atmospheric nitrogen gas (unusable) into nitrate ions (NO₃^-) or ammonia (NH₃) which are stable, usable compounds for other organisms.

Question 45

CD4.1

Nitrification

Answer 45

Converting nitrogen gas (N₂) into nitrate ions (NO₃^{<span>_</span>})or ammonia (NH₃).

Question 46

CD4.1

Denitrification

Answer 46

Converting nitrate ions (NO₃^-) or ammonia (NH₃) into nitrogen gas (N₂).