Unit A Flashcards
What does energy flows and matter cycles mean in the context of Earth being a closed system?
Within thermodynamics, closed systems do not allow matter to enter or leave them because energy such as heat can always be transferred across boundaries
What does Biosphere mean?
where living organisms are found
What does the Biosphere include?
all life on the planet
What is the difference between Biotic and Abiotic?
Biotic is living factors
Abiotic is non-living
What is an Unbalanced equilibrium a result of?
extinction
extirpation
endangered
threatened
special concern organisms
What does extinction mean?
a species that cant be found anywhere
What does extirpation mean?
no longer exists in one part of the country but does in another
What does endangered mean?
close to extinction in all or a significant
What does threatened mean?
likely to become indangered due to factors
What does special concern organisms mean?
any species that is at risk because of low or declining numbers in areas of it range
What is a Indicator species?
a species sensitive to small changes in enviroment
What is a keystone species?
a species that has a disproportionaey large effect on the enviroment relative to its abundance
Where does the energy that used on Earth originate from?
the sun
Do all areas of Earth receive the same of energy?
No the amount of solar radiation that reaches any one spot on the Earth’s surface varies according to: Geographic location.
What are trophic levels?
a category of living things by how it gains its energy
What is the first trophic level?
Autotrophs “Self feeders”
produces their own nutrients from radiant energy and abiotic factors
What are the two types of autotrophs?
Photosynthetic autotrophs
Chemosynthetic autotrophs
What does Photosynthetic Autotophs mean?
an organism that is capable of using light energy to synthesize sugars from carbon dioxide. Green plants, algae, and cyanbacteria
What does Chemosynthetic Autotrophs mean?
use the energy released by chemical reactions to make sugar
What is the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th trophic level?
Heterotrophs “other feeders”
consumes organic molecules from other organisms
What are the 4 types of Heterotrophs?
Herbivores
Carnivore
Omnivore
Decomposer
What is a Herbivore?
organisms that feed on plants (primary consumers)
What is a Carnivore?
organisms that feed on animals (secondary consumers)
What is a Omnivore?
organisms that feed on both plants and animals
What is a Decomposer?
organisms that break down dead or decaying matter
What is a food chain?
a step by step sequence linking organisms that feed on another (ecosystems are more complex as organisms depend on several organisms for survival)
What is a food web?
interconnectinf food chains
(shws the complexity of an ecosystem)
What are Ecological Pyramids?
represents interaction of trophic levels in an ecosystem
What is the rule of 10%?
only about 10% of energy available passes to next trophic level
What is number in the context of ecological pyramids?
measures the number of organisms at each trophic level
What is biomass in the context of ecological pyramids?
measures the amount of biomass of the organisms at each trophic level
What is the first law of thermodynamics?
energy is neither created or destroyed but transferred from one form to another
What is the second law of thermodynmaics?
As energy is transferred it loses thermal energy to the surroundings
What ecological phenomena does the law of thermodynamics explain?
food chain and cellular respirations
What does biochemical cycles mean?
moves matter through abiotic and biotic world
What are the four types of matter cycles?
Hydrologic
Carbon/Oxygen
Nitrogen
Phosphorus
What is the hydrologic cycle?
Liquid water evaporates into water vapor, condenses to form clouds, and precipitates back to earth in the form of rain and snow
What are the special properties of water?
- Water is the universal solvent
- Exists in nature as a solid, liquid, and gas
- The density of ice is less than liquid water
- Water has a high heat capacity
- Water has a high heat of vaporization
- Water exists as a liquid at room temperature It is important to note here that even we are only focusing on water in this text book, hydrogen bonding also occurs in other substances that have polar molecules.
What is the Carbon/Oxygen cycle?
the cycle whereby atmospheric oxygen is converted to carbon dioxide in animal respiration and regenerated by green plants in photosynthesis.
What is the Nitrogen cycle?
a biogeochemical process through which nitrogen is converted into many forms, consecutively passing from the atmosphere to the soil to organism and back into the atmosphere.
What is the Phosphorus Cycle?
represents the flow of phosphorus from inorganic to organic sources
What actions do humans do that have an impact on the ecosystem?
greenhouse effect
global warming
acid deposition
ozone depletion
monoculture (species diversity)
pesticide usage (biomafnification)
use of fertalizers
deforestation
