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BIO 100 General Biology > Unit 5: Ecosystem > Flashcards

Unit 5: Ecosystem Flashcards

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1
Q

2 processes that occur in an ecosystem

A
  1. Energy flows through an ecosystem
  2. Chemicals cycle within an ecosystem
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2
Q

Adaptation for living in the Temperate Deciduous Forest

A

Ability to adapt to seasonal changes

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3
Q

Adaptation of animals in the desert biome

A
  • Nocturnal, which allows them to be active at night when the temperatures are cooler
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4
Q

Adaptation of plants in the desert biome

A
  • Ability to store water and perform photosynthesis
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5
Q

Adaptations of species in the Chaparral (Shrubland) Biome

A
  • Withstand arid conditions by having minimal water requirements
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6
Q

Altitude

A
  • Measures the distance from sea level to a point in increased elevation
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7
Q

Antipredator defense strategies

A
  • Defense strategies to escape predation
  • Examples
    • camouflage
    • co-evolution
    • flocking behavior
    • mimicry
    • poisonous secretions
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8
Q

Biodiversity

A
  • The number of species in a given area or ecosystem
  • Variety of life on Earth
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9
Q

Biodiversity levels of value

A
  • Direct value: these are easily seen and/or realized
  • Indirect value: these are not so easily seen and/or realize
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10
Q

Biogeochemical cycle

  • Description
  • Parts in the cycle
A
  • A pathway where a chemical cycles between the abiotic and biotic parts of the ecosystem
  • Parts in the cycle
    1. Producers obtain chemicals from the abiotic reservoir
    2. Chemicals are passed through the biotic component
    3. Decomposers return it back to the abiotic component
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11
Q

Biome description

A
  • A group of ecosystems
  • Characterized by climatic conditions and the types of plants present
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12
Q

Biosphere

A
  • All ecosystems on Earth
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13
Q

Biotic potential

A
  • Maximum amount of offspring an organism can produce in a given amount of time under ideal conditions
  • Only applies to females
  • Notes
    • Ideal conditions assume enough food, water, shelter, no diseases, no fighting, etc.
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14
Q

Carbon cycle

A
  1. Producers take in CO2 from the air to perform photosynthesis & form organic compounds
  2. Primary Consumers acquire the carbon when eating the producer. Carbon makes organic compounds in the body and is passed through the food chain. Consumers produce waste containing carbon & leave their carbon-containing bodies when they die
  3. Decomposers use waste & dead bodies as a source of energy. They release CO2 into the air when they perform cellular respiration
  4. Carbon is now back at step 1 & can be used again
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15
Q

Carrying capacity

A
  • The maximum number of individuals the environment can support
  • Notes
    • Where exponential growth stops & levels off
    • Logistic growth occurs because the biotic potential is not reached
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16
Q

Co-evolution

A
  • When two species adapt to selective pressure each places on the other
  • Example: the change in the anatomy of a plant due to evolution may require a change in the anatomy of the herbivore that feeds on the plant
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17
Q

Community

A
  • A group of populations living in a specific region
  • Examples
    • Forest community in Yellowstone Park: this would be all the populations (plant, animal, fungi, etc living in the forest)
    • The microbe community living in your large intestine
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18
Q

Compare savanna & grassland

  • Differences
  • Similarities
A
  • Differences
    • Savannas have widely spaced trees, and an open tree canopy (that does not close)
    • Grasslands do not have trees
  • Similarities
    • Both consist primarily of grasses
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19
Q

Competition

A
  • When 2+ species try to use the same, limited resource
  • A density-dependent factor regulating population growth
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20
Q

Competitive exclusion principle

A
  • No two species can occupy the same niche when resources are limited
  • One of them will outcompete the other
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21
Q

Components to an ecosystem

A
  • Abiotic: the nonliving part
    • Examples of abiotic components: rocks, soil, inorganic chemicals, and climate (temperature, rainfall, etc)
  • Biotic: the living part
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22
Q

Connection between rainfall & species diversity in a biome

A
  • Temperature, soil, sunlight, and water all determine what life exists in a biome
  • All of these factors contribute to an environment that leads to increased plant growth and high species diversity
  • An example of this can be seen in the tropical rainforest biome, which receives the highest amount of annual rainfall and has the greatest biodiversity of all biomes
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23
Q

Conservation biology

A
  • The interdisciplinary field of biology concerned with protecting biodiversity & the Earth’s natural resources
  • Involves many fields of biology
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24
Q

Describe adaptations for living in the tundra

A
  • Living in extreme cold; insulation
  • Short growing seasons
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25
Q

Describe one adaptation for living in the Savanna Biome

A

Ability to adapt to water shortages

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26
Q

Describe one adaptation for living in the Temperate Grassland Biome

A

Ability to live in dry climates

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27
Q

Describe one adaptation for living in the Tropical Rain Forest

A
  • Camouflage
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28
Q

Describe one adaption plants have to withstand fires

A

Fast regrowth

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29
Q

Difference between coniferous & deciduous trees

A
  • Coniferous trees produce cones, needles and have thick bark
  • Deciduous trees have leaves and do not benefit from thickly covered bark
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30
Q

Ecological pyramid

  • Description
  • Inclusions
A
  • A graph that shows the trophic levels in a food chain
  • Inclusions
    • Relative number of organisms in each level. The total number of organisms decreases as go up the pyramid
    • Relative amount of energy in each level. The total amount of energy decreases as go up the pyramid
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31
Q

Ecology

A
  • Study of the interactions of organisms, interactions include
    • Their species
    • Other species
    • Their environment
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32
Q

Ecosystem

A
  • A group of communities living in their physical environment
  • Examples
    • Yellowstone Park: this would be all the communities (forest, meadow, lake, etc) & their physical environment (such as soil, rocks, climate, etc)
    • Large ecosystem: ecosystem of Pennsylvania
    • Small ecosystem: ecosystem of a rotting log in the forest
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33
Q

Endangered species

A
  • A species that is close to extinction
  • Examples: hawksbill sea turtle, California condor, black lace cactus, snow leopard
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34
Q

Environmental factors limiting population growth

A
  • Density dependent factors
    • act to reduce populations size only when the size reaches a certain point
    • create logistic growth
    • examples: food & water, predation, shelter, aggression & fighting, disease, competition
  • Density independent factors
    • act to reduce population size regardless of the actual size of the population
    • not involved with logistic growth
    • examples: natural disasters (fires, floods, earthquakes), weather
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35
Q

Example of animals found in the African savanna

A
  • Elephants
  • Giraffes
  • Zebra
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36
Q

Examples of the direct value of biodiversity

A
  • Agricultural value
    • New strains of food crops. All crops used for food (such as wheat & corn) are modified versions of wild plants. They have been modified (by inbreeding) so that they are high producers (for example, the corn plant produces a lot of corn kernels). Inbreeding reduces genetic diversity and this makes them susceptible to bacteria & viral diseases. If crop is destroyed by infection, we need to turn to wild species to replace it. If species become extinct, we may lose possible sources of new wild plants to modify for food crops
    • Natural pest controls. Organisms like bats prey on insects. They control the population of insects which keeps insects from undergoing logistic growth
    • Pollinators. Organisms such as bees, wasps, birds, butterflies & bats are important pollinators of plants. Pollinations allow for the plant to reproduce. Without pollinators, the producers will suffer (we know from the previous chapter that producers play an essential role in an ecosystem)
  • Source of medicines
    • most medications (everything from cold medicine to aspirin to diabetes medications) were derived from animal or plant sources. If species become extinct, we may lose possible sources of medications to treat new or existing diseases & lose new sources of antibiotics
  • Consumptive use value
    • Biodiversity provides goods & products that can be sold for money. Examples of such are fruits & vegetables, plant fibers, and wood
37
Q

Examples of the indirect value of biodiversity

A
  • Biogeochemical cycles: Allows for chemicals to cycle effectively. For example, more producers mean more CO2 can be removed from the air
  • Fresh water
  • Prevents flood & soil erosion: Forests areas and open land areas (like fields) provide land to absorb water
  • Regulate climate: Trees provide shade and remove CO26) Ecotourism
  • Waste removal: Decomposers allow for more waste to be broken down
38
Q

Exponential growth

A
  • Population size will constantly increase over time
  • Most members (females) reach their biotic potential in a given period of time (a year)
  • Does not occur in natural populations
39
Q

Factors influence population size

A
  • Births (+)
  • Deaths (-)
  • Emigration (-)
  • Immigration (+)
40
Q

Food chain

A

A diagram of energy & nutrient transfer in an ecosystem

41
Q

How are deciduous & coniferous trees different?

A
  • Deciduous trees have leaves that fall each season
  • Coniferous trees have cones & needles
42
Q

How does energy exit the ecosystem?

A
  • Heat
  • Notes:
    • Some organisms die without being consumed. Bugs that are stepped on. Bones & fur are not consumed. Only 10% of the energy is passed on to the next level of the food chain.
    • This means 90% is lost in each level (and most is lost as heat)
43
Q

Important aspects to an ecosystem

A
  • Stable
    • Population sizes: all populations are in logistic growth
    • Concentrations of inorganic chemicals: the amount of chemical released to the abiotic component is equal to the amount that can be taken up by the biotic components
  • Interdependent
    • Biotic & abiotic depend upon each other & are influenced by each other
44
Q

Inorganic chemicals that cycle

  • List
A
  • Carbon
  • Nitrogen
  • Phosphorus
45
Q

Latitude

A
  • Measures the distance of a location (north or south) of the Equator
46
Q

Levels of organization in ecology

  • Smallest to largest
A
  • Population (smallest)
  • Community
  • Ecosystem
  • Biome
  • Biosphere (largest)
47
Q

List the major biomes

A
  1. Chaparral
  2. Coniferous forest
  3. Desert
  4. Polar & high mountain ice
  5. Savanna
  6. Temperate deciduous forest
  7. Temperate grassland
  8. Tropical forest
  9. Tundra (arctic & alpine)
48
Q

List the sequence of biomes you would encounter from the equator of the Earth to the North Pole

A
  1. Rain forest
  2. Temperate deciduous forest
  3. Coniferous forest
  4. Tundra
49
Q

List the sequence of biomes you would encounter when traveling from the base of a mountain to the top

A
  1. Tropical rain forest
  2. Temperate deciduous forest
  3. Montane coniferous forest
  4. Alpine tundra
50
Q

Logistical growth

A
  • Period of exponential growth, but then stops. It levels off & does not increase beyond that point
  • Occurs because the biotic potential is not reached
51
Q

Mimicry

A
  • When species resembles another species or object in the environment
    • Batesian mimicry (most common)
      • occurs when a harmless species has evolved to imitate the physical appearance and/or behavior traits of a harmful species
      • example: harmless insects that have evolved the black and yellow coloration pattern of a stinging insect like a bee
    • Mullerian mimicry
      • when species with the same defense mechanism have evolved the same coloration pattern
      • example: the black and yellow pattern of a bee and wasp because both species have the same stinging defense
52
Q

Niche

A
  • Role that a species plays in a community
  • Not the same as habitat. Habitat is where the species lives
53
Q

Nitrogen cycle

A
  • Producers take in nitrate from the soil. They absorb it through the roots & use nitrogen to form organic compounds
  • Primary Consumers acquire nitrogen when they eat the plant
  • Consumers produce waste products containing nitrogen & the consumers leave a dead body containing nitrogen when they die
  • Decomposers use waste products & dead body as a source of energy. Release nitrate back to the soil as ammonium. Ammonium is eventually converted back to N2 gas (this is done by denitrifying bacteria)
54
Q

Nitrogen fixation

  • Description
  • Occurs by
A
  • Conversion of N2 into nitrate
  • Nitrogen fixation occurs by:
    • Nitrogen-fixing bacteria (most common)
      • live in the soil & roots of certain plants called legumes
    • Lightening during thunderstorms
    • Artificially
      • the manufacture of commercial inorganic fertilizers such as Miracle Grow plant food
55
Q

Permafrost

A
  • When the ground is permanently frozen
  • Occurs in the Tundra
56
Q

Phosphorus cycle

A
  • Phosphorus leaches from rocks into the soil. Leaching occurs by rainwater washing over rocks. It can be accelerated by acid rain & excavation activities by humans which break rocks into pieces (for example, when clearing a field in order to build houses).
  • Producers take in phosphorus from the soil. They absorb it through the roots and forms organic compounds
  • Primary Consumers acquire phosphorus when they eat plants. Phosphorus is passed through the food chain
  • Consumers produce waste products containing phosphorus & the consumers leave a dead body containing phosphorus when they die
  • Decomposers use waste products & dead body a source of energy. Release phosphorus back to the soil
57
Q

Plants found & not found in the tundra biome

A
  • Found in the tundra
    • Short grasses
    • Sedges
    • Lichens
    • Mosses
    • Dwarf woody shrubs
  • NOT found in the tundra
    • Trees: roots cannot anchor in the shallow/boggy soil during the brief summer month, and the growing season in the summer is too short
58
Q

Population

A

All members of the same species living in a specific area

59
Q

Predation

A
  • When one organism, the predator, feeds on another, the prey
  • A density-dependent factor regulating population growth
60
Q

Significant climate features of the desert biome

A
  • Winds lack moisture
  • Annual rainfall is less than 25 cm
61
Q

Symbiosis

A
  • Interaction between species
  • 3 types
    • Parasitism
      • one species benefits but the other species is harmed.
      • the parasite population size increases but the host population size decreases
    • Commensalism
      • one species benefits but the other species is neither benefitted nor harmed
      • Population size of one increases but the population size of the other is not affected (has a neutral effect on the population)
    • Mutualism
      • both species benefit, but may not benefit equally
      • population size of both increases
62
Q

Threatened species

A
  • A species that is soon to become endangered
  • Examples: Northern spotted owl and Coho salmon
63
Q

Threats to biodiversity

A
  • Disease. Wild plants/animals are subject to new disease threats just like humans. Many new diseases are caused by humans entering habitats because humans bring these diseases with them. Specific examples include the bird flu (was spread to wild bird populations by chickens), white nose disease in bats (was spread to bats due to humans entering caves during a bat’s winter hibernation) and canine distemper in lions (was spread to lions from dogs).
  • Exotic species: second most important threat. Exotic species are non-native species. They disrupt the stability of the ecosystem especially the food web.
    • Examples of harmful exotic species: spotted lanternfly on Pennsylvania, pythons in Everglades and zebra mussel in the Great Lakes
  • Habitat loss: is the most important threat. Accounts for 85% of all extinctions
    • Why are habitats being lost?
      • Forests are cleared for housing and farmland. This is especially true for the rainforest which is cleared for farmland
      • Wetlands are drained for housing
      • Coral reefs are destroyed by human activities which includes boating activities & also pollution
  • Overexploitation. This happens when too many members of a population are taken from the wild. It is caused by overfishing and human demand for exotic plants and animals
  • Pollution: third most important threat. There are many different pollution threats
    • Acid rain: This is when rain is more acidic than normal. It is caused by the disruption of the carbon cycle due to fossil fuel burning. Specifically, the carbon cycle is unbalanced because the amount of carbon released to the abiotic (through fossil fuel burning) is more than the biotic can take up. The result is CO2 builds up in the atmosphere and the presence of CO2 makes rain acidic. Acidic rain kills plants and animals, prevents eggs from hatching, and prevents the hardening of shells in birds
    • Ozone depletion: This is when the ozone layer surrounding the Earth is destroyed It is caused by chemicals such as CFCs and halons. Depletion of the ozone layer means more UV light reaches Earth. Increased UV light impairs plant growth, harms algae, harms fish and frog eggs, and in humans, it causes skin cancer and impairs the immune system.
    • Organic chemicals. This refers to the release of organic pollutants into the environment. These chemicals are found in a wide range of products such as pesticides to dishwashing detergents to plastics. Many of these chemicals mimic the action of hormones especially estrogen and causes cancer and reproductive disorders in both males and females of many species including humans
    • Eutrophication. This refers to the over reproduction (exponential growth) of algae caused by unbalanced nitrogen and phosphorus cycles. The large algae population depletes oxygen in the water so less is available for other organisms. The algae secrete toxins in water which can cause sickness in humans who eat fish and shellfish from the water
    • Global Warming. This refers to an increase in the Earth’s temperature. It is caused by an unbalanced carbon cycle from fossil fuel burning. The effects of global warming include melting of ice caps which decreases habitat for arctic species and the rise in sea level decreases the habitat area for land species elsewhere and changes to climate which can cause the extinction of species that cannot tolerate a warmer temperature.
64
Q

Trophic

  • Description
  • Levels
A
  • An organism’s place in the food web
  • Levels
    1. Primary consumer: the herbivore
    2. Secondary consumer: eats the herbivore
    3. Tertiary consumer: eats the secondary consumer
    4. Quarternary consumer: eats tertiary consumer. Most food chains do not have a quarternary consumer is very rare
65
Q

Types of living things

A
  • Producers
    • autotrophs (make their own food)
    • important to an ecosystem because they perform photosynthesis which:
      • Makes food for other living things
      • Converts light energy into chemical energy
      • Converts inorganic chemicals into organic chemicals. For land ecosystems, producers are plants. For water ecosystems, producers are microscopic algae (members of Protist kingdom)
  • Consumers
    • heterotrophs (eat other living things)
    • 4 types
      1. Herbivores: eat only plants
      2. Carnivores: eat only animals
      3. Omnivores: eat both plants and animals
      4. Decomposers: eat dead matter including animal waste products Examples: bacteria, fungi, insects, & earthworms
66
Q

What does adequate rainfall in the Temperate Deciduous Forest allow for?

A
  • Long growing seasons
  • Note
    • Range from 140 to 300 days each year, which allows for tree canopies, understory trees, abundant ground life, shrubs and plants, and environments for birds and insects
67
Q

What is biodiversity dependent on?

A
  • Ecosystem diversity
    • having many different ecosystems present in a biome
    • why is ecosystem diversity important?
      • Allows for more organisms to live there and allows for processes to occur that directly or indirectly benefit us such as air/water purification, erosion control, and climate regulation
  • Genetic diversity
    • having many different alleles present in a population
    • why is genetic diversity important?
      • alleles allow a population to adapt to changing environments. Outbreaks of Potato blight (Ireland) & citrus canker (Florida) are examples of how low genetic diversity can negatively affect a population. Genetic diversity increases the chance there would be individuals resistant to the pathogens that destroyed these crops
68
Q

What is “slash and burn” agriculture?

A
  • Due to low soil fertility, the practice of “slash and burn” is sometimes used
  • Trees are cut and burned, and the resulting ashes are used for providing nutrients for different harvests
69
Q

Where is the Coniferous Forest biome found?

A
  • Taiga
  • Montane coniferous forest
  • Pacific coast of North America
70
Q

Where is the Desert Biome found?

A
  • Latitudes of about 30 degrees in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres
71
Q

Where is the Savanna Biome found?

A
  • Africa
  • Northern Australia
  • South America
72
Q

Where is the taiga?

A
  • Western coast of Canada and the US
73
Q

Where is the Temperate Deciduous Forest biome found?

A
  • south of the Taiga in eastern North America
  • eastern Asia
  • throughout much of Europe
74
Q

Where is the Temperate Grassland Biome found?

A
  • North American prairies
  • Russian steppes
  • South American pampas
75
Q

Where is the Tropical Rain Forest biome found?

A
  • Africa
  • Areas of South America
  • Indo-Malayan region near the equator
76
Q

Where is the tundra biome found?

A
  • South of the polar seas in the Northern Hemisphere
  • Surrounds the arctic region
77
Q

Where is the Chaparral (Shrubland) biome found?

A
  • Along coasts that have dry summers and receive most of their rainfall during the winter months
78
Q

Which biome is located in Pennsylvania?

A

Temperate deciduous forest

79
Q

Which biomes have the most, second-highest & least rainfall?

A
  • Most: Tropical rain forest
  • Second-highest: Temperate rain forest
  • Least: Desert
80
Q

Which type of plants dominate the Temperate Grassland Biome

A

Grasslands and shrubs

81
Q

Why can’t soil in the tropical rain forest be used for farming?

A
  • The soil has low fertility due to the fast recycling of nutrients from litter decomposition
82
Q

Why can’t trees grow in the Temperate Grassland Biome

A
  • The annual rainfall is insufficient to support tree growth
83
Q

Why do living things need carbon?

A
  • To make organic compounds
    • carbohydrates
    • lipids
    • nucleic acids
    • proteins
84
Q

Why do living things need nitrogen?

A
  • To make proteins & nucleic acids
85
Q

Why do living things need phosphorus?

A
  • To make phosphorus-containing organic compounds such as nucleic acids & phospholipids and also to make energy
  • Abiotic reservoir: Phosphorus in rocks
  • Phosphorus is the most limiting inorganic nutrient for producers in an ecosystem
    • Phosphorus is the nutrient in the least abundance
    • Scarce because the phosphorus cycle is very slow (unlike carbon and nitrogen cycles)
    • Phosphorus acts as a density-dependent factor limiting population growth of plants & algae (recall, algae are producers in an aquatic ecosystem)
86
Q

Why is the coniferous forest called a “temperate rain forest”?

A
  • Abundant rainfall and cooler average temperatures compared to tropical rainforests, which has produced some of the tallest conifer trees known
  • Small sections of this forest are considered old-growth forest because trees average over 150 years of age
  • Some of these trees are believed to be around 800 years old. Moss, ferns and other plants often grow on tree trunks, contributing to an evergreen environment
87
Q

Why is the tundra called a “frozen desert”

A
  • It is a tundra, but due to permafrost, its underlying layer of snowmelt from the summer months is always frozen
88
Q

Why is the Tropical Rain Forest called the “richest” biome

A

It is the richest biome in terms of species diversity.

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