Unit D Flashcards
1
Q
The biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment is called?
A
Ecosystem
2
Q
Open vs closed system
A
Open - both energy and matter are exchanged.
Closed - energy is exchanged but not matter
3
Q
Abiotic factors
A
non-living part of the environment
4
Q
Biotic factors
A
living components of environment
5
Q
Habitat includes
A
shelter, water, food, space
6
Q
Ideal habitat includes
A
best combination of biotic and abiotic factors to meet an organisms needs.
7
Q
Process of algal bloom
A
nitrogen and phosphates in fertilizer are carried into local streams. The increased nitrogen and phosphates stimulate algae growth, deplete the oxygen in water, and block sunlight.
8
Q
Ecology
A
study of how organisms interact with one another and their environment
9
Q
Population
A
a group of organisms of the same species and in the same area who interbreed.
10
Q
Community
A
interaction of populations in a certain area.
11
Q
5 levels of organization in ecology and order.
A
organism, population, community, ecosystem, biosphere
12
Q
Biomass
A
all the dry mass of living and recently dead organisms occupying a habitat.
13
Q
why is biomass important in ecology
A
compare ecosystems and compare an ecosystem over time.
14
Q
Interspecific competition
A
competition between organisms of different species
15
Q
Intraspecific competition
A
competition between organisms within the same population
16
Q
symbiotic relationship
A
long-lasting ecological relationship that benefits at least one organism of two different species.
17
Q
Predator-prey cycle
A
1) Prey is plentiful predators increase
2) predators increase, prey decreases.
3) decrease supply of food so predators migrate or die off.
4) decreasing predator population allows prey populations to increase.
cycle repeats
18
Q
interspecific competition occurs for what resources
A
- food
- territory
- shelter
19
Q
Intraspecific competition occurs for what resources
A
- food
- territory
- shelter
- mating partners
20
Q
Mutualism
A
both species benefit
21
Q
Commensalism
A
one species benefits, the other species is unaffected
22
Q
Parasitism
A
One species benefits while the other is harmed
23
Q
The source of all energy on Earth is ?
A
The sun
24
Q
Autotroph/producers
A
Produce their own food through photosynthesis (plants).
25
Heterotroph/consumer
Rely on other organisms for energy.
26
Primary consumer
Rely directly on producer. Also referred to as herbivore.
27
Secondary consumer
Consume primary consumers. Obtain energy from primary consumers.
28
Tertiary consumers
Obtain energy from secondary consumers and sometimes primary consumers. (not predated on by other animals)
29
Omnivore
Eats plants and animals
30
Carnivore
Eats animals only. Obtains energy from other carnivores.
31
Scavenger
Organisms that feed on dead animals. Obtains energy from animals it did not kill.
32
Decomposer
Organisms that obtain energy from dead organic matter by breaking down complex organic molecules .(fungi, worms, carion beetle etc.)
33
First law of thermodynamics
energy cannot be created or destroyed
34
Photosynthesis
Sun's energy converts H2O and CO2 to sugar compounds, while releasing O2.
35
Trophic levels
Division of species within an ecosystem based on energy source (producer, primary consumer, secondary consumer, tertiary consumer).
36
10% rule
When energy is passed from one trophic level to the next only 10% will be passed on.
37
3 kinds of ecological pyramids used in ecology.
Pyramid of biomass, pyramid of numbers, and pyramid of energy
38
Pyramid of biomass
divides trophic levels based on dry mass.
39
Pyramid of numbers
Divides trophic levels based on number of organisms
40
Pyramid of energy
Divides trophic levels based on energy source.
41
Why do energy pyramids always get smaller as you go up trophic levels.
Energy is inefficient. Energy is always lost as heat.
42
Food Chain
Simple representation of energy transfer. Shows only a specific feeding interaction. 1 species at each trophic level.
43
How does energy transfer between species?
From lower trophic level to higher trophic level. (from producer to primary consumer to secondary consumer to tertiary consumer).
44
Food Web
Interconnects several feeding relationships within an ecosystem.
45
Habitat fragmentation
Converting formerly continuous habitats into smaller patches of habitats. ex) roads
46
Invasive species
A species that causes ecological harm in a new environment where it is not native.
47
What do invasive species threaten and why?
Biodiversity as they outcompete native species in the area.
48
5 categories for species at risk in AB
1) vulnerable
2) Threatened
3) Endangered
4) Extirpated
5) Extinct
49
How has the economy damaged ecosystems
1) mass extinction
2) loss of biodiversity
3) loss of diversity within species.
4) ecosystem diversity
5) pollution - reduced clean air, water and habitable land
50
steps to reducing harm on ecosystems
1) identify source of pollution and degradation.
| 2) Either decrease supply or demand of resources contributing to pollution and degradation.
51
Issues with decreasing demand for Greenhouse Gasses.
1) lack of incentive - sky shared by everyone.
| 2) Size of country population vs per capita use.
52
How can we decrease supply of Greenhouse Gases.
1) Find alternative sources and wait for them to become cheaper.
2) Manipulate markets with taxes and subsides.
53
How are matter and energy different
Energy flows into ecosystems and escapes from Earth as heat.
Matter is recycled. It cannot escape Earth.(move in any direction).
54
biogeochemical cycle
A pathway by which chemical substances move through biotic and abiotic compartments of Earth.
55
Hydrologic cycle components.
```
Evaporation
Condensation
Precipitation
Runoff
Groundwater
Infiltration
```
56
Fire consequence on Hydrologic cycle
waxy layer is created that doesn't allow water to infiltrate into ground. Water after rainfall therefore flows out of fire burned areas quicker than unburned areas.
57
Deforestation on Hydrologic cycle
Changes where transpiration happens. Has consequences on temperature and moisture content in an ecosystem.
58
Carbon cycle components
Photosynthesis
Cellular respiration
Decomposition
Carbon sinks
59
Photosynthesis (CO2 cycle)
producers take in CO2 for photosynthesis and release O2.
60
Cellular respiration (CO2)
Consumers take in O2 and release CO2
61
Decomposition (CO2 cycle)
CO2 released when decomposers break down dead matter.
62
Carbon sink
A system that removes more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than it releases.
-boreal forest (photosynthesis), ocean.
63
Carbon source
A system that adds carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.
-volcanoes, cellular respiration
64
Human impacts on CO2 cycle
Burning fossil fuels - releasing CO2 into the atmosphere.
Deforestation - reducing trees for photosynthesis.
65
How does fire contribute to added CO2 in the atmosphere?
loss of trees for photosynthesis.
burning of dead matter (like leaves on the ground) releases CO2
66
Oxygen cycle components
combustion
cellular respiration
decomposition
photosynthesis
67
How do CFCs impact the ozone?
CFCs break the bond of ozone (O3). thinning the ozone and reducing its ability to protect us from UV radiation.
68
Nitrogen cycle components
nitrogen fixation
nitrification
denitrification
69
Nitrogen fixation
converting atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia.
-nitrogen fixing bacteria.
70
Nitrification
Converts ammonia into nitrate and nitrite ions.
-nitrifying bacteria.
71
Denitrification
Convert nitrate and nitrite ions into atmospheric diatomic nitrogen.
-denitrifying bacteria.
72
Wildfire impact on nitrogen cycle
break organic matter into ammonia, nitrates, and nitrates available for plants to take in.
73
Ecological succesion
process by which the structure of a biological community evolves over time.
74
primary succession
process of changing an environment from an area of bare rock and a few species to a complex community.
75
secondary succession
process of returning to a stable community from an area that has had its vegetation-but not its soil-removed.
76
which is colonized for the very first time... primary or secondary succession
Primary succesion
77
Pioneer species
The first organisms to invade an area who change the environment by making it suitable to support more complex life forms.
-are found in both primary and secondary succession.
78
Climax community
A stable community of plants and animals that results from succession.
79
which is slower? primary or secondary succesion
Primary succesion.
80
Why do healthy forests depend on fires?
Fires provide nutrients to the soil, kill diseases, and refresh the habitat.
81
Gradualism
changed to the organisms population that occur slowly and steadily over Earth's history.
82
Punctuated equilibrium
Changes to the organisms in a population that occur in rapid spurts followed by long periods of little change.
83
Adaptation
any structural trait or behaviour that improves an organism's success at surviving and reproducing in a particular environment.
84
Sexual selection
selection for mates.
-larger horns, nicer feathers etc.
85
behavioural adaptations
responses made by organisms that help it survive and reproduce.
86
physiological adaptations
body process the help an organism to survive and reproduce.
87
Structural adaptations
a physical feature of an organisms body that helps it to survive/reproduce
88
variation
differences in genes and traits of individual organisms.
- eye colour
- hair colour
89
What leads to natural selection
preference for one physical attribute over others.
90
Each organism has how many sets of genes in each cell
2
91
genes determine what?
an organisms character - physiologically, structurally, and behaviourally (to some degree).
92
Genes are?
instructions coded in chemical formulas. They tell us how to look, grow, etc.
93
Mutation
mistakes made during the cell recopying phase that lead to different (new) information being coded in the gene.
94
Variations in populations are a result of
mutations throughout time.
95
Camouflage leads to selection through
organisms that camouflage better avoid predators and pass their genes to the next generation. Those who don't might die and their traits are not passed to the next generation.
96
If mutations are beneficial they lead to?
adaptations.
97
Darwins 3 observation of the finches.
1) organisms produce more offsprings than can survive.
2) There is variation among individuals with respect to any trait in a population.
3) Organisms within a population compete for limited resources.
98
Adaptations increase an organisms chance of?
survival and reproduction
99
Darwinian fitness
the reproductive success of an organism.
100
2 requirements for natural selection?
1) variation in some trait.
| 2) Difference in the rate of survival and reproduction associated with the possession of that certain trait.
101
Lamarck's theory of evolution.
Physical changes occur during an individuals life time (usually as a consequence of increased use) and then passed on to the next generation.
-giraffe example.
102
Evidences of evolution - Homologous structures.
body parts of species that have similar features suggesting a common ancestor.
103
Evidences of evolution - vestigial structures.
Structures that have no apparent function and appear to be remaining parts from a past ancestor.
104
Evidences of evolution - biogeography
organisms separated by a geographical barrier often show common characteristics - suggesting a common ancestor.
105
Doubling time
the amount of time it takes for a population to double its size.
106
Exponential growth
rapid growth of a population caused by a constant increase.
107
4 major factors that affect population size
1) number of births
2) number of deaths
3) Immigration
4) Emigration
108
Immigration
movement into a population
109
emigration
movement out of a population
110
Closed population
only births and deaths change the population size.
111
Open populations
births, deaths, immigration, and emigration all affect population size.
112
Population explosion
rapid increase in a population.
113
Population crash
rapid drop in a population.
114
Carrying capacity
Maximum number of individuals that can be sustained for an indefinite period in a given ecosystem.
115
Top-down regulation of populations
limitations placed by factors controlling deaths (parasites, predators, disease etc)
116
Bottom-up regulations of populations
limitations placed by factors controlling resources (ex: food, territory, mates)
